15:25 Southwell

Sunday 12 December 2021

All12:1512:4513:2013:5514:2514:5515:25

Star Sports Bet Pipped?! Offer Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 5m 14.45s

Grooveur²⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Jay Tidball⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 112

7/1

Much improved when opening his account in 5-runner novice hurdle at Ludlow (2m5f) on his final outing last season. Goes handicapping now after 8 months off and may prove capable of better still.

Form: F8631-

Blow By Blow^p²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: N F Houlihan| T: I Jardine| OR: 110| D

4/1

Borderline smart hurdler in his pomp who ran better than for a while despite finding it barely enough of a test when second at Ayr (19.5f) on reappearance. Can feature with a repeat of that effort.

Form: 57/6-282

Applaus^p,t²⁰⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 108

40/1

Sprung a surprise when scoring at Carlisle last winter but form rather tailed off thereafter, disappointing when last of 5 at Hexham (16.2f) in May. Subsequent break needs to have perked him up.

Form: 12484-5

Foillan²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Cillin Leonard⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 107| D

85/40

Fair form in bumpers and ran out a comprehensive winner on handicap debut over hurdles when scoring at Hexham last month, seeming suited by the step up in trip. Up 7 lb but there's better to come.

Form: 0/44521

Linger^t²⁸²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Price| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 105WS

33/1

Had breathing operation and showed some ability remains after 3 months off when fourth at Doncaster in March. Off since and market check advised with his mark tumbling further.

Form: 990/PP4-

Get Prepared²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 100| D

5/1

Cost £60,000 after winning sole point in March 2019 but only modest form on completed outings over hurdles earlier this year. Needed run on return and this should reveal more.

Form: 1/04F-6

She Has Notions²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 98

20/1

Solid start when third in a novice hurdle at Kilbeggan (good) for John Halley in July but little impact on both starts for current yard. Others make more appeal on handicap bow.

Form: 3P3

Russian Service^p,t³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny Burton| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 94

17/2

Fair hurdler who wasted no time getting back on track over timber when fourth at Worcester last month. Tongue tie back on and has dropped below his last winning mark.

Form: 095-254

Trimmers Lane³⁵¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽⁶⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 87

33/1

Ended 2019/20 out of sorts and fared no better on return in 2020/21, so his Wetherby success from 5 lb out of weights on Boxing Day was a surprise. Up 8 lb and switches back over timber.

Form: 85P6/91-

Zara's Universe^p³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 78

7/1

Poor maiden hurdler who ran as well as she could when second of 11 (18/1) at Huntingdon (20.7f, good) 33 days ago. Not one to go overboard about and out of the weights here.

Form: 284632

Forecasts

Foillan (85/40), Blow By Blow (4/1), Get Prepared (5/1), Zara's Universe (7/1), Grooveur (7/1), Russian Service (17/2), She Has Notions (20/1), Trimmers Lane (33/1), Linger (33/1), Applaus (40/1)

It was hard not to be impressed by FOILLAN's bloodless victory on handicap debut at Hexham last month, seeming suited by the step up in trip and running out a most comprehensive winner. With further improvement on the cards, Dr Richard Newland's charge may take some stopping. Blow By Blow isn't getting any younger but he's feared most after an encouraging reappearance, ahead of Russian Service.