20:45 Southwell

Monday 15 May 2023

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Play With The Finest Bookmaker, Fitzdares Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 20:47 | Winning time: 4m 8.50s

Too Friendly²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: Aidan Coleman| T: James Owen| OR: 121| BF| D

15/8

Won 2 juvenile hurdles last season (also fifth in Fred Winter) and several creditable efforts in higher-grade handicaps than this during the present campaign. Shaped better than the distance beaten when third on debut for new yard at Kempton (2m, heavy) and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 224653-

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Elham Valley^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| D

4/1

Bagged handicaps at Warwick and Newton Abbot last year. Returned to form following a string of below par performances when runner-up off this mark at Kempton (Too Friendly 5 lengths adrift in third) last time and claims if able to back that effort up here.

Form: 412002-

Toronet⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 116

22/1

Winner of a claiming hurdle at Fontainebleau (17.6f, soft) when last seen in February (subsequently claimed from Julien Phelippon for €19,999). Hard to weigh up starting out for new connections here and percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 5261-

Tarahumara⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 108| BF| DWS

18/5

Built on promising hurdling bow when easily taking 14-runner novice at Chepstow (2m, good) in April of last year. Failed to meet expectations (later found to have bled) on chase debut at Uttoxeter in February (since undergone a wind op) and claims if able to get back on track returned to hurdles.

Form: 21/5-

Restandbethankful^t²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: R Menzies| OR: 107| D

7/2

Scored 3 times over timber for Olly Murphy in 2021. Failed to strike following a half-a-dozen chase starts and well held back in this sphere at Ayr last month, albeit he was partnered by an inexperienced jockey (first ride under Rules) that day and better can be expected with Brian Hughes up here.

Form: 324P35-

With A Start¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁷⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 107| D

66/1

Maiden hurdle winner for Noel Meade back in July 2020 but largely struggled since and was pulled up on hurdles debut for this yard over 20.4f here recently.

Form: 1500/P-

Karannelle^h,t²⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Hammond| T: D A Rees| OR: 102| D

8/1

Enjoyed a productive spell last summer, landing back-to-back handicaps and ending the year with runners-up efforts at Newton Abbot over 16.7f on good/good to firm. Has gone well fresh previously and usual hood refitted ahead but she could do with the ground drying it.

Form: 113522-

Non-Runners

Sea The Clouds¹⁷⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: Jamie Snowden J: Non Runner

McGowan's Pass³⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 12

T: J Candlish J: William Shanahan

Forecasts

Too Friendly (15/8), Restandbethankful (7/2), Tarahumara (18/5), Elham Valley (4/1), Sea The Clouds (4/1), McGowan's Pass (13/2), Karannelle (8/1), Toronet (22/1), With A Start (66/1)

TOO FRIENDLY ultimately did too much too soon when third starting out for his new yard at Kempton 3 weeks ago and, if delivered later in the piece by Aidan Coleman here, the 5-y-o could be the answer. Tarahumara will be a threat if able to get back on track returned to this sphere on the back of a wind operation, while Sea The Clouds is also accorded respect.