15:30 Southwell

Monday 20 June 2022

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3016:0016:30

Prestige Safety Nationwide H&S Support Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 5m 58.07s

Friary Rock^t1,v⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 100

3/1

Fairly useful jumper in Ireland, winning maiden chase in July. Good third in Gowran handicap hurdle in October (final run for Mouse Morris) but low-key start for current yard earlier this year. Visor back on returning from a short break and worth noting if strong in the betting.

Form: P8777P-

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Envol De La Cour^h,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 99

22/1

Free-going sort who is now operating below last winning mark but he ran poorly on the back of 4 months off at Ffos Las 23 days ago, dropping away 2 out. Goes back up in trip now.

Form: 33445-7

Viking Ruby^p,t³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 97| D

16/1

Winless over hurdles/fences last season and stepped up on return at Huntingdon (25f) when runner-up in 5-runner mares' handicap at Stratford (26.4f) last month, headed run-in but keeping on. Live player with a repeat.

Form: P030-82

Kings Creek^p,t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Walford| OR: 96| CD

8/1

Consistent sort who landed 10-runner C&D handicap on his penultimate start, leading before last and pushed out. Similar form when fourth from 3 lb higher mark back here 2 weeks ago and no reason why he won't give another good account.

Form: 253-214

Lemon T^b¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Callum Bewley| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 95| CD

14/1

C&D winner last spring who went winless thereafter last term but shaped as if back in form (in first-time blinkers) when fifth in 9-runner handicap back here 2 weeks ago. Eased further 3 lb since and no surprise to see him thereabouts.

Form: 4345P-5

Knotty Ash⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 99

20/1

Flat-bred but justified short-priced favouritism on debut in a juvenile hurdle at Market Rasen (16.5f) 12 months ago. Failed to progress thereafter though, and he'll need to step up plenty on last month's return to action now up markedly in trip.

Form: 1467-6

Robeam^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁵⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 87| CD

9/1

Posted best effort for some time when taking 6-runner C&D handicap in May and not disgraced despite not jumping all that well when third at Uttoxeter (23.3f) subsequently. No forlorn hope back here.

Form: 760-413

Happy Larry²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr P York⁽⁵⁾| T: P York| OR: 86| D

66/1

Matched previous best over hurdles when 12 lengths fourth of 7 at Fontwell (25.7f) in April possibly stretched by the trip. Has failed to figure either start back over fences since and return to timber rates an obvious plus.

Form: 8654-5P

Abington Park²¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 85| BF

15/2

Gained his breakthrough win at Hexham in August and matched that level when placed next 2 starts at up to 25f. Faded from some way out at Newcastle when last seen in November but bounce back not ruled out on back of a break.

Form: P41320-

Matchmaking¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 83| CD

5/2

One-time fairly useful Flat winner who opened hurdles account over C&D in April and followed up from 5 lb higher mark at Huntingdon 17 days ago. Had nothing to spare latterly but fact he arrives in good order can count for plenty.

Form: P0841-1

Get Phar¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: D Brooke| OR: 83WS

10/1

Placed 4 times in handicap hurdles at up to 25f for Eoin Griffin last spring but was operating some way below best in handful of starts upon joining present yard over the winter. Arrives on a career-low mark if subsequent wind op has had positive effect.

Form: 28900F-

Grannie Annie^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: A Keatley| OR: 81

25/1

Limited impact in trio of novice/maiden hurdles but did get a little closer (in cheekpieces) despite finishing seventh of 8 on handicap debut at Hexham (23.3f) earlier this month, staying on run-in. Far less exposed than most at least and booking of Brian Hughes catches the eye.

Form: 66-67

Non-Runners

Pola Chance²³

Weight: 10-8| Age: 6

T: N J Hawke J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Matchmaking (5/2), Friary Rock (3/1), Abington Park (15/2), Kings Creek (8/1), Robeam (9/1), Get Phar (10/1), Lemon T (14/1), Viking Ruby (16/1), Pola Chance (16/1), Knotty Ash (20/1), Envol De La Cour (22/1), Grannie Annie (25/1), Happy Larry (66/1)

VIKING RUBY stepped up as expected on her return at Huntingdon when runner-up over further at Stratford last month and she gets the nod to to come out on top given she remains 5 lb below her last winning mark. The hat-trick seeking Matchmaking is feared, whilst Get Phar, back from a break/wind op, and Grannie Annie, who is less exposed than most, are also worth a second look.