17:55 Southwell

Monday 3 July 2023

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

Southwell Racecourse Supporting Racing Staff Week Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 17:55 | Winning time: 6m 13.5s

Secret Trix^p⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 102| CD

15/8

Suited by step up in trip when opening account in handicap at Fakenham (23.4f) in November, before placing on his next 2 starts. After 3 months off and in first-time cheekpieces, returned to winning ways with a ready success at this C&D in May. Leading contender.

Form: 0/5133-1

Lelantos^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 101| CD

7/1

Recorded a third success in handicap hurdles when scoring at Bangor (23f) last summer. After 6 months off, turned in a rare poor effort at Ludlow in May, but left that run behind when third of 6 at Worcester last time. Can give his running again.

Form: 12P3-73

Female Approach³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Craig Nichol| T: D Bourke| OR: 94

33/1

Fair handicapper at best on the Flat and similar merit over hurdles in Ireland. On her first run since leaving Denis Hogan, never landed a blow when ninth at Hexham (20.1f) a month ago. More needed to gain a first success in this sphere.

Form: 8034-69

Student Chap^t1⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 92

10/1

Yet to build on hurdle debut fourth at Worcester (20f) in December, including switched to handicaps on his last 2 starts. Pulled up back at Worcester on his latest outing, so this step up in trip (tongue strap now applied) needs to spark a return to form.

Form: 4/4870-P

Maroochi¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 88

15/2

After a sequence of frame finishes, deservedly opened her account at Newton Abbot (21.5f) last September. Stepped up on her return when fourth of 7 at Aintree (24.7f) 17 days ago, so she can give another good account.

Form: 21FF-54

Coconut Twist¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Reed| T: B Barr| OR: 83

11/4

Has returned to form this season as he has finished runner-up on all 3 starts of the campaign, posting another good effort without his usual hood at Fontwell (21.8f) 17 days ago. Can make his presence felt on only his second try at this trip.

Form: 640-222

The Longest Day^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Roisin Leech⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 81

11/2

Has been going the right way since returning from a 15-month absence in the spring, stepping forward from his reappearance run to place on his 3 last starts. Runner-up at this C&D 3 weeks ago and he can be thereabouts once more.

Form: 53/72-32

Sight Nor Seen^p,t¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 74

50/1

Fair hurdler/chaser in Ireland at best but below level for his current connections. Fared better than for a while when fourth at Hexham (20.1f) in June, though not in the same form when pulled up later in the month. Return of cheekpieces not enough to tempt.

Form: P5P-64P

Non-Runners

Racing Spirit²⁷

Weight: 10-4| Age: 11

T: Dave Roberts J: Lee Edwards

Forecasts

Secret Trix (15/8), Coconut Twist (11/4), The Longest Day (11/2), Racing Spirit (6/1), Lelantos (7/1), Maroochi (15/2), Student Chap (10/1), Female Approach (33/1), Sight Nor Seen (50/1)

SECRET TRIX has shown improved form since stepping up in trip, producing a career best in first-time cheekpieces when winning readily over this C&D in May. He can continue his progress to see off the challenge of The Longest Day, who ran well when second here 3 weeks ago. Coconut Twist also merits consideration.