16:20 Southwell

Monday 3 February 2025

All13:1013:4014:1014:4515:1815:5016:20

Play At The Races StableDuel Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 6m 27.6s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Just Chasing May³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 95

11/2

Winner at Uttoxeter in June and has continued in good nick, third of 8 in a handicap hurdle at Lingfield (23f, good to soft) in November before solid second of 14 in a handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (23.3f, heavy), having made the running. Should be competitive again.

Form: F12232

Small Town Hero⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 93

10/1

Point winner who has been brought along steadily in this sphere having shown some promise in qualifying runs. Makes handicap debut tackling 3m for the first time but could only be of interest if market speaks in his favour. One to note in the betting.

Form: 10-560

Jongleur D'etoiles^p,t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 92

9/4

A typical improver from a yard who do so well with this type of horse. Arrives here on the back of a double having landed victories at Wincanton (beating Keable, a progressive sort) and Catterick, scoring by ½ length from Edgewell (25.3f). Up 6lb but should make a bold bid for the hat-trick here.

Form: 0-P8511

Faded Fantasy⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: David Noonan| T: Christian Williams| OR: 92| BF| C

12/1

Course winner not won since June 2023, went close on first attempt over fences at Hereford (25f) in November he's looked a difficult ride on two occasions since, when tried in different headgear. Clearly has his own ideas about the game and not one to rely on with all headgear removed today.

Form: 574274

Good Bye^b¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Bannister| T: Sara Ender| OR: 91

22/1

Proved a model of consistency during 2022/23 campaign for this yard but has taken his time to warm up since returning from 17-month absence in June. Step in the right direction when sixth of 16 in handicap hurdle at Wetherby (19.7f) 11 days ago but hard to be confident that he'll back that up.

Form: 8P7P06

Edgewell^v³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 87| D

7/1

Off the mark over fences with a cosy success in handicap at Downpatrick (23.7f) in October and back to form in this sphere when chasing home Jongleur D'etoiles last time (wore visor). Up 5 lb for finishing second given progressive nature of winner and can go well again if headgear has same impact.

Form: 696162

Just Four Fame^t,v¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: David Dennis| OR: 84

50/1

Third in an Aintree bumper in May 2022 but hurdling efforts have been uninspiring in the main, faring no better in handicaps, first-time visor having little impact when well-beaten at Market Rasen (16.6f) last month. Back to 3m here and others have stronger claims.

Form: 45PP06

De Vega's Warrior^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss H C Knight| OR: 83

12/1

A frustrating maiden on Flat. Promise in first-time cheekpieces when third of 11 (20.5f, Southwell) on handicap debut but let down by his hurdling when third of 7 in handicap hurdle at Fakenham (23.4f, good to soft, 12/1) 15 days ago. Cheekpieces back on in a bid to sharpen up his jumping.

Form: 05333

Star Vantage^h,t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 80

10/3

Remains a maiden after 17 runs but he shaped encouragingly when third of 16 in a handicap hurdle at Wetherby (24.1f, soft), in a race that is working out extremely well with 1st, 4th and 5th all having won since. Must enter calculations here.

Form: 7F-7843

Pooroldmackley^p1⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 78

40/1

Failed to complete both starts in points and only poor form over hurdles, making no impact when sixth of 7 in a handicap hurdle at Ludlow (15.8f, soft, 33/1) 70 days ago. Opposable on first try at this trip, unless market offers any hope.

Form: P-79986

Tellairsue⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 74

16/1

Benefitted from the step up in trip when landing 4-runner Fontwell handicap (25.8f) in April 2023. Returned from 20-month absence and a breathing operation when fair fourth of 12 in a handicap hurdle (50/1) at Uttoxeter (19.9f, heavy) 45 days ago. Up in trip but needs to prove he can build on that.

Form: 7P71/8-4

Forecasts

Jongleur D'etoiles (9/4), Star Vantage (10/3), Just Chasing May (11/2), Edgewell (7/1), Small Town Hero (10/1), De Vega's Warrior (12/1), Faded Fantasy (12/1), Tellairsue (16/1), Good Bye (22/1), Pooroldmackley (40/1), Just Four Fame (50/1)

Neil Mulholland has been a master at taking low-grade handicappers on a winning sequence this season and that trend may continue with the progressive JONGLEUR D'ETOILES, who can overcome a 6 lb rise. Maiden Star Vantage finished third at Wetherby in a race that is working out particularly well, so he can run well and gain compensation at a later date. Edgewell, who chased home the selection last time out, should go well again if in the same form here.