15:10 Southwell

Tuesday 26 November 2024

All12:3513:0513:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 4m 5.48s

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Selected odds by:

Neigh Botha^p,t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 94| CD

2/1

Made a successful return over C&D in June and backed it up with a good third at Worcester. Form has dipped since but, on the upside, his mark is on the slide and he's dangerous to discount.

Form: 13P343

Illucidate^p,t²⁰³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 93

18/1

Fair ex-French Flat winner who has shown ability since switched to hurdles, equipped with first-time cheekpieces when fourth of 10 on handicap debut over C&D when last seen in May. Not without each-way hope off this 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 365-4

Danny's Friend¹⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: David Dennis| OR: 90

12/1

Appeared to take a step forward when fourth of 11 at Stratford on the third of his 3 starts in maiden hurdles. No further progress switched to handicaps the last twice, latterly on debut for new yard at Worcester in July, but he should do better in due course.

Form: 98-496

Tarbaan^b,t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C J Todd| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 90

28/1

Disappointing on the level in 2024 and he has failed to trouble the judge in 3 hurdles starts to date. However, improvement may well be forthcoming now handicapping in this sphere off a very realistic opening mark. Blinkered for the first time over hurdles.

Form: 550

Runaway Train²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁵⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 89

11/2

In good hands and shaped pretty well back from a break in an 11-runner Huntingdon maiden hurdle (15.8f, good) earlier this month. Likely to be more at home now pitched into a handicap and he's one to consider.

Form: 9-765F6

Gainsbourg⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Bruce Lynn| T: D Bourke| OR: 87

28/1

Healthy strike rate on the Flat, winner of 6 of his 27 starts on the level, but he hasn't shown much spark in a trio of appearances over hurdles so far.

Form: 6/87-

No No Espresso²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 86

14/1

Showed nothing for Charlie Longsdon in 2023 but there were some positives to glean from his debut spin for this yard back from 11 months off at Stratford. Likely to be seen in a better light now venturing down the handicap route and it'll look significant if the market speaks in his favour.

Form: 6/9PP-7

Darting Rose¹⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 84

12/1

Has hinted at promise on occasions but improvement was not forthcoming on handicap debut at Market Rasen when last seen in June.

Form: 670-648

Northern Rose^t²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: G Hanmer| OR: 84

12/1

Remains a maiden following a dozen attempts over hurdles but has several solid placed efforts to her name, not least when failing by a whisker at Stratford (18.7f, good) in July. Latest Uttoxeter fifth was decent and she's an each-way player.

Form: 392275

Motazzen^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss H C Knight| OR: 82

13/2

Fair winner on the Flat and left previous hurdling form behind when second in first-time blinkers at Uttoxeter (15.8f, good) in July. However, he has failed to build on that since and others boast more compelling credentials.

Form: P-72560

Three Zambezi's³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 82

40/1

Placed on the second of 2 starts in Irish points but out with the washing all 3 starts under Rules. Needs to take a big step forward now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 42-098

Secret Sauce^t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 81

14/1

Yet to score over hurdles and was never in the hunt on debut for new yard following a wind op at Fakenham last month. Others preferred.

Form: F7-9P06

Window Of Time^h¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 90

10/1

Fair maiden on the Flat in Ireland for Joseph O'Brien and while her form in juvenile hurdles is pretty modest, it's not hard to envisage improvement now that she makes the switch to handicap company. Shortlisted.

Form: 7323

Non-Runners

Early Morning Dew³³

Weight: 10-12| Age: 8

T: J & S Best J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Neigh Botha (2/1), Runaway Train (11/2), Motazzen (13/2), Early Morning Dew (7/1), Window Of Time (10/1), Darting Rose (12/1), Northern Rose (12/1), Danny's Friend (12/1), No No Espresso (14/1), Secret Sauce (14/1), Illucidate (18/1), Tarbaan (28/1), Gainsbourg (28/1), Three Zambezi's (40/1)

Given his solid form on the Flat this year, EARLY MORNING DEW is of strong interest returned to this sphere off a very attractive mark. He gets the nod but there are several who could leave their previous form well behind now handicapping, not least Window of Time, who is second choice. No No Espresso, Tarbaan and Runaway Train (in order of preference) all fall into that category, while top-weight Neigh Botha also needs a mention.