17:00 Southwell

Monday 4 March 2019

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

toals.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 6m 40.85s

Dovils Date^t1¹²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-6| J: Charlie Price⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 102| BF| C

28/1

11-time winner on Flat and over hurdles, but never beyond 2m4f over timber. Tongue-tie applied for first time here and has dropped 3lb since poor effort when distant last of 4 at Wincanton in October.

Form: 5940-44

Costante Via^t⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 12-5| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 101| BF

11/4

Nine-race maiden but has run well on both starts this season, staying on to be good second at Uttoxeter last time out when starting favourite. 2lb higher now but trainer calls on decent 7lb conditional rider to take the mount.

Form: 0645-32

Bentons Lad^p⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Humphries⁽⁷⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 94| C| D

14/1

Won here over 2m4f last term for Mark Walford but hasn't shown a great deal so far this campaign in three starts for current handler. Eased 3lb but needs to raise his game to figure.

Form: 557065

Hahadi¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: David Bass| T: David Dennis| OR: 93| D

11/1

Pulled up in two of four starts so far over hurdles having won modest point-to-point last season. Not certain to see out this trip and on balance others make more appeal.

Form: P-1P6P6

Rodeo Dodo^t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 92| D

11/4

Didn't show much on first three starts under Rules but won at first time of asking on handicap debut at Wetherby over nearly 2m4f. Raised 5lb and steps up half a mile in trip, but could well still be on right side of the handicapper.

Form: 517/88-1

Boher Lad¹⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: A Phillips| OR: 89| CD

8/1

Last win came over C&D two years ago off 9lb higher mark. Hasn't shown much at all so far this campaign but return to happy hunting ground may help his cause.

Form: 494-799

Bignorm⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 88

16/1

Yet to reach a place in five starts so far, but did better when fifth of 15 at Uttoxeter last time (3m) on first start in a handicap. Eased 3lb so a fair display could be on the cards.

Form: 88805

Cavalry Scout^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 85

15/2

Six-race maiden under Rules over a variety of trip, but ran fair race when fourth over 3m at Ayr on penultimate start. May not have stayed longer trip last time so has a squeak as mark continues to fall.

Form: 587944

Heavenly Promise^h¹¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 81| D

16/1

Won two 3m h'cap chases at Bangor last April/May and was respectable fourth over fences at Market Rasen on only start so far this campaign. Hasn't run over hurdles for 16 months but remains relatively unexposed at this discipline.

Form: 521-414

Arboretum^b¹⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 74| C| D

28/1

Won here over 2m4f in May 2017 but has been out of form over timber this campaign. Blinkered first time when third of five in novice chase at Catterick latest and looks to face a stiff task back over hurdles.

Form: P76P83

Sundance Boy^b⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: T J Phelan| T: G Fierro| OR: 67

25/1

Yet to reach a place in 12 starts over hurdles over a variety of trip and hard to envisage him playing a major role given his poor profile to date. Races from 1lb out of the handicap.

Form: 704-877

Forecasts

Costante Via (11/4), Rodeo Dodo (11/4), Cavalry Scout (15/2), Boher Lad (8/1), Hahadi (11/1), Bentons Lad (14/1), Bignorm (16/1), Heavenly Promise (16/1), Sundance Boy (25/1), Dovils Date (28/1), Arboretum (28/1)

RODEO DODO is a fairly confident choice in a low grade affair having appeared to turn the corner with a good win at Wetherby last time. He looks as though he should get the extra half a mile and might take some stopping. Costante Via may prove the main danger on the back of a sold recent run, while the likes of Big Norm, Cavalry Scout and Heavenly Promise are others for whom a case can be made.