18:30 Southwell

Wednesday 13 April 2022

All16:2016:5517:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Cazoo Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 6m 8.56s

Oscar Montel^b³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 120| BF| D

6/1

Held form well last year and, with usual blinkers discarded, was probably just rusty when pulled up in a handicap chase at Stratford a month ago. Headgear goes back on reverted to hurdling.

Form: 22634P

Havana Hermano²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 120

8/1

Largely consistent type who wasn't disgraced over fences at Ludlow 3 weeks and has been given a chance by the handicapper returning to this sphere. Scored around a similar time last year.

Form: 222744

Flint Hill¹⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 116| BF

7/1

Below form when last seen over hurdles 11 months ago but scored twice on the Flat subsequently. Needs to produce an improved showing on reappearance, though, so others make more appeal.

Form: 2/2361-7

Cooldine Bog^p1⁵⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Max Kendrick| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115

14/1

Made a positive start for new trainer when second over at Musselburgh on New Year's Day but shaped as if amiss at Exeter next time, then underperformed back over fences at Taunton. Cheekpieces added now.

Form: P-572P8

Honor Grey^b²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 114| D

6/4

13/2 and blinkered for 1st time, won 10-runner handicap hurdle at Ffos Las 3 weeks ago, finding plenty for pressure. Still relatively lightly raced, so could defy a 7-lb rise if the headgear works again.

Form: 28-3571

Vive Le Roi⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: A W Carroll| OR: 113| D

5/1

Veteran who produced his best effort for a while when capitalising on a reduced mark at Newbury in April. Remains well treated on old form, so can make his presence felt if in the same mood.

Form: 5-64P51

The Vollan^p,t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Lewis Dobb⁽⁷⁾| T: L Morgan| OR: 110| C

7/1

Winner at Worcester last summer (final run for Charlie Longsdon). Respectable efforts on last two starts and handicapper has dropped him further, so not a forlorn hope.

Form: 134454

Non-Runners

Guerlain De Vaux⁴⁰

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: O Sherwood J: J J Burke

Turning Gold⁴⁰

Weight: 11-1| Age: 8

T: R Bevis J: Jordan Nailor

Oscarsman⁵²⁷

Weight: 10-13| Age: 8

T: Miss S Smith J: Archie Bellamy

Game Of War²²

Weight: 10-13| Age: 10

T: Olly Williams J: J M Quinlan

Farmer's Gamble³⁷

Weight: 10-8| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Honor Grey (6/4), Vive Le Roi (5/1), Oscar Montel (6/1), The Vollan (7/1), Flint Hill (7/1), Turning Gold (7/1), Havana Hermano (8/1), Farmer's Gamble (10/1), Guerlain De Vaux (12/1), Cooldine Bog (14/1), Oscarsman (16/1), Game Of War (33/1)

An open race in which it might be worth chancing OSCAR MONTEL. He returned with a laboured display over fences at Stratford a month ago but he was without his usual headgear that day, so he's fancied to bounce back with the blinkers refitted. Last-time-out winners Honor Grey and Vive Le Roi are also likely to be involved.