17:15 Southwell

Tuesday 3 October 2023

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:1517:45

weatherbysshop.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 4m 0.62s

Byzantine Empire^t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Daire Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 120| CD

7/2

Landed pair of small field handicap chase events (at around 2m) in 2022. Progress stalled in that sphere thereafter and not at his best back over hurdles/on Flat recently. 7-lb conditional takes over in the saddle.

Form: 1226-46

Elham Valley^b,t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Patrick Cowley⁽³⁾| T: J R Cornwall| OR: 120| D

33/1

Retuned to form with blinkers refitted when running away with a 8-runner selling handicap hurdle at Stratford (18.7f, good) 24 days ago. Has left Fergal O'Brien and is 4 lb higher in a stronger race.

Form: 02-2P61

Feel The Pinch^t⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Toby Wynne⁽⁵⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 113| D

13/2

Resumed winning ways in 4-runner handicap chase at Ffos Las in May and followed up back hurdling in another small-field affair at Bangor (16.7f, good). Well held in the mud at Cartmel on most recent outing. Bounce back required.

Form: 3U-3116

Sergeant Wilson¹⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 112| D

10/11

Got back on track in first-time hood when landing 2m novice hurdle at Fakenham in February. Shaped like the best horse at the weights (did too much too soon) when collared on line in 2m Doncaster handicap prior to being pulled up at Sandown on final outing. Worth another chance on return.

Form: 32012P-

Socialist Agenda⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 112| D

33/1

Fair handicap hurdler who posted a good effort when second of 5 in a Musselburgh handicap in December. Below form since and achieved only modest form at best in 5 Flat starts this summer. Enough to prove back over hurdles.

Form: 8267-85

Polyphonic^h¹³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: James Owen| OR: 112

15/2

Fairly useful 11f winner on Flat for Karl Burke who got off the mark over hurdles at the second attempt in a Fontwell juvenile in December. Has proven more consistent than progressive since but has made an interesting stable switch.

Form: 54522-P

Ithaka¹⁸¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Benjamin Poste| T: R Potter| OR: 107| BF

66/1

Justified support dropped in grade when landing Wincanton handicap in March. Never looked like following up off the same mark on chasing debut there a week later but makes his seasonal return back over hurdles with his yard very much amongst the winners. Watch betting.

Form: 070915-

Stonific^p³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: G Hanmer| OR: 106| D

10/1

Won the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen for David O'Meara in July 2021 but doesn't look anything like the force of old based on his recent hurdle/Flat efforts.

Form: 5647-87

Forecasts

Sergeant Wilson (10/11), Byzantine Empire (7/2), Feel The Pinch (13/2), Polyphonic (15/2), Stonific (10/1), Elham Valley (33/1), Socialist Agenda (33/1), Ithaka (66/1)

SERGEANT WILSON is undoubtedly a quirky customer, but he looked the likely winner for much of the race only to be reeled in on the line in a Doncaster handicap in March and makes plenty of appeal on his return with his yard amongst the winners. Polyphonic is a consistent sort who could take his form up to a new level having joined the upwardly-mobile stable of James Owen, with Ithaka another to keep a close eye on in the betting.