15:00 Southwell

Monday 16 March 2020

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

Best Odds Guaranteed At MansionBet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 4m 15.20s

Song Of The Sky^t⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Mann| OR: 112| D

16/1

Pulled up for the third start in succession when back over fences last time (previous two starts over hurdles). Slips back below her last winning mark (victory came in a thin race over fences); would have plenty to prove at the current time.

Form: 221PPP

Atomix⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: Noel Williams| OR: 110| D

8/1

Bumper/hurdles winner in the distant past when with Peter Niven who returned from a monster 28-month break from this yard at Taunton last time. Showed very little to finish last of five (2m, soft) at Taunton, hard to support on that evidence.

Form: 72816/5

Derek Duval¹⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: J & S Best| OR: 110WS

40/1

Fair sort on the Flat when with Stuart Williams (rated 80 for last win, 1m2f). Yet to show much for this yard over hurdles (pulled up on handicap debut); now returns from a break/wind op having been dropped 2lb; note any positive market vibes.

Form: 9540P

Haasab⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 106| BF

11/8

Gained a reward for a couple of consistent displays with a Catterick win (2m3f, good/soft) off a 5lb lower mark. Able to run from the same mark last time, defeated but still showed improved form (travelled well), up in grade but still sound claims.

Form: 772412

Gregarious^p1¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 104| D

9/2

Struggling to find form this year with all four of his runs having holes in them; may not have run as badly as pulled up would suggest last time. Blinkers worn last twice now replaced by first-time cheekpieces; well handicapped if finding spark.

Form: 30-637P

Sparky Stowaway^h³¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Dickin| OR: 104

25/1

Lightly-raced sort since racing in GB, matched the pick of his Irish form on second run for Paul Webber at Leicester (2m, good), December 2018. Subsequent two starts well-below par, first run for new yard off a break, hood back on, plenty to prove.

Form: P3/939-8

Manor Park^p⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 99

5/1

Useful on the Flat over at up to 1m6f he's yet to quite match that form over hurdles including in handicaps. Failed to justify support last time (under conditional) when racing too freely; needs to settle better; been an underwhelming sort so far.

Form: 427446

Valgor Du Ronceray²⁵¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 94| D

33/1

Failed to win for Micky Hammond over hurdles/fences often followed a sound run with a poor one. Did win twice in Ireland but his last win came in 2017; less than straightforward his hopes are pinned on a new yard making the difference.

Form: 06-6824

Arizona Glory⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 98

9/1

Offered little in three juvenile hurdle runs at the backend of 2019 starting at big prices each time and being beaten 24L, 44L and 44L. Now goes handicapping although the mark can't be considered generous; market to offer some idea of expectations.

Form: 648

Non-Runners

Ubaltique¹⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 12

T: D McCain Jnr J: Abbie McCain

Forecasts

Haasab (11/8), Gregarious (9/2), Manor Park (5/1), Atomix (8/1), Arizona Glory (9/1), Ubaltique (12/1), Song Of The Sky (16/1), Sparky Stowaway (25/1), Valgor Du Ronceray (33/1), Derek Duval (40/1)

A fair few of these have something to prove currently although a couple lurk on decent marks if they were to come back to form specifically Gregarious (first-time cheekpieces) and Ubaltique (another in a change of headgear and back over hurdles). Derek Duval may show more on the back of a wind op and the market may tell the best story as to the expectations he has here while Manor Park may settle better with Adrian Heskin on board but still has a bit to prove. HAASAB still looks nicely handicapped despite the rise in the weights pushing him up in grade. He did well last time when attempting to give away weight the booking of Jonjo O’Neill Jr. suggests confidence again in his chance.