19:42 Southwell

Tuesday 7 May 2024

All16:4217:1217:4218:1218:4219:1219:4220:12

Get The Inside Track With raceday-ready.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 19:44 | Winning time: 5m 3.63s

No Thanks¹⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 112

11/1

Regained the winning thread in a handicap hurdle Ballinrobe for Matthew J. Smith last summer but unseated sole subsequent start in this sphere and below par on the Flat the last twice. On a stiff-looking mark for this yard debut following a break and others preferred.

Form: PPF/21U-

Witness Protection^p²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: James Best| T: M Keighley| OR: 112

33/1

Dual hurdles winner who made it third time lucky over fences at Chepstow in November 2021. Lightly raced and well below par since, though, and the return to this sphere failed to spark a return to form at Cheltenham last month.

Form: 4/6P6PP-

On Springs^p³⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 111| D

22/1

Not entirely straightforward but thrived during summer of 2022, winning 4 times over fences, and added to his tally when landing a small-field handicap chase at Doncaster last February. However, well held when last seen just over 12 months ago and record stands at 0-7 in this sphere.

Form: PP4U16/

Fierce Warrior⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: N J Henderson| OR: 110

5/1

Bumper winner who left hurdles debut effort behind (looked wayward going right-handed that day) back on a left-handed course at Plumpton where he won a 20.5f maiden in pretty decisive fashion. No show over same C&D since but yard was under a cloud at that point and merits respect now handicapping.

Form: 5/1515-

The Big Lense^p,t²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 110| D

15/2

Clearly more effective over the larger obstacles, as he demonstrated when landing a handicap chase at Aintree off a 14 lb higher mark last summer. Largely below par in hunters since, though, and his record in this sphere does not augur well, for all that he's potentially well treated.

Form: 41P13F-

Allbetsoff¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 107| C

6/1

Bagged his third win of 2023 in 6-runner Huntingdon claimer (15.8f, good to soft) in November. Well held back in handicap company over the same C&D next time but resumed from a break with a much better effort over this C&D a fortnight ago and he's a live each-way candidate.

Form: 314104-

Pozo Emery^v¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: J Kington| T: L Morgan| OR: 106

13/2

Promising novice hurdler for Paul Nicholls in 2021. Pulled up in 2 chase starts for new yard since returning from a long absence but back on track (to an extent) since returned to this sphere and recent C&D third off this mark was his best effort for so far for present connections.

Form: PP3243-

Solar System^h¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 101

11/4

Clear signs of ability in a couple of maiden hurdles and has predictably improved since switched to handicaps, third at Taunton in March prior to opening his account in good style with a hood enlisted (retained here) at Fontwell (17.7f, good to firm). This 6 lb higher mark should be within reach.

Form: 7/4431-

McGowan's Pass^p²⁶⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-4| J: Dylan Johnston⁽⁵⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 100

20/1

It's now 18 runs since last win in 2020 but this veteran was placed on several occasions last year prior to misfiring at Bangor when last seen 8 months ago. Resumes on a 4 lb lower mark and certainly wouldn't be without each-way hope if fully wound-up for this assignment.

Form: 23/2326-

Gieves¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Liam Harrison| T: B Pauling| OR: 99

11/1

Hooded for first time when winning a 2m novice hurdle by 19 lengths at Worcester in September. However, his mark inevitably suffered as a result of that wide-margin success and he was beaten a fair way in the Fontwell handicap won by Solar System last month.

Form: 3/91496-

Malina Ocarina¹¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: R T Dunne| T: G Hanmer| OR: 86| CD

14/1

Landed a gamble over this C&D last May but mixed bag since and she turned in a poor effort at Hereford when last seen in January.

Form: 463P0P-

Forecasts

Solar System (11/4), Fierce Warrior (5/1), Allbetsoff (6/1), Pozo Emery (13/2), The Big Lense (15/2), Gieves (11/1), No Thanks (11/1), Malina Ocarina (14/1), McGowan's Pass (20/1), On Springs (22/1), Witness Protection (33/1)

Low-mileage 5-y-os SOLAR SYSTEM and Fierce Warrior could be the pair to concentrate on and preference is for the former, who settled much better in a first-time hood when scoring in good style at Fontwell and neither this 6 lb higher mark nor the step back up in trip are likely to be an issue. It's best to draw a line through Fierce Warrior's latest effort given that his yard was enduring a torrid time of things at that point and he is clear second choice ahead of Pozo Emery and Allbetsoff.