14:20 Southwell

Tuesday 5 December 2017

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:20

Chillipetals Florist & Coffee Shop Tuxford Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 3m 58.36s

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Selected odds by:

Ashkoul^t1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

5/2

Rated in the 90s on the Flat last season for Mick Appleby, though unable to add to his two French wins. Beaten 4½L on stable/hurdles debut at Kempton last month when sent off at 100-30. Probably capable of better and should again go well.

Form: 2

Ataman²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy K Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy

50/1

Form has gone backwards on the Flat in 2017 and his SP has increased with each of his three hurdles runs, being thrashed in all of them. Has a lot of improving to do to get competitive.

Form: 596

Copper West²⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George

6/1

Irish point-to-point winner who shaped with some encouragment when last seen in a Killarney bumper in May. Bought for £55,000 since and now has stable/hurdles debut. Nice pedigree and a good intro to obstacles would not surprise.

Form: 15-4

First Du Charmil²⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: S Drinkwater

8/1

Showed promise in a bumper and on his hurdles debut, but well beaten when last seen in March and now makes debut for this yard. Yet to race on a sound surface but if he acts on it then there is no reason why he can't get back on track.

Form: 4/34-

Mad For Action¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill

12/1

Has been quiet enough in his two runs so far, a Bangor novices' hurdle and a similar race at Uttoxeter, both on good ground. Now switches to this grade and could do better, though beginning to look more interesting as a handicapper.

Form: 86

Mahlervous¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex

10/1

Has shown promise in both bumper runs, the latter on his return in Listed company at Cheltenham last month. Plenty of hurdling success among his relations, so should be capable of improvement and market check suggested with champ aboard.

Form: 4-9

River Bray^h³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: V R A Dartnall

33/1

Better bumper form than most of these (including on good) but weakened out of it tamely on his hurdles debut at Uttoxeter last month. Would have liked to have seen more and has a bit to prove on that evidence.

Form: 4-28

Rollerball Rocco¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: A Pogson| T: C T Pogson

100/1

Was runner-up in an Irish point-to-point before changing hands for £15,000 in May. 50-1 ahead of his hurdles debut here (3m, good) last month, when he was keen and eventually beaten 159L. Drop in trip not ideal and looks best watched.

Form: 762-4

Signed And Sealed^p1⁵⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| BF

12/1

Runner-up in 3-4 starts on the Flat for Mark Johnston in 2016 (rated 66) but not seen since. Stayed 1m2f in that sphere and so this sort of trip should suit over hurdles. Stable debut today in cheek pieces and market check suggested.

Form:

Sir Egbert^h²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: T Lacey

9/2

Was right in it until two out on his hurdles debut at Ffos Las last month (2m). That was very promising in the context of this race and he is entitled to come on for it. Has only raced on soft going, but if he handles this ground then he has claims.

Form: 39-3

Snobbery⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

25/1

Won a Wolverhampton maiden (1m4f, AW) a year ago for Roger Charlton and was beaten 2L from a mark of 78 in a subsequent handicap. Yet to show much spark in two hurdles runs for this yard and has a bit to prove.

Form: 55

Wenceslaus⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 114

12/1

Has been making minor gains over hurdles so far, his best effort coming in a Stratford maiden last time out (2m½f, good to soft) when a staying-on 11L third. Allotted a mark of just 114, so it is a concern that connections stick to this route.

Form: 584U3

Phoenix Rock⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

25/1

Drifted to 14-1 before her hurdles debut at Worcester (2m, good) in October, when she ran well until fading from two out. Looks to be yard's second string on jockey bookings and probably one to watch again this time.

Form: F-4

Scorpion Princess²⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| CD

8/1

Looks to have had her problems since winning a bumper here in March 2016 (on good). Restricted to just one start in the Grade 2 mares' bumper at Aintree last season (beaten 45L). Bred to jump a hurdle, so market check suggested ahead of debut.

Form: 3291/0-

Forecasts

Ashkoul (5/2), Sir Egbert (9/2), Copper West (6/1), First Du Charmil (8/1), Scorpion Princess (8/1), Mahlervous (10/1), Mad For Action (12/1), Wenceslaus (12/1), Signed And Sealed (12/1), Phoenix Rock (25/1), Snobbery (25/1), River Bray (33/1), Ataman (50/1), Rollerball Rocco (100/1)

ASHKOUL is significantly superior to this field on Flat ratings and, while that has never been a definitive marker under this code, he still looks to have more scope than most here and gets the vote to prevail on his second start over timber. First Du Charmil promises that there should be more to come, while that also applies to Sir Egbert and the hurdling newcomer Signed And Sealed. Copper West is perhaps the most eyecatching debutante on paper and should be checked in the market, while Mahlervous has some bumper experience and a bold showing would not surprise under Richard Johnson.