17:05 Southwell

Wednesday 12 April 2023

All14:0014:3015:0015:3516:0516:3517:0517:40

Cazoo Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 6m 35.87s

Barony Legends¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy| OR: 110

7/1

Took a step back in the right direction when patienttly-ridden third of 8 in handicap hurdle at Bangor (19.6f, soft) 18 days ago. Up in trip. Not ruled out.

Form: 62-4P73

Rocco^p⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Jordan Nailor| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 110| D

14/1

40/1-winner of Badger Beers at Wincanton in November 2021. Well below that form since, fourth back hurdling at Exeter last time. On a good mark if getting back on track.

Form: 5-7P444

Gentleman Valley^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 110

8/1

Scored at Uttoxeter in September but only fifth of 6 in handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (23.1f, good) 50 days ago. Unreliable type.

Form: 1P6-125

Czech Her Out²³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 109

25/1

33/1, back to form when landing 10-runner handicap hurdle at Worcester (23f, good to soft) in August. Off 7 months so needs to hit the ground running here.

Form: 32P301

Kadex^p,t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 104

8/1

Won twice over hurdles in France last season and in good heart for current yard until pulled up at Musselburgh (23.8f, good to soft) 19 days ago. Tongue strap refitted and needs to get back on track.

Form: P0627P

Sir Valentine^v¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: David Noonan| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 97

100/1

Has offered little in 4 starts over hurdles/fences for new yard since returning from a lengthy absence and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 52/7PP4

Hillfinch¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 97

10/1

Capitalised on a falling mark stepped up in trip when bagging 6-runner handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (25f, heavy) 15 days ago, digging deep. Ought to be in the shake-up despite taking a 3 lb rise.

Form: 36P021

Kingsfort Hill^t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 92| BF

7/4

Still a maiden but posted his best effort when second of 7 in handicap hurdle at this C&D (soft) 23 days ago. Not taken lightly off the same mark.

Form: 956772

Freethinker^t³⁹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 92| D

15/2

On the up since fitted with a tongue tie, winning a pair of handicaps at Newcastle. Latter success represents solid form so a 4 lb rise is unlikely to prevent another bold showing.

Form: U/95211-

My Girl Lollipop^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: S Edmunds| OR: 92

13/2

9/1, turned in much her best effort this season when runner-up in 3m2f handicap hurdle at Warwick (soft) 21 days ago. Needs to back it up now.

Form: 29-F0P2

Artic Breeze^p1¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 90| D

40/1

Point winner who showed more than previously over hurdles after 8 weeks off at Market Rasen recently and may well reveal better again in handicaps up in trip now. Interesting.

Form: 1-666P2

Non-Runners

Langley Hundred³³

Weight: 11-13| Age: 6

T: P Hobbs & J White J: Elizabeth Gale

Forecasts

Kingsfort Hill (7/4), My Girl Lollipop (13/2), Barony Legends (7/1), Freethinker (15/2), Gentleman Valley (8/1), Kadex (8/1), Hillfinch (10/1), Langley Hundred (10/1), Rocco (14/1), Czech Her Out (25/1), Artic Breeze (40/1), Sir Valentine (100/1)

FREETHINKER hasn't looked back since the tongue strap went on and is fancied to complete a hat-trick with the form of his most recent Newcastle success having been franked. Kingsfort Hill is next on the list on the back of his recent C&D second, with eye-catching Bangor third Barony Legends and the handily-weighted Rocco two others who could have a say in an open handicap.