17:20 Southwell

Monday 3 July 2023

All14:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:55

Southwell Racecourse Supporting Racing Staff Week Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 17:22 | Winning time: 6m 18.4s

Tommydan^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 105| BF| CD

18/1

In good heart over hurdles in the autumn and picked up where he left off after a 7-month break when landing an 11-runner event over C&D last month. Tailed off back over fences at Newton Abbot since, so no surprise to see him back over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 8352-13

Blue Sans²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 99| CD

15/2

Had dropped to a dangerous mark and duly built on her Worcester reappearance to win for the first time since her handicap debut to score over C&D (good) 3 weeks ago, leading before last and just kept up to work. In the mix again.

Form: 7662-41

Bright Sunbird^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 97

11/1

Back-to-back winner last summer (awarded 2¾m novice at Cartmel). Returned to form following a break when finding just one too good at Ludlow in May, but not quite at that level on both subsequent starts, though did at least a more straightforward ride last time.

Form: 657-243

Sommervieu⁸⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: N Kent| OR: 89| D

80/1

Fair maiden hurdler in France but little promise all 6 starts for Charlie Longsdon, including when last seen over fences back in 2018. Sold for £8,000 and is a dual point winner, pulled up last time (Apr 10).

Form: 4PP/P6P-

Betty's Belle^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 86

13/2

Fair bumper winner and ran her best race over hurdles when runner-up at Uttoxeter (23.3f, good to soft, 7/1) 16 days ago, though it looked touch and go whether she'd even set off. Pulled clear of the rest that day and should go well again if her mind is on the job.

Form: 2P6-552

Just Call Me Al^t¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: B S Hughes| T: G Boanas| OR: 82

17/2

Won 3 times at Sedgefield in 2021/22 season. Largely disappointing since but ran creditably judged on recent form when third at Market Rasen (23.1f, good) 10 days ago. Potentially very well handicapped with Brian Hughes again in the saddle.

Form: 846-F63

Whataboutyeh^t³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 80| BF| CD

4/7

Won over C&D in April and came good over fences at the third attempt when scoring at Cartmel (25.5f, good to soft) 3 days ago, toying with the admirable runner-up. Back over hurdles and fancied to have a big say provided this doesn't come too soon.

Form: 091-421

Robeam^h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: R T Dunne| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 77| CD

22/1

Largely struggled since finishing third in a C&D handicap off 10 lb higher last September, failing to lay a glove on Blue Sans when held over C&D (good) 3 weeks ago. Has refused to race as recently as May (in a void race), so best to look elsewhere again.

Form: PFP-7V4

Non-Runners

Classic Concorde¹²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 10

T: D Brace J: C Brace

Forecasts

Whataboutyeh (4/7), Betty's Belle (13/2), Blue Sans (15/2), Just Call Me Al (17/2), Bright Sunbird (11/1), Classic Concorde (14/1), Tommydan (18/1), Robeam (22/1), Sommervieu (80/1)

A few in with a squeak but it was hard not to be impressed by the way WHATABOUTYEH sauntered to victory over fences at Cartmel on Friday so, provided this doesn't come too soon, Sam England's 6-y-o is fancied to take his record to 2-2 at this track. Just Call Me Al lurks on a dangerous mark, so he can give the selection most to think about, ahead of recent C&D winner Blue Sans and the mercurial Betty's Belle.