led until after 8th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in touch, went 3rd after 3 out, went 2nd next, led flat, driven out
in touch in rear, headway 10th, led 3 out, soon went clear briefly, ridden, hung right and headed flat, unable to quicken
prominent, jumped slowly 2nd, led before 9th until 3 out, no extra last
prominent, not fluent 5th, led after 8th, headed before next, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off
Nonrunner
Manadam had a good outing last time and Barnhill Brownie has three wins in eight starts over hurdles but our selection is VALENTO. Valento won from today's mark at Ludlow two races ago and won fairly comfortably beating Tabaran by seven lengths. Despite being a less impressive third at Worcester already this month there is scope for this five-year-old to advance again and beat off the rest of the competition. Barnhill Brownie has won over this sort of trip before when victorious at Ascot in 2008 but has not delivered anywhere near that effort since then. He placed at Stratford last time but this does not instil any confidence that another win is more likely. We oppose him today although it is worth note that Philip Hobbs has a 27% strike rate with runners over the hurdles at Southwell in the past few seasons. Manadam ran decently at Aintree on his last outing under young Campbell Gillies when finishing just a few lengths behind Boyoboy. Favourably weighted today he is well worth a second look. Our selection though is Valento.
Silverburn (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Led until approaching 3 out, disputing 2nd but beaten when fell last, in a race won by Moghaayer (10-11) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May, 14 ran.
Valley Ride (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, mistake and ridden 6th, blundered badly 11th, not recover, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Fortification (10-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Tension Point 12-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, outpaced after 3 out, kept on from last, 4th of 8, 8l behind Solway Bay (9-13) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in May.
Barnhill Brownie (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Prominent, driven 3 out, hung left approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Midas Way (11-0) at Stratford 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in May.
Manadam (FR) 11-1 (11-9) Towards rear, headway approaching 3 out on inside, ridden to go 3rd approaching last, kept on, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Boyoboy (10-11) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Valento 12-1 (10-8) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, close up 2 out, not fluent last, no extra flat, 3rd of 14, 9l behind Son Of Flicka (11-6) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
