15:40 Southwell

Monday 8 March 2021

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3515:0515:40

Virgin Bet Free Bets For Winners Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 4m 19.8s

Al Kherb⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 105| D

18/1

Fair 2m hurdle winner but disappointing in both codes last year. Eases in class back hurdling but others more persuasive.

Form: 103/7-67

Brave Jaq^h,t⁸⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Benjamin Poste| T: R Potter| OR: 104WS

8/1

Landed a Stratford hunter in 2019 and ran a cracker when collared close home over hurdles at that venue on return in October. Really good second over fences here last time. Has had a wind op.

Form: 312/272

Don Juan Du Gouet⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 104| D

25/1

Scored twice for Henry Daly last term, but has suffered a trio of heavy defeats for new stable this season.

Form: 6P3-009

Heart Of Kernow^h²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 102

66/1

One-time fair hurdler who is firmly on the downgrade, never dangerous in a jumpers bumper last month. This is at least a more realistic assignment.

Form: F9/UP-80

Hats Off To Larry^h1,t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Dowson| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 102

22/1

Fairly useful on the Flat (below form when last seen at Ripon in August) but has failed to take to hurdling so far, held back by mistakes on stable debut at Uttoxeter a fortnight ago. Hood on.

Form: 66/4-99

Rootless Tree^p1⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 102| D

40/1

Fairly useful winning 2m hurdler for Nigel Twiston-Davies but yet to show much for current handler. Others are more appealing.

Form: 57-F065

Givepeaceachance³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: D A Jacob| T: D J Coakley| OR: 102

15/2

Modest maiden on Flat and over hurdles but fit from a spin in a jumpers bumper and return to 2m a good move back hurdling.

Form: 3-4455

Drumochter^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: S England| OR: 99

66/1

Fair up to 1¼m on Flat. Showed an aptitude for hurdling towards the end of 2018 but belated return at Wetherby last month wasn't particularly encouraging.

Form: 543/0

Opine^t1⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 104WS

4/1

Modest Flat maiden. Encouraging hurdling debut second at Huntingdon and went like the best horse at Leicester, only to be outstayed. Has undergone a wind op and opening mark could be lenient.

Form: 2F2

Just Once^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Mrs I G-Leveque| OR: 95

28/1

Modest maiden on the Flat and over hurdles. Passed a few late on in a jumpers bumper but she remains opposable.

Form: 555068

Arizona Glory⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 95| BF

7/1

Took pretty well to fences to end last year, but did end 2020 with a heavy defeat a Bangor. Still only a 5-y-o and may have more to offer.

Form: 45422P

Sheeza Legend^h,t⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Bargary| T: Mrs E Bishop| OR: 93

125/1

Poor hurdler who arrives on the back of a brace of falls over fences. Plenty to prove.

Form: 609-RUF

Old Jewry^p⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Bourke| OR: 92

25/1

Edged ahead to open account at Kelso (21f) in November but reverted to free-going ways at Newcastle next time. Also well held at Musselburgh and now dropped in trip.

Form: P35150

White Walker¹²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 90

9/4

Signs of ability in bumpers/novice hurdles and starts handicaps off a lowly mark, so no surprise if he makes a much bigger impact for his top yard.

Form: 66-688

Caffe Macchiato^t1,v⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 88WS

7/1

Fairly useful on the Flat in France in 2019 (stays 10.5f) but yet to get going over hurdles for this yard. Handicaps on the back of a wind op (with headgear added) may see him in a better light.

Form: 5-0U9

Bridey's Lettuce^p⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 87| D

22/1

Plugged on for fifth in first-time cheekpieces at Uttoxeter in December. Fell at Doncaster a month later and now dropped markedly in trip.

Form: 2-96P5F

Forecasts

White Walker (9/4), Opine (4/1), Arizona Glory (7/1), Caffe Macchiato (7/1), Givepeaceachance (15/2), Brave Jaq (8/1), Al Kherb (18/1), Bridey's Lettuce (22/1), Hats Off To Larry (22/1), Don Juan Du Gouet (25/1), Old Jewry (25/1), Just Once (28/1), Rootless Tree (40/1), Drumochter (66/1), Heart Of Kernow (66/1), Sheeza Legend (125/1)

OPINE and Caffe Macchiato are well treated on Flat form and have both undergone breathing surgery ahead of this switch to a handicap. The former has looked the more natural of the pair over obstacles and gets a handy age allowance, so shades the vote. White Walker is another likely improver in what could be a lively betting heat.