16:45 Southwell

Monday 24 June 2019

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 5m 17.35s

Dovils Date^t³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Price⁽⁸⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 110| CD

9/2

Had been threatening to end a long losing run and did so last time taking advantage of a much-reduced mark which left him well treated on his old form. Best form has come at the trip (still looks well weighted); would have to have leading claims.

Form: 0/4436-1

Phoebus Lescribaa⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 108| BF

3/1

Back with a former yard he showed improved form to score at Warwick (attracted support) seeing his race out strongly (2m3f). Failed to fully convince with his follow up effort when unpenalised at Newton Abbot; now has a 10lb higher mark to cope with.

Form: 3/56P-12

Land League^p,t⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: R Patrick| T: S Edmunds| OR: 108WS

9/2

Another small step back in the right direction last time (first-time cheekpieces) at Huntingdon (2m4f) since when he's had a wind op. Looks on a fair mark but there is a question mark over this trip, may be better at around 2m.

Form: 443/04-3

Wazowski²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 108| BF| D

4/1

Recent form reads well although one of his "wins" did come in a Sedgefield walkover his Bangor win and second at the same course last time showing him in good heart. Never won off a mark this high but looks as though he can compete off it.

Form: 64121-2

The Crafty Touch²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 105

9/2

Dual Irish point winner whose form so far over hurdles has been modest but with the promise of more to come. Connections now switch her quickly to handicaps having caught the eye under a conservative ride last time; note a market move.

Form: 21F14-2

Beautiful Ben⁶²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁶⁾| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 104| D

20/1

First run for this yard having been off the track a fair while having shown some fair form when trained in Ireland. Usually seen at shorter trips and this run might prove to be needed; trainer can ready one off a break though; worth a second glance.

Form: 362746/

Foxtrot Juliet³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁸⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 104

16/1

Relatively disappointing after opening her hurdles account at Wincanton (2m, firm) in a race that took little winning and a handicap second at Catterick in December. Looked laboured in first-time cheekpieces last time; others persuade more.

Form: F2375-6

Oxford Blu²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Callum McKinnes⁽¹⁰⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 103

11/1

Continues his voyage down the weight scale having failed to win since late 2017 and has yet to win a handicap. Off the bridle before most of his rivals last time at Bangor; very hard to construct a cogent case for him to be successful.

Form: 695F-57

Murray Mount²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁵⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 102| CD

33/1

Cashed in on a much lower mark in this sphere when successful for Henry Oliver last September before making little impact when sent pointing (only completed once from five efforts). Produced a laboured effort over fences last time; never on terms.

Form: PF4U-P6

Grand Enterprise^p,t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Billy Garritty⁽³⁾| T: H Hogarth| OR: 84

14/1

Failed to complete on five occasions prior to wind surgery and there's been very little improvement in his form since he underwent that procedure. Still looks out of sorts and not one to be unduly worried about for now.

Form: PPP-067

Non-Runners

Ballycrystal Court³⁶

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: R Menzies J: Fergus Gregory

Forecasts

Phoebus Lescribaa (3/1), Wazowski (4/1), Dovils Date (9/2), Land League (9/2), The Crafty Touch (9/2), Ballycrystal Court (13/2), Oxford Blu (11/1), Grand Enterprise (14/1), Foxtrot Juliet (16/1), Beautiful Ben (20/1), Murray Mount (33/1)

It was no surprise to see Dovils Date justify favouritism at Uttoxeter last time as he was well handicapped on his old form and he still appeals off and 11lb higher mark having won over C&D in the past off a mark of 115. Both Phoebus Lescribaa and Land League have elements in their form that would give them chances although equally neither are rock solid with the former looking iffy in a finish last time and the latter may struggle at this trip. This would seem to be the time that the go button is about to be pushed on THE CRAFTY TOUCH making her handicap debut up in trip having shown winning form in point-to-points; Jonjo O’Neill Jr claiming 3lb is an added bonus.