20:15 Southwell

Wednesday 22 May 2019

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 6m 32.90s

Love The Leader¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 102| D

22/1

A victim of the handicapper's wrath after he scored a quick-fire hat-trick last November displaying his versatility over hurdles and fences. Struggled off much higher marks of late since returning to action; mark needs to ease more.

Form: 11356-P

Rightdownthemiddle^p,t³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: S Curran| OR: 100| D

14/1

Took a Leicester selling hurdle on his final start for Gordon Elliott but has been well beaten in handicaps for his current yard. Attracted support last time probably due to a rapidly falling mark but failed to reward those who kept the faith.

Form: 870906-

Reckless Behavior^h¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 98

5/1

Unreliable and quirky individual who has proved very disappointing of late including over hurdles last time off an advantageous mark. Simply wasn't on a going day at Market Rasen (first-time hood; retained); hard to trust overall.

Form: P24UP-7

Rajapur^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Ross Chapman| T: D Thompson| OR: 94

40/1

Has a very unsatisfactory CV overall with a weak AW seller his only victory of late; now returns to hurdles (not seen over them since December last year). Well beaten of late on the AW back in handicaps; hard to work up much enthusiasm for his chance

Form: 4385/4P-

Taras Day^p,t⁸^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 80| CD

10/3

Shoulders a 7lb penalty for her recent C&D win where she showed much improved form having only been able to operate at a modest level prior to that victory. This race doesn't look any deeper and she should have a good chance of following up.

Form: 0/6774-1

Shaiyzar^p³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: D Thompson| OR: 86| CD

10/1

Often travels well in his races but does have trouble converting his chances finally getting off the mark over fences earlier in the year. His last two efforts (still over fences) have seen him revert to type; now back over hurdles with plenty to pro

Form: 221355-

Next Lot^t1⁷⁷⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 83| D

1/1

Winning point-to-pointer who will be dangerous if his new yard can bring him back in the same form he was in when last seen. Tongue-tie now on for the first-time in what looks a weak race; market should prove to be very informative.

Form: PU9752/

Wild Eve^p1,t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: M G Rimell| OR: 70

8/1

Form looks of a limited nature and she's yet to show any spark over hurdles finishing well-held in a first-time tongue-tie at Warwick last time. Cheekpieces are now added as she bids to overcome being 4lb wrong in the weights; hard to recommend.

Form: 7550P-5

Forecasts

Next Lot (1/1), Taras Day (10/3), Reckless Behavior (5/1), Wild Eve (8/1), Shaiyzar (10/1), Rightdownthemiddle (14/1), Love The Leader (22/1), Rajapur (40/1)

Hard to imagine there is much strength in depth in this handicap hurdle with most of these carrying plenty of baggage into the race. One that doesn’t is the stable debutante for Fergal O’Brien Next Lot who returns from a mammoth 779 day absence (the yard have never had a winner off such a break) but he has to be respected off this mark and any market strength has to be respected. TARAS DAY a recent C&D winner gets a fine chance to follow up that win despite a 7lb penalty a similar performance looking to be good enough. The two veterans Shaiyzar and Rightdownthemiddle have past form that if repeated would be good enough to see them battle it out for the minor placing.