15:55 Southwell

Monday 4 March 2019

All14:2014:5015:2015:5516:2517:0017:30

Toalsbet Casino Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 6m 23.95s

Creep Desbois⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 126

10/1

First run over hurdles for nearly two years having been chasing in the interim. 2lb lower than last start over timber at Kempton in April 2017 and good conditional claims further 7lb. Not out of it.

Form: 126-U47

Tomkevi^p,t⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 126| CD

16/1

Won this race 12 months ago off 14lb lower mark but has been in fine form of late winning twice under today's amateur at Haydock and Wetherby. 6lb rise makes life tougher but may make a bold bid for the hat-trick.

Form: 315-611

Red Devil Lads^h¹³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: L Heard| T: Miss L V Davis| OR: 125| D

66/1

One-time fair staying chaser but has lost his way for different trainers over the last 15 months and has pulled up over fences last three outings. Debuts here for new yard but has a lot to find on recent form back over hurdles.

Form: 109P-PP

Western Wave⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr N George⁽⁷⁾| T: T R George| OR: 125| BF

5/1

Run well all four starts this term, winning at Hereford (3m2f) on penultimate start then finishing good second over smae C&D last time off 8lb higher mark. Up another 3lb but shouldn't be at all far away in current form.

Form: P62312

Mon Palois⁸⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 123| BF| D

13/2

Showed ability but things haven't gone to plan this term in two starts over fences so reverts to timber. Fair fifth over C&D in May off 1lb lower mark and has a squeak if recent fall hasn't dented his confidence.

Form: 450-53F

Casper King^p1,t1³⁰⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 122WS

66/1

First time tongue-tie and cheekpieces on debut for new yard. Lost his way for Philip Hobbs when pulled up final four starts last term having previously looked promising. 6lb lower than last hurdles mark so feasibly handicapped at best.

Form: 4/5PPP-P

Captain Drake^h⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 121

6/4

Won Towcester bumper on debut in March last year then absent seven months following wind surgery. Stayed on well in heavy ground to land maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter (2m4f) last time. Any rain would help the cause on handicap bow here.

Form: 21-351

Ardera Cross^p,t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 118| BF

15/2

Ex-Irish gelding whose three career wins have all come at Tramore. Shaped with promise so far in two starts since joining top yard and interesting now trying longer trip over hurdles. Worth a market check and likely to be thereabouts.

Form: 8F6533

Big Penny^p,t⁸⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 115| DWS

6/1

Landed Bangor novice hurdle in October 2017. Pulled up first two starts since wind surgery before better effort last time when fourth in Sandown h'cap hurdle (form franked since). Better ground should help in receipt of weight all round.

Form: 220-PP4

Non-Runners

Shantung⁴²

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: L Wadham J: Maxime Tissier

Forecasts

Captain Drake (6/4), Western Wave (5/1), Big Penny (6/1), Mon Palois (13/2), Shantung (7/1), Ardera Cross (15/2), Creep Desbois (10/1), Tomkevi (16/1), Red Devil Lads (66/1), Casper King (66/1)

Quite a few with claims here in an open contest. Tomkevi looks sure to make a bold bid for the hat-trick in his attempt to repeat last year's success in thsi race and should give it a good go, but SHANTUNG gets the nod on her handicap debut as she steps up to what might prove her optimum trip. Big Penny has every chance and won't be far away, nor will Ardera Cross, Captain Drake and Western Wave.