April 12 / 17.05 Southwell

17.05

Good

Cazoo Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4330.42
  • 3m 0f 60y
  • Class 4
  • 12 runners
SKY
View Course
Cazoo Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 32P301

Last run: 232 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Returned to form to cause 33-1 surprise at Worcester (2m7f, good) last summer but subsequent 9lb rise asks quite a lot of her, and she has fitness to prove after a 232-day layoff.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

13:35 Haydock

Czech Her Out

10st 11lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Given an excellent ride by Patrick Wadge to win at Ayr (3m, soft) three weeks ago in a peculiar race (big early gaps); this 10yo is on a career-high mark now back against males but a strongly run race in a big field should be right up her street and she's also effective on good going; respected.

10/1

14

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

13:35 Haydock

Czech Her Out

10st 11lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Given an excellent ride by Patrick Wadge to win at Ayr (3m, soft) three weeks ago in a peculiar race (big early gaps); this 10yo is on a career-high mark now back against males but a strongly run race in a big field should be right up her street and she's also effective on good going; respected.

10/1

1st

7

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 2

15:00 Ayr

Czech Her Out

10st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

midfield behind clear leaders, went fourth after 9th, headway from 3 out, led after last, soon ridden and went clear, comfortably

20/1

Form: 36P021 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Suffered a mid-season dip in form but has turned things around lately, and comes here after a hard-fought win at Huntingdon (3m1f, soft) two weeks ago; remains unexposed over this sort of trip and should be fine on today's forecast quicker ground; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

3rd Mar 2024

Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:15 Huntingdon

Hillfinch

11st 5lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Dual course winner, latterly off 3lb higher over C&D (soft) just under a year ago; out of form this season, though, and needs to turn a corner; wore cheekpieces the last twice; visor tried today.

14/1

10th

3

7th Feb 2024

Soft

3m 3f 9y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Hillfinch

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Now back on same mark as for hard-fought win at Huntingdon (3m1f, soft) last March but dropped out of contention very tamely on final two starts last year (cheekpieces added last time) and comes here with a point to prove.

12/1

5th

4

19th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 4

15:10 Fakenham

Hillfinch

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Ended last season in good form, most notably when winning at Huntingdon (3m1f, soft); made a satisfactory reappearance last month but dropped out very quickly after making the running at Market Rasen on latest outing and needs to put that performance behind her; sports first-time cheekpieces.

8/1

Form: 9-F0P2

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
0-8 over hurdles but returned to form and ran big race in defeat at Warwick (3m2f, soft) last month; only 1lb higher here and will be a tough nut to crack if in similar mood again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

27th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

15:35 Leicester

My Girl Lollipop

11st 8lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Placed in a bumper and five hurdles at up to 3m2f, including on soft; entitled to need the run when pulled up on chase debut for new yard in January but might need this too, and regular cheekpieces still left off.

14/1

0

3

11th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

13:20 Catterick

My Girl Lollipop

11st 8lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

12-race maiden but ran well to be placed in handicap hurdles last spring on final three runs for Stuart Edmunds (3m-3m2f, soft-good) and she'll be in the mix if transferring that form to fences at the first attempt.

13/2

Form: P6-125 D

Last run: 50 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Scored on seasonal debut at Uttoxeter (2m7f, good; first-time tongue-tie) in September and ran at least as well when second at Worcester (2m7f, soft) the following month; returned from a break with a lesser effort in February and needs that outing to have done him good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

24th Oct 2023

Good

2m 7f 25y

Class 3

16:00 Exeter

Gentleman Valley

11st 12lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Won three in a row in early part of this season (2m7f-3m1f) and was set to finish second off today's mark before last-flight fall at Warwick (2m5f, good) this month; respected.

7/1

0

5

5th Oct 2023

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 3

15:35 Warwick

Gentleman Valley

11st 12lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

In fine form in the summer and completed his hat-trick in 2m7f Worcester handicap hurdle; posted another solid effort off a 6lb higher mark when fourth at Stratford (3m2f) last time so he's shortlisted.

