15:20 Southwell

Monday 3 January 2022

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

Watch Off The Fence On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 5m 35.51s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Hurricane Mitch^p1,t⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 102

15/2

Failed to land a meaningful blow on return/handicap bow following a wind op at Exeter (23f), but entitled to come on for that run given that it was his first for almost a year. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 52/22-7

Kazontherazz¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 102

4/1

Worcester maiden winner last summer and doubled her tally when holding on in gritty fashion at Uttoxeter (22.2f) 17 days ago. Another personal best will be needed up 5 lb here.

Form: U15921

Seemingly So^p²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Jones| T: L Morgan| OR: 101

66/1

Rather hit-and-miss since landing a Market Rasen novice back in November 2018 and, following a spell over fences, he didn't show much returned to this sphere at Ludlow last month.

Form: 45-3FP0

Supasunrise³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 99

28/1

Hasn't shone in a trio of novice hurdles at around 2m, but he's in good hands and it wouldn't be a surprise were he to raise his game now moving up in trip for this handicap debut. Watch the betting.

Form: 775

Lockdown Leader²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 99

9/1

Runner-up in 2m novice here last term and caught the eye on return when seventh in an Aintree maiden, set a lot to do. Testing conditions may have been to blame for low-key handicap debut last time.

Form: 4P2-76

Major Robinson^b,t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 98

4/1

Bumper winner who posted one of his better efforts over hurdles when fourth in a 13-runner Exeter (21.6f) handicap 18 days ago. This sharper track/better ground should help and claims down 2 lb.

Form: F57654

Thomas Kershaw⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 97

33/1

Much improved when winning a Uttoxeter maiden hurdle last spring, but has failed to back it up in 3 subsequent starts and needs to get back on track for new yard here.

Form: P9-1335

Get Supreme^t⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 94

11/1

Very much caught the eye at Fontwell in September, a performance that didn't escape notice of the stewards, but subsequent Exeter display was anything but encouraging.

Form: 66785P

Barrakhov^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 94

5/1

Took a step forward when fifth of 15 upped to 24.3f on handicap bow here last March, and performed to a similar level in Uttoxeter race won by Kazontherazz on return/debut for new yard. Place claims.

Form: 55595-5

Red Maple^t1⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 92

14/1

Fairly useful bumper winner, but yet to match that form over hurdles and wind op/switch to handicap company failed to spark improvement on return/handicap bow at Exeter (21.6f). Tongue strap enlisted.

Form: 1780-0

Cronk Y Knox^t¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 88

18/1

Showed a bit more when fitted with a first-time tongue strap at Uttoxeter (15.8f) recently, finishing third in a 9-runner handicap. 2 lb lower here and possibilities with this stiffer test a plus.

Form: 0887-P3

Dr Oakley¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 86

33/1

Opened his account off this mark at Wincanton in February 2020 and positives to glean from comeback spin over 18.7f at Stratford in October. Poor effort next time, though, and others preferred.

Form: 3U1F/6P

Poker Master¹³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: R P McLernon| T: P J McBride| OR: 85

100/1

Shaped well on a couple of occasions early last season, but he has questions to answer following tame efforts here and at Stratford during the summer.

Form: 5525-70

Classic Tune^t¹⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-8| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 84| CD

9/1

Snapped a long losing run when bagging a C&D handicap off 5 lb higher last season. Fair efforts in big-field handicaps both starts so far this season and this veteran is not without each-way hope.

Form: 9140-66

Non-Runners

Independence³⁹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: B Barr J: Lorcan Williams

Dare To Begin²⁴

Weight: 10-10| Age: 7

T: Mrs Stella Barclay J: Fergus Gregory

Forecasts

Kazontherazz (4/1), Major Robinson (4/1), Barrakhov (5/1), Independence (6/1), Hurricane Mitch (15/2), Classic Tune (9/1), Lockdown Leader (9/1), Get Supreme (11/1), Red Maple (14/1), Cronk Y Knox (18/1), Supasunrise (28/1), Dr Oakley (33/1), Thomas Kershaw (33/1), Dare To Begin (50/1), Seemingly So (66/1), Poker Master (100/1)

The vote in this open-looking race goes to MAJOR ROBINSON, who has slipped to an attractive mark and signalled that he may soon capitalise on the handicapper's mercy when fourth at Exeter last time. The combination of this sharper track and the forecast quicker surface should be conducive to an even bigger effort from this 6-y-o. Hurricane Mitch, Independence and Supasunrise all look dangerous.