16:05 Southwell

Monday 18 March 2019

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:0516:35

Toalsbet World Lotteries Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 5m 28.80s

Timcoda^t1⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 102WS

9/1

Looks to have been brought along with handicaps in mind (all three novice races over different trips); shaped better than finishing position a couple of times. Back from wind surgery (tongue-tie on), likely to do better now going into this sphere.

Form: 33-2966

Nerual¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: J Coulson| OR: 99

80/1

Long-standing maiden when trained in Ireland and has built up a career record of 0-25 (bumpers/hurdles). Showed very little on his first run for this yard (headgear off) at Sedgefield last time; drops in grade but hard to build a case for.

Form: 6378P9

Iniesta^v²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: M Blake| OR: 99

8/1

Gained a deserved win off the back of a string of placed efforts at Stratford last summer (2m3f). Failed to really capitalise on that victory subsequently until getting back on track with two runner-up efforts (one in a seller); not out of this.

Form: 166P22

Court In Matera⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 95

20/1

Looks fairly limited on what he's shown so far (not looked straightforward on occasions); fared poorly when going handicapping for the first time (pulled up). Needs to improve significantly and not hard to give others a much better chance.

Form: 2-0059P

Raise Your Shades⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: B Pauling| OR: 94

11/1

Gave the impression throughout his novice hurdling career that he would be one for low-grade handicaps. Up in trip though for that very task he failed to take a step forward; pulled up. Comes here with questions to answer.

Form: 6U888P

Captain Speaking²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 100

40/1

Goes handicapping after three non-handicap runs for this yard that have shown next to nothing. Has one standout effort to his name in France (second start) but nothing to match that since; remains a unreliable proposition.

Form: 5-4776

The Dawn Man⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Jason Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 91

3/1

Failed to take to chasing (5PP44) making plenty of mistakes and looks likely to appreciate this return to hurdles; has shown some positive vibes in this discipline. Stable going well with their handicappers, promising conditional takes the ride.

Form: 5P-PP44

Blue Rhythm^v1²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Lee Edwards| T: A Ralph| OR: 90

11/4

Some promise in his last two runs and gradually looks to be getting better for this yard (previously with Evan Williams). First-time blinkers used last time are now discarded for a first-time visor; needs to progress again but not written off.

Form: P30663

Oliver's Island^b³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 83

12/1

Found a huge portion of improvement to land a Uttoxeter handicap hurdle (2m7f, soft); win more comfortable than winning margin. Easy to back on his follow up effort (not in the same form); will appreciate a return to this surface.

Form: 5-P5513

Sundance Boy^b¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: T J Phelan| T: G Fierro| OR: 72| C

6/1

Shock winner here last time over 3m from out of the weights (first form of any note), when well positioned throughout. Will find conditions more testing this time and has to reproduce the form over a shorter trip; still out of the handicap.

Form: 04-8771

Kayf Tiger^p,t²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Bargary| T: M Sheppard| OR: 65

25/1

8lb out of the weights this looks another tough task for a poor maiden. Struggled to make much of an impression in his last two starts since coming back from a break and similar situation expected here.

Form: 563-886

Forecasts

Blue Rhythm (11/4), The Dawn Man (3/1), Sundance Boy (6/1), Iniesta (8/1), Timcoda (9/1), Raise Your Shades (11/1), Oliver's Island (12/1), Court In Matera (20/1), Kayf Tiger (25/1), Captain Speaking (40/1), Nerual (80/1)

One or two in this like Sundance Boy and Oliver’s Island were recent shock winners but the former will do well to follow up here and the latter has already failed to build on his winning effort. Iniesta wouldn’t be out of this on his recent form but Blue Rhythm and the returning (from a wind op) Timcoda making his handicap debut look to hold stronger claims. It’s clear though that THE DAWN MAN hasn’t taken to chasing and with Henry Oliver’s handicappers in good form this year he’s taken to bounce back to form over the smaller obstacles with the promising 7lb conditional Jason Dixon taking the ride.