5/1

4th

4

3rd Aug 2023

Good

3m 2f 83y

Class 3

17:25 Stratford

Gentleman Valley

11st 9lb

J: Dylan Whelan

T: Ben Pauling

Has his quirks but going great guns this summer and completed a hat-trick with a career-best effort at Worcester last month; has form on soft ground and no surprise if he proves up to this 6lb higher mark.

9/4

OUR TIP

Form: 2-4P73

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Chasing didn't go to plan during the winter and he made a low-key return to hurdling in February but last month's keeping-on third at Bangor (2m3f, good to soft) was a lot more encouraging; unexposed over 3m and sure to appreciate today's ease in grade; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

15th May 2023

Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

19:45 Southwell

Barony Legends

11st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

in rear

7/1

5th

1

12th Apr 2023

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

17:05 Southwell

Barony Legends

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

towards rear, headway after 10th

7/1

7

6th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 56y

Class 4

14:00 Wetherby

Barony Legends

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Looked very good when winning at Lingfield (2m3f, soft) in October 2021; unable to reproduce that promise since but his recent 14l third at Bangor (2m3f, good to soft) wasn't devoid of promise and this longer trip may be a plus; continues to drop down the weights and he's an each-way possible.

11/1

Form: 956772 BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten in first two handicap hurdles but significant improvement when clear second over C&D (good to soft) last month, having been heavily backed; gets in off the same mark and remains of strong interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

1st May 2023

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 5

15:47 Warwick

Kingsfort Hill

11st 8lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

Soundly beaten in first two handicap hurdles but was clear second at Southwell (3m, good to soft) in March, having been heavily backed; not in same form when returned to Southwell last month but will be dangerous if back on song in first-time cheekpieces here.

5/1

6th

9

12th Apr 2023

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

17:05 Southwell

Kingsfort Hill

10st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

midfield, shaken up and lost ground 9th, pushed along and some headway before 3 out

5/2

2nd

4

20th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:05 Southwell

Kingsfort Hill

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Unplaced in five starts over hurdles, the latest two in handicaps, and well beaten over 2m4f here latest; drops 5lb.

7/1

Form: -7P444 D

Last run: 47 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Ran well for a long way when fourth at Doncaster (3m, good) in January but didn't build on that performance on his latest outing and has basically been very disappointing since his valuable chase win in 2021.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

12th Apr 2023

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

17:05 Southwell

Rocco

12st 0lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

prominent, lost ground after 8th, pushed along when towards rear after 10th, got behind after 3 out

20/1

4th

4

24th Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 25y

Class 4

16:17 Exeter

Rocco

11st 7lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

prominent, lost position after 2nd, towards rear after 5th, pushed along before 4 out, ridden before 3 out, soon no impression and beaten

10/1

4th

1

27th Jan 2023

Good

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

15:45 Doncaster

Rocco

12st 0lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Won a high-profile staying chase at Wincanton (3m1f, good) in autumn 2021 but has lost his way and was beaten 28l on his return to hurdles at Warwick (3m2f); dropped further in class here but with questions to answer right now.

20/1

Form: -211P3 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Came good with two wins under Elizabeth Gale in November (2m7f/3m) and quickly put a poor run behind him when third at Exeter (2m7f, good) last month; probably needs extra to win here but not yet fully exposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

25th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

16:05 Taunton

Langley Hundred

11st 7lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Dual chase winner this season, latterly over C&D (good to soft) in December; just a respectable third at Hereford (3m1f, good) this month and remains on a fairly tough mark but the return to this track is a plus.

4/1

3rd

2

8th Mar 2025

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

15:45 Hereford

Langley Hundred

11st 7lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Has plenty of chasing experience and was a dual winner over fences towards end of 2024, once over C&D on good ground; back up to his career-high mark now but still features prominently in calculations.

