Racecards
14:55 Uttoxeter
Betfred 'Wishes You A Merry Christmas' Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 3m 2y
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £6,200 added
- Winner: £3,925
- 2nd: £1,159
- 3rd: £580
- 4th: £290
- Form 11-45P5
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey C M Walsh
led to 4th, tracked leader, lost place and reminders after 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
- Form 42312/1
- Age 10
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer G Hanmer
- Jockey Nick Slatter
tracked leaders, went 2nd 5 out, pecked next, soon outpaced, no impression when lost 2nd after 3 out, weakened before last, lost remote 3rd flat
Brave Buck
34- Form 074/1P-6
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer H D Daly
- Jockey Jake Greenall
tracked leaders, outpaced in 3rd before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
- Form 161PP-6
- Age 8
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer J Ewart
- Jockey Lucy Alexander
always behind, pushed along from 8th, never dangerous, blundered 3 out
- Form 2222P-3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Heather Dalton
- Jockey R P McLernon
with leader, led 4th, headed after 10th, chased winner, reminders after next, lost place 5 out, behind from next, plugged on to take remote 3rd flat
- Form 226371
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer M Sheppard
- Jockey Stan Sheppard
held up behind, close up 12th, switched outside before 5 out, went 2nd after 3 out, 4 lengths down next, soon ridden, stayed on and every chance last, no extra flat
- Form 4/3233-4
- Age 10
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer T R Gretton
- Jockey J Reveley
tracked leaders, reminders after 7th, led after 10th, made rest, 4 lengths clear 2 out, hard pressed last, ridden and stayed on well flat
Verdict
Don't Hang About is lightly raced for his age but only won a novices' hunter chaser at Bangor in the spring and doesn't look particularly well handicapped. Snuker and Basford Ben remain resolutely out of sorts but Bus Named Desire finally got his head in front at Taunton last month, though doesn't appeal as the sort to follow up off a higher mark. BRAVE BUCK loves the mud and won off this mark at Hexham just over a year ago. He might just have needed his run at Wetherby and can recapture the winning thread here, though Mr Mcgregor and Armedanddangerous are quite consistent and can make their presence felt.
Formwatch
Basford Ben 8-1 (11-0) Led to 4th, weakened from 12th, 5th of 7, dist behind Cyrien Star (11-4) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Don't Hang About 3-1 (12-0) Held up, headway to chase leader after 3 out, led last, ridden and ran on, won at Bangor 3m (6) gd in May beating Stratford Stroller (12-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Brave Buck 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, driven to challenge approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out, 6th of 9, 32l behind Longueville Flier (11-1) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Snuker 7-2 (10-12) Made most until 8th, soon pushed along, weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Courtown Oscar (11-11) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Mr Mcgregor (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 2nd, well held 2 out, dropped to 3rd before last, kept on pressing for 2nd but no chance with winner, 3rd of 6, 10 1/4l behind Leith Hill Legasi (10-13) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp (5) sft in Nov.
Bus Named Desire 17-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, pecked 3rd, headway into 3rd approaching 4 out, closing when hit 3 out, ridden into 2nd soon after, led narrowly 2 out, driven out, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (5) gs in Nov beating Dawnieriver (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Armedanddangerous (IRE) 9-4fav (10-6) Raced keenly, led until stumbled and headed after 9th, lost 2nd approaching 13th, chased leading pair until 15th, weakened 17th, tailed off, 4th of 6, dist behind Distracted (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.