16:00 Southwell

Tuesday 5 April 2022

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:05

Cazoo Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 6m 11.28s

Inca Rose^p,t⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 109WS

9/2

Maiden who has so far failed to improve in handicaps and temperament is under suspicion following a woeful effort upped to 3¼m at Warwick (heavy) last time. Hopes pinned on subsequent wind op/return to better ground helping him to get back on track.

Form: 52-2435

Sermando^p1,t²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 108

25/1

Impressed when opening hurdles account at Huntingdon (20.6f) in January 2020. Largely struggled since, but handicapper has shown mercy and will be a threat if the first-time cheekpieces do the trick.

Form: 4/4F65P

Signal Point¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 107| C

9/1

Consistent in bumpers and successful start over hurdles here (20.5f) in January. However, she has taken backward steps at Warwick and Kempton since (finishing weakly on both occasions), and she has a bit to prove now moving up in trip for this handicap bow.

Form: 3-66154

Tea For Free¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 107| D

7/1

Point winner who ran his best race yet over hurdles after a break/wind op when third of seven in 3m Ludlow novice in February. Shouldn't be judged too harshly on subsequent handicap debut at Doncaster and will benefit from stronger handling this time.

Form: 14-3533

All Thumbs Up²⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 106

7/1

Displayed a fair level of ability in a trio of maiden hurdles for Colm Murphy in Ireland, not least when third in a 17-runner event at Killarney (2½m). Absent for almost nine months, but interesting up in trip for this stable/handicap bow.

Form: P40-573

Hillview¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: G Hanmer| OR: 101| CD

2/1

Gained breakthrough success at Bangor in September and produced a career-best when landing a C&D handicap back from a break 15 days ago (finished second, but subsequently awarded the race). 5 lb rise tolerable and another bold show anticipated.

Form: 342121

Lemon T^p²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Callum Bewley| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 100| CD

6/1

Resumed winning ways over this C&D last spring and, though further progress hasn't been forthcoming, he certainly wasn't disgraced here (20.4f) back from a break/another wind op last month. 2 lb lower now and not without each-way hope.

Form: 4-14345

Banana Joe^p⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 79

9/1

Remains winless following 15 attempts under Rules and while he has place claims judged on bits and pieces of form, this 8-y-o was beaten a fair way at Sedgefield (27f) last time. 4 lb 'wrong' at the weights.

Form: P-UP335

Forecasts

Hillview (2/1), Inca Rose (9/2), Lemon T (6/1), Tea For Free (7/1), All Thumbs Up (7/1), Signal Point (9/1), Banana Joe (9/1), Sermando (25/1)

HILLVIEW has improved since switched to handicaps, and was rightly awarded the race after finishing second over this C&D on his recent return from a five-month break. There's a good chance that this 6-y-os best days are still be ahead of him and a 5 lb rise looks manageable. Irish-import All Thumbs Up needs to improve, but that's entirely possible now that he ventures down the handicap route for his new yard. He is second choice ahead of Lemon T and Sermando.