14:15 Southwell

Tuesday 4 June 2024

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:2016:5017:2017:50

Prestige Safety 'Your Trusted Safety Partner' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 9.35s

Sea Prince²¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 112| D

12/1

While it's been a struggle since he opened his chase account at Stratford back in August 2022, this 8-y-o boasts a good record when fresh (form figures read 1U22 following breaks of around 6 months or more) and the handicapper has given him a chance.

Form: 43/2465-

Isocrate²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 110

12/1

Left hurdles debut form well behind when just touched off in a 2m Sandown novice in February and again found just one too good at Exeter next time. Didn't appear to stay 21f on his latest start and he's interesting back down in trip on this chase debut.

Form: 45/522-4

Homme D'Un Soir^v⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: James Bowen| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 109| D

9/1

Pretty useful hurdler/chaser for Stuart Crawford in his prime. Posted his best effort since joining this yard when second in a 6-runner handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (15.8f, soft) recently and he's one to consider off the same mark back in this sphere.

Form: 3246-42

Chase A Fortune²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: C Grant| OR: 108| D

13/2

Bettered hurdles exploits when making a winning chase debut following a wind op at Catterick (15.7f, soft) in February. By no means disgraced in 3 subsequent starts and shapes as though he'll benefit from this switch to a sharper track.

Form: 83135-3

Legendary Day¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: B S Hughes| T: A Keatley| OR: 107| D

11/1

Made winning start on yard/hurdles bow at Sedgefield in November 2022 and has won 4 times on the level since. Recent efforts on the level have been poor, though, and he needs to get back on track now tackling fences.

Form: 123/6-

Post No Bills³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: S Bowen| T: R Potter| OR: 106

25/1

Bagged 3 handicap chases in 2023, readily making all at Plumpton (17f, good) for latest success in September. However, he hasn't put his best foot forward in 3 starts since returning from a break in March.

Form: 21345-7

Romanor²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 106| D

22/1

Keen sort and usually held up (best delivered late), tactics which very nearly paid off at Newton Abbot in September. Well below par since, though, and he's probably worth taking on, for all that he is on a good mark if able to get back on track.

Form: 35253-6

Texard¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: R J Armson| OR: 105| D

16/1

Easily best effort for this yard when wide-margin winner at Market Rasen (17.2f, good to soft) in April. Not in the same form both subsequent starts, though, and will likely find at least one or two too good once more.

Form: 4631-34

Icare Grandchamp¹⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 102

28/1

Lightly-raced ex-French hurdler who was a good second in 19f Fontwell handicap on reappearance in September. However, he was too keen at Plumpton later that month and then failed to make an impact on chase debut when last seen in November.

Form: 5PP/207-

Mystic Man^p²⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁵⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 101| C

4/1

Winner of 2 of his 3 starts over fences for Oliver Sherwood and made it 2-2 for present yard with back-to-back wins over 20.5f here in September/October. Nudged up just 1 lb for latest success and will be a huge player if he copes with this drop back in trip.

Form: P/11P11-

Brown Monday¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: P Hanlon⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 98

40/1

Remains a maiden following a dozen starts under Rules and this Irish raider will need to find improvement from somewhere if he's to open his account here.

Form: B7F/6P-4

Abaya Du Mathan^t,p¹⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: G Hanmer| OR: 94| CD

7/1

Has done well since joining current connections, winner of a match over C&D in January and a 12-runner handicap chase at Warwick on penultimate start. Paid the price for chasing a strong pace at Bangor recently and he's in with an each-way shout.

Form: P1331-3

We Got Your Back^h,t⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: L Morgan| OR: 90

16/1

Winless following half-a-dozen attempts over hurdles but was runner-up twice here in handicaps earlier this year. Latest effort at Market Rasen lacked spark, though, and needs to raise his game now switched to the larger obstacles.

Form: 068229-

Tropical Talent^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 86

9/2

Off the mark at the third time in this sphere when, fitted with a first-time tongue strap, accounting for 10 rivals in a Sedgefield handicap (17f, good) last month. 4 lb rise isn't the end of the world, especially considering that he remains unexposed as a chaser.

Form: 44/P34-1

Forecasts

Mystic Man (4/1), Tropical Talent (9/2), Chase A Fortune (13/2), Abaya Du Mathan (7/1), Homme D'Un Soir (9/1), Legendary Day (11/1), Isocrate (12/1), Sea Prince (12/1), Texard (16/1), We Got Your Back (16/1), Romanor (22/1), Post No Bills (25/1), Icare Grandchamp (28/1), Brown Monday (40/1)

Provided he's ready to roll following a eight-month break, MYSTIC MAN may well enhance his already impressive record over fences. He admittedly made rather hard work of things when landing the odds here last time but he's only gone up 1 lb for that and it's possible that this front-runner will be suited by dropping back to the minimum trip. Isocrate will be a threat if his jumping passes the test on this chase debut, while Tropical Talent is third choice ahead of Homme d'Un Soir.