16:30 Southwell

Monday 16 March 2020

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

MansionBet At Southwell Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 6m 48.59s

Pleney⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 100

9/1

Pulled up on his chase debut (looked in need of experience) he got back to some sort of form in his next two starts returned to hurdles. Failed to show his true worth in extreme conditions at Hexham when last seen; still to win a handicap or race.

Form: 94-P336

Riddlestown^b²⁶⁷

Age: 13| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: C Fryer| OR: 98| CD

33/1

Seven-time course winner (four over hurdles) who took advantage if a reduced mark to score over fences at Plumpton last May (3m2f, good/firm). Below-par since then; now returns from an absence over hurdles; unreliable sort.

Form: 4P-17P4

The Black Squirrel^p1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: H Hogarth| OR: 95

11/1

Bumper winner for Warren Greatrex with his hurdles form being more miss-than-hit fir the most part especially for this yard. Mark in freefall but deserves to be after below-par effort last time; needs to show more to cash in, headgear on first-time.

Form: 2P6-P46

Fizzlestix^t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 94| D

11/4

Stepped up on his chasing debut to score in a first-time tongue-tie at Plumpton recently although it did looks a notably weak heat and he's looks a little quirky. Claims switched to hurdles off the same mark but no banker to be in the same form.

Form: 2/65P01

Duffy Allen³⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 94

14/1

Modest form in bumpers and over hurdles who has been placed over hurdles (once over C&D off a 6lb higher mark) but remains a maiden. Looks a difficult sort train (performances punctuated by absences); fitness a question mark off another break.

Form: 372/355-

Jour A La Plage^p1¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 92

14/1

Like a few from this yard he's been brought along steadily through his novice hurdles having looked to show ability in sole bumper. Had little chance last time but may well show more now he goes handicapping in first-time cheekpieces, one to note.

Form: 4033

Boher Lad¹³³

Age: 13| Weight: 11-3| J: C J Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: A Phillips| OR: 91| CD

20/1

Three-time C&D winner who won twice last year scoring the most recent of his C&D wins in August off a 3lb lower mark. Failed to build on that victory in two subsequent starts, returns from a long absence with the ground not really in his favour.

Form: 1-26136

Shaiyzar^p²⁰⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 87| CD

33/1

C&D winner but with a hurdles record that reads 2-29 he's hardly one to provide a solid option as he reverts to hurdles off a long absence. Let down by his jumping and fallen on last two chasing starts; others offer safer possibilities.

Form: 55-42FF

Hang Tough^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 86

15/8

Unexposed and dropped 4lb from his initial handicap start he made the most of conditions and trip (3m2f) at Warwick to land a gruelling slog. Weak though that event was he remains at the right end of the handicap (up 5lb), strong claims once more.

Form: PP-0391

Oliver's Island^b,t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 72

8/1

Landed a Uttoxeter staying handicap hurdle (2m7f, soft) in December 2018 looking at the time as though he wasn't the type to follow up. Below form since and well held latest start, hard to fancy from 2lb out of the weights.

Form: 35-6465

Betterlatethanneva^b1,t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: G Howell| OR: 67

50/1

1-4 in point-to-points (win in mares' maiden in 2016) she's faired poorly under Rules (poor maiden handicap hurdler at best). 66-1 and beaten 90L at Sedgefield (3m3f, heavy) last time, blinkers first-time, 7lb wrong in the weights.

Form: 454P75

Non-Runners

Mr Woolley¹⁹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: N B King J: Bryony Le Clerc

Dubai Outlaw⁷⁶

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: D J Jeffreys J: Jamie Bargary

Forecasts

Hang Tough (15/8), Fizzlestix (11/4), Oliver's Island (8/1), Pleney (9/1), The Black Squirrel (11/1), Jour A La Plage (14/1), Duffy Allen (14/1), Dubai Outlaw (16/1), Boher Lad (20/1), Mr Woolley (25/1), Riddlestown (33/1), Shaiyzar (33/1), Betterlatethanneva (50/1)

The race that HANG TOUGH won at Warwick last time wasn’t a strong one and being critical few got into the race but he remains at the right end of the handicap with the excellent Jonjo O’Neill Jr. taking the ride. This won’t be as much of a test as his last race but he ought to have more progress left in him. Fizzlestix is the other recent winner in the field although his victory came over fences in a weak contest on the upside he can race off the same mark on the downside he does have his quirks. The race lacks depth with the handicap newcomer Jour A La Plage with cheekpieces on for the first-time worth noting in market moves. Top weight Pleney also deserves a mention returning from a break.