19:40 Southwell

Tuesday 18 July 2023

All17:3518:0518:3519:1019:4020:10

Vickers.Bet App Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 19:41 | Winning time: 4m 2.22s

Young Merlin²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| CD

5/6

Fair Flat winner in France who impressed in making a successful hurdles debut in 6-runner C&D event 22 days ago, quickened to lead approaching last and driven clear. Open to improvement and may prove up to defying a penalty.

Form: 1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Bolberry Down^p³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: K Jewell| OR: 73

40/1

Poor/unreliable maiden who has offered little both starts this term.

Form: PPP2-P5

Book of Secrets^p1,t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: C J Todd| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 100

16/1

Fair on the Flat and similar standard over hurdles. Left Dan Skelton after finishing a creditable second in a 2m Stratford seller but has failed to see out his races on both starts for new yard. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 23/4-244

Dee Day Landing³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: M Weatherer| OR: 73

200/1

Little sign of ability in bumpers/over hurdles.

Form: 4UP-P57

Grand Scheme^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonathan England| T: S England

13/2

Fairly useful handicapper on the Flat for Richard Hannon. Below that level in 2 runs over hurdles, though caught the eye at Hexham last time and looks the type to do better in handicaps after this run.

Form: 54

Il Cima¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: L Morgan

80/1

Well held in bumper/pair of novice hurdles.

Form: 566

Moo Moo's Milan¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan

100/1

Badly in need of the experience when well held in a novice hurdle at Worcester (16f, good) on debut 13 days ago.

Form: 9

My Boy Grizzle^h,t1¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: C Ellam| OR: 72

150/1

No form over hurdles and easily passed over in a first-time tongue strap.

Form: 4/5P-P

Lucky Draw^h²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: D Bourne| OR: 102

13/8

Fair on Flat and similar form over hurdles, shaping well when finding only one too good in 8-runner handicap at Market Rasen (16.6f) 25 days ago, closing all the way to the line. Leading claims back in a novice.

Form: 4049-22

Non-Runners

Ve Day²⁸

Weight: 11-5| Age: 4

T: D McCain Jnr J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Young Merlin (5/6), Lucky Draw (13/8), Ve Day (10/3), Grand Scheme (13/2), Book of Secrets (16/1), Bolberry Down (40/1), Il Cima (80/1), Moo Moo's Milan (100/1), My Boy Grizzle (150/1), Dee Day Landing (200/1)

YOUNG MERLIN impressed when making a successful hurdling debut over C&D last month and looks up to defying a penalty with improvement on the cards. Lucky Star again shaped well in almost getting there from the very back of the field in a Market Rasen handicap on her most recent outing and rates the main threat ahead of Ve Day.