15:10 Southwell

Monday 21 June 2021

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1015:4016:1016:45

Join Southwell Golf Club Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 6m 40.70s

Steel Wave^b1,t¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 99| D

8/1

Temperamental veteran who has fallen plenty in the weights and seemed to find the test too much when third in a C&D handicap chase 2 weeks ago. Blinkers reached for back over timber.

Form: 3P/70-43

Layerthorpe⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 94| D

4/1

Landed a hat-trick in staying handicap hurdles in 2019. Not in same form in 3 starts last summer but much more like it when third on return in a C&D event in May. Claims with a repeat.

Form: 11/B30-3

Leading Knight^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 90

7/2

Showed more encouraging signs for the switch to handicaps, keeping on for second at Fontwell (21.7f) 3 weeks ago (not looking well served by the steady pace). Longer trip worth exploring again.

Form: P0775-2

Bomber's Moon²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 89

9/1

10-y-o who remains a maiden but did return to form when 5.5 lengths second of 11 at Warwick (26f) last month, keeping on without threatening the winner. Can get involved with a repeat.

Form: 76/39-P2

Just Once^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Mrs I G-Leveque| OR: 88

5/1

Back on song this spring, again finding only one too good over 23f at Worcester 16 days ago. Clearly operating on a handy mark and one of the likelier types down in class.

Form: 887-242

Racing Spirit^b,t³²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 85| CD

10/1

Finally opened account off reduced mark in C&D handicap 11 months ago, readily coming clear under this rider. 7 lb rise not beyond him but been absent since and faces a host of race-fit rivals here.

Form: 72733/1-

Ulysses^v¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: James Davies| T: D Shaw| OR: 82

5/1

Fallen markedly in the weights and proved he retains ability when just touched off at Uttoxeter (23.3f) at the start of the month. Now his task is to back that up.

Form: 5/F7-P72

Passing Secrets^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: R T Dunne| T: T R Gretton| OR: 80

33/1

Well held all 3 starts in novice/maiden company and, having been sent off at 22/1 he fared no better when well beaten seventh on handicap debut at Market Rasen (20.6f) 17 days ago.

Form: 840-7

Boher Lad³³

Age: 14| Weight: 10-4| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: A Phillips| OR: 77| CD

17/2

Veteran, multiple course winner who never threatened last season and similarly unable to make an impact in a C&D event in May. Mark continues to ease at least.

Form: U0684-9

Stripe Of Honour²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: A Day| OR: 64

80/1

No worthwhile form in various race-types and likely set for another struggle here on the back of finishing unplaced between the flags last month.

Form: P/09P-45

Non-Runners

Thirtyfourstitches¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: D J Jeffreys J: Thomas Bellamy

Forecasts

Leading Knight (7/2), Layerthorpe (4/1), Just Once (5/1), Ulysses (5/1), Steel Wave (8/1), Boher Lad (17/2), Bomber's Moon (9/1), Racing Spirit (10/1), Thirtyfourstitches (14/1), Passing Secrets (33/1), Stripe Of Honour (80/1)

LEADING KNIGHT looked ill-served by the steady gallop but still managed to run his best race to date when runner-up at Fontwell (21.7f) 3 weeks ago. The step back up in trip is a plus on that evidence and he gets the narrow vote to come out on top. Just Once continues in form and heads the dangers, ahead of Bomber's Moon and Layerthorpe.