14:30 Southwell

Thursday 30 July 2020

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Follow At The Races On Twitter Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 3m 40.80s

Caius Marcius^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 141| D

10/3

Useful hurdler, took well to chasing last year in novice company winning four times over distances around 2m. Returned to hurdles last time in a competitive handicap staying on well (might be worth a try over further), should make his presence felt.

Form: 21114-3

Wells De Lune^t¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Peter Bryan⁽⁷⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 137| D

66/1

Cartmel specialist who on a rare trip away from those environs picked up a selling handicap hurdle at Fakenham at the start of the year. Two below-par runs on his return to action, stable in a real lull, makes very limited appeal.

Form: 1341-00

Fiesole^p,t1²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 134| D

14/1

Fit from the Flat when running as well as could be expected from a stiff-looking mark (first-time cheekpieces) when seventh at Market Rasen last time. First-time tongue-tie now added, work to do with Caius Marcius on that running, needs to improve.

Form: 6F1/46-7

Cervaro Mix¹³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: O Sherwood| OR: 133| CD

6/1

Winner in novice company over hurdles (C&D)/fences in 2019; proved better than ever when taking a decent handicap hurdle after a wind op at Huntingdon, made all over 2m4f. Failed to repeat that effort in a deeper race when last seen, more needed.

Form: 139610-

Gunnery²⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132| BF

4/1

Taken well to hurdles having proved himself useful on the Flat (stays 2m), winning 2-5 over timber. Off a substantially stiffer mark now than when winning at Doncaster last December off a 17lb lower mark, may be best caught fresh, back from a break.

Form: 21016-

Highly Prized²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 130| BF| D

2/1

Useful performer on the Flat in America at around 1m, took well to hurdles last year winning three times at around 2m. Shaped as though the run would bring him on last time (fifth in Summer Hurdle), needs to reverse that form with Caius Marcius.

Form: 1/3110-5

Lucky Lover Boy^b1,t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: P J Brennan| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 123| D

33/1

Fairly useful over hurdles establishing himself in this sphere with a hat trick in early 2019 (two novices, one handicap). Pic-n'-mix of performances since then in various disciplines (winner on Flat/AW), needed run back over hurdles last time.

Form: 11/4P8-9

Constancio³²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 123| BF

9/1

Useful Flat stayer who has found his feet gradually over hurdles winning for the second time in this sphere on handicap debut last June. Mostly sound efforts since, often makes the running (best left-handed), returns from a break.

Form: 32/1843-

Kuiper Belt¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 114| D

80/1

Offered little before the enforced break in the racing calendar and didn't offer anything better post-lockdown for a stable who are rather quiet at the moment. Would be a surprise to see him involved here, plenty to prove at present.

Form: 8P00P-0

Forecasts

Highly Prized (2/1), Caius Marcius (10/3), Gunnery (4/1), Cervaro Mix (6/1), Constancio (9/1), Fiesole (14/1), Lucky Lover Boy (33/1), Wells De Lune (66/1), Kuiper Belt (80/1)

A good feature race where a case can be made for a few with the form shown by three of these in the Market Rasen Summer Hurdle sure to come into play. Caius Marcius was the best of those in that race but there was a hint there that he may be better over further in future and HIGHLY PRIZED who shaped well in fifth is taken to reverse that form and grab this having looked as though that race would bring him on. Fiesole, seventh at Market Rasen looks on a stiff mark currently and Gunnery is seen as a bigger danger especially as he may be fresh and he returns from seven months off here. Constancio and Cervaro Mix add some depth to the race and could well be the two pace setters.