15:35 Southwell

Monday 20 March 2023

All14:0014:3515:0515:3516:0516:3517:05

Download The Rhino.Bet App Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 5m 27.76s

Glencassley³⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 111| BF| C| D

13/2

Winner of novice events here and at Wetherby in 2021, and largely acquitted himself well switched to handicap company last season, for all that he was a shade disappointing on final start of that campaign. Eased 5 lb since and will be a threat if ready to roll following 11 months off.

Form: 1563F4-

Republican^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood| OR: 110| D

15/2

Snapped a long losing run when edging home in front in a 4-runner Hereford handicap (19.7f) last month. Up just 1 lb for that but this is tougher and, in any case, he's by no means an obvious type to follow up.

Form: 54-7441

Grasse D'oliverie^t1⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Luca Morgan| T: A M Hales| OR: 110

100/1

Wide-margin winner of a mares' hurdle at Cagnes-sur-Mer a year ago but not at the same level since, including on yard debut in 2m Chepstow handicap hurdle in January. Needs to take a sizeable step forward upped in trip here.

Form: 1276F-9

Leading Theatre⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Max Kendrick| T: F O'Brien| OR: 109

14/1

Dual bumper winner who registered her second victory in this sphere at Fontwell in October. Runner-up both starts since, latterly collared close home by an unexposed type at Hereford (19.7f), in turn pulling nicely clear of the third, who has won since. Should give another good account.

Form: 134122

Bertie Blue²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 108

11/2

Showed plenty of ability in bumpers and likewise in maiden hurdles at Plumpton and Chepstow (both at around this trip on good to soft). Improvement likely now making his way into handicap company and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 7525-32

Jacks Touch⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 108

16/1

Fair form when runner-up first 2 starts over hurdles 21 months apart but hasn't made much of an impact the last twice, including when sixth of 17 on handicap debut at Huntingdon.

Form: 2/266

Pay The Pilot⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 108| D

33/1

Picked up for £130,000 after finishing second in an Irish bumper and made winning yard/hurdles debut in a 3-runner Ffos Las novice (2½m) last spring. However, he didn't offer much when pulled up on return/handicap bow in in first-time eyeshields (discarded here) at Hereford in January.

Form: 2/1-P

Pinnacle Peak^p⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 107| CD

11/1

Much improved when the cheekpieces went on in 2021, completing a a hat-trick in handicap hurdles with a wide-margin success over this C&D. Well held both starts over fences since returning from an 18-month absence, though, and needs to bounce back in a major way now returned to this sphere.

Form: 4111-P6

Tigerten¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 107

22/1

Won Kempton novice hurdle (21f) for David Bridgwater last February but generally below in various race-types since, both over jumps and on the Flat. Not disgraced second start for new yard on the level recently but opposable back hurdling in this competitive race.

Form: 133-44F

White Rhino³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 93| CD

1/1

Didn't show much in maiden/novice company but left that form miles behind upped in trip for his handicap bow when scoring in decisive fashion over C&D last month. Followed up under a penalty in equally good style at Wetherby and very much of interest, despite a significant rise in the weights.

Form: 70011

Non-Runners

Surtitle¹⁷

Weight: 12-2| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: Jack Hogan

Eyed⁵²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: P R Webber J: K Brogan

Forecasts

White Rhino (1/1), Bertie Blue (11/2), Glencassley (13/2), Republican (15/2), Surtitle (10/1), Pinnacle Peak (11/1), Leading Theatre (14/1), Jacks Touch (16/1), Tigerten (22/1), Pay The Pilot (33/1), Eyed (33/1), Grasse D'oliverie (100/1)

WHITE RHINO is now 19 lb higher compared to when making a winning handicap debut over C&D last month, but the way he went about his business when going in again at Wetherby a week later suggested that he is on a pretty steep upward curve. Indeed, this low-mileage 7-y-o probably has more to offer and he gets the nod ahead of another with few miles on the clock in Bertie Blue. If Glencassley is tuned-up following a break he could also have a say, along with the consistent Leading Theatre.