16:40 Southwell

Tuesday 23 April 2024

All13:4514:1814:5315:3016:0516:4017:1517:50

Read Harry Cobden's Blog At PlanetSportBet Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 16:40 | Winning time: 5m 13.2s

Awaythelad^p,t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 119| D

7/2

Runner-up in a decent Lingfield handicap before landing maiden/novice events around 21f at Ludlow and Leicester in January. Pulled up in a valuable Grade 3 handicap at Sandown last time but this is a more realistic assignment.

Form: 2-7211P

Finisk River^p,t¹⁶⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 118| D

40/1

:Scored 4 times around 2½m in 2022. Back to form from reduced mark when second of 7 in handicap at Bangor in September but wasn't in the same form at Musselburgh 2 months later and absent since.

Form: 2-55527

Elogio^t,v⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 117| D

5/1

Wide-margin winner of Aintree bumper on debut/sole start for Richard Bandey in November 2022. Fair form over hurdles for current yard, off the mark in this sphere at Wetherby on Boxing Day, but he was well held in a first-time visor (retained here) at Lingfield next time.

Form: 2-26517

High Treason^t⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 116

4/1

Placed in 2 bumpers last spring and returned from wind surgery to make it third time lucky over hurdles in 19f Fontwell novice in February. Highly tried on handicap debut at Sandown and while this represents a drop in class, others make more appeal on balance.

Form: 23-3419

Clear The Runway²⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: L Morgan| OR: 115| C| D

10/1

Highly progressive hurdler/chaser in 2022 but efforts last year lacked spark and he's probably best watched here following an 8-month absence.

Form: 6-P8955

Nothin To Ask^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115WS

17/2

Hit the ground running over fences last term, bagging handicaps at Chepstow and Doncaster. No show 3 starts so far this season but has undergone wind op and resumes in this sphere on a potentially handy mark, so there is cause for optimism.

Form: P2F-9P5

Tommy Time³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 114

7/2

Useful bumper winner in Ireland who didn't need to run to that level to make a successful hurdling debut at Sedgefield (16.8f, soft) in October. Not disgraced in 3 subsequent starts and he needs considering on this handicap debut.

Form: 421423

Elham Valley¹⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: R T Dunne| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 113

33/1

Landed Stratford seller in September for Fergal O'Brien but well held all 3 subsequent starts for John Cornwall. Opposable back up in trip on first run for another new yard.

Form: P61405

Rathmacknee¹²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D O'Neill| OR: 112| D

66/1

Mixed record for Nicky Henderson last season, winning twice but also pulled up on 3 occasions. No real impact in a handful of appearances for new connections this time round and he's readily passed over.

Form: PP5-668

Rare Clouds⁴⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: James Best| T: Simon Earle| OR: 108| CD

16/1

Was knocking on the door prior to deservedly winning a 7-runner Wincanton handicap (21.4f, heavy) in January. Poor both starts since, though, and now finds himself with a bit to prove.

Form: 2331PP

Fenna's Loss^t¹⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 107| D

25/1

Fair hurdler who scored at Hexham last summer. Good second back at that course in September but pulled up both subsequent starts and he needs to bounce back.

Form: 8-102PP

Seignor Gringo¹²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 104

18/1

Off the mark over hurdles in claimer at Argentan in November 2022 and showed more than he did on debut for this yard when third at Fakenham (2m, heavy) on latest start in December. This step back up in trip should help but others make more appeal all the same.

Form: P5/12-P3

Non-Runners

Mr Bramley²⁴

Weight: 12-1| Age: 6

T: Jedd O'Keeffe J: Henry Brooke

Shinji¹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 5

T: M Keighley J: Thomas Bellamy

Forecasts

Mr Bramley (3/1), Awaythelad (7/2), Tommy Time (7/2), High Treason (4/1), Elogio (5/1), Shinji (6/1), Nothin To Ask (17/2), Clear The Runway (10/1), Rare Clouds (16/1), Seignor Gringo (18/1), Fenna's Loss (25/1), Elham Valley (33/1), Finisk River (40/1), Rathmacknee (66/1)

With the promise of more to come from the unexposed MR BRAMLEY now that he ventures down the handicap route, the 6-y-o is taken to maintain his 100% record over hurdles. Fellow handicap debutant Tommy Time could be the one to follow him home, while Awaythelad, who will find this easier than the race he contested at Sandown last time, and Nothin To Ask (resumes over hurdles on an attractive mark) are best of the rest.