2/1

1st

7

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

13:45 Taunton

Langley Hundred

11st 9lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Opened chasing account at Hereford (3m1f, good) last month and bettered that performance when close second over C&D (good) 18 days ago; more exposed than some of these but likely to be right in the thick of things.

4/1

Form: P0627P

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner in France last year and suggested he was ready to exploit some significant help from the British handicapper when second of 15 at Doncaster (3m, good) in January; below that form twice since, though, and now has it all to prove again; tongue-tie refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 5

15:40 Plumpton

Kadex

11st 1lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Alan Jones

prominent behind clear leaders, not fluent and lost position briefly 8th, went second 3 out, 2 lengths down when mistake and fell heavily 2 out

8/1

Form: 2/7PP4

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 1lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Useful for Nigel Twiston-Davies but, after a long absence, has struggled to get competitive for new stable this season (four runs; 2m-2m4f); tries a new trip today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

12th Apr 2023

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

17:05 Southwell

Sir Valentine

11st 1lb

J: David Noonan

T: Claire Dyson

prominent, mistake 10th, soon pushed along and lost ground, got behind after 3 out

50/1

4th

2

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

16:53 Bangor-on-Dee

Sir Valentine

11st 9lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Claire Dyson

Useful for Nigel Twiston-Davies but, after a long absence, he's struggled in three runs (hurdle/chases) for new yard.

20/1

Form: 95211- D

Last run: 397 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Struck form and won consecutive races on good ground at Newcastle (2m6f/2m7f) last February/March; could quite plausibly have further improvement still to come but a 397-day absence may have checked his momentum.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:50 Southwell

Freethinker

10st 11lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Dual good-ground hurdle winner at Newcastle (2m6f/2m7f) in early 2022 but seems badly to have lost his way over hurdles and fences during the last year or so; leap of faith is required to support him here.

20/1

9

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:50 Southwell

Freethinker

10st 11lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Dual good-ground hurdle winner at Newcastle (2m6f/2m7f) in early 2022 but seems badly to have lost his way over hurdles and fences during the last year or so; leap of faith is required to support him here.

20/1

0

7

12th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

15:20 Huntingdon

Freethinker

10st 8lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Both wins in good-ground events over hurdles at Newcastle in 2022; achieved nothing in 2023, latterly over fences; enough to prove.

25/1

Form: 666P2

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner in February 2022 but was well beaten on first four hurdling starts (2m-2m4f) and didn't achieve much when remote second of three last time; combination of step up in trip and first-time cheekpieces may enable improvement on handicap debut, though; worth a glance in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

15th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:27 Hexham

Artic Breeze

10st 12lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Lucinda Russell

Irish point winner (soft ground); placed on good to soft in both a 2m novice hurdle and a 3m novices' handicap chase at Market Rasen; well beaten and pulled up in two further starts; still early days and not written off from a workable mark.

16/1

6

21st May 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:28 Hexham

Artic Breeze

11st 0lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Eight-race rules maiden who needs to jump much better than when down the field at Ayr in February last time out; however, prior to that he was a fairly encouraging second on his chase and stable debut at Market Rasen on Boxing Day and he's not ruled out.

8/1

6

21st May 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:28 Hexham

Artic Breeze

11st 0lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Eight-race rules maiden who needs to jump much better than when down the field at Ayr in February last time out; however, prior to that he was a fairly encouraging second on his chase and stable debut at Market Rasen on Boxing Day and he's not ruled out.

8/1

Non-runners

Langley Hundred

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £254.57
Tricast £1834.76

Selections

RP Ratings:

Freethinker

SPOTLIGHT:

Kingsfort Hill

Telegraph:

Hillfinch

The Times:

Artic Breeze

WEST COUNTRY:

Langley Hundred

Daily Record:

Hillfinch

D Express:

Artic Breeze

Daily Mail:

Langley Hundred

TOPSPEED:

Freethinker

The Guardian:

Freethinker

Daily Mirror:

Freethinker

The Star:

Freethinker

POSTDATA:

Kingsfort Hill

The Sun:

Kingsfort Hill