Racecards
14:22 Uttoxeter
Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 207y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £20,500 added
- Winner: £10,666
- 2nd: £4,904
- 3rd: £2,452
- 4th: £1,226
- Form 102-340
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Bridget Andrews
prominent, ridden and under pressure at 3 out, kept on at 2 out, weakened after last hurdle
- Form 331-P7B
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer J Scott
- Jockey Rex Dingle
held up, ridden and made headway to challenge at 3 out, kept on at 2 out, ran on after last hurdle, snatched 2nd close home
- Form 2-U1351
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Theo Gillard
prominent and led at 3 out, ridden and rallied at 2 out, went clear after last hurdle, won gamely
- Form 110532
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Charlie Hammond
raced in mid-division, ridden and made headway at 3 out, joined leader 2 out, weakened after last hurdle
- Form 212/8P8
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer T Lawes
- Jockey T J O'Brien
prominent, ridden and outpaced at 3 out, pulled up
- Form 43-1133
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer O Murphy
- Jockey Fergus Gregory
held up, ridden and outpaced at 3 out, never a factor
- Form 2-5661
- Age 5
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer S Edmunds
- Jockey C Gethings
held up, ridden and made headway at 3 out, outpaced at 2 out, weakened after last hurdle
- Form 448-567
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer M Weatherer
- Jockey Mr P Thomas
held up, ridden and outpaced at 3 out, made no impression
- Form 22-F252
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey Ben Jones
NonRunner
Verdict
Cabot Cliffs is the class act in this but was unconvincing upped in trip at Kempton and it’s a bit of surprise that Dan Skelton is continuing with the experiment. Stormy Flight is only 2lb higher than when winning here last April but little has gone right since. Zambezi Fix is still struggling to get his head in front while Hart Of Steel, who has won a couple of times this season, is back on a career-high mark. WICKED WEST (NAP) followed up a third behind the in-form Hudson de Grugy at Lingfield with a second behind an improver at Ffos Las. The third that day breezed up at Exeter next time and it’s about time Richard Newland’s six-year-old was getting his head back in front. Mackelduff has looked in the handicapper’s grip recently but there is probably more to come from Fakenham winner Here Comes Henry off his current mark.
Formwatch
Cabot Cliffs (IRE) 28-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, ridden home turn, soon beaten, never on terms, 10th of 19, 28 3/4l behind Cobblers Dream (10-10) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Stormy Flight (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) In rear when brought down 1st, at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Hart Of Steel (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Made all, not fluent 1st, ridden before 2 out, stayed on well, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Eaton Collina (10-13) by 1l, 5 ran.
Wicked West (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Raced keenly, tracked leader until after 2nd, chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, one pace and no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Howdyalikemenow (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
French Crusader (FR) 20-1 (10-5) Mid-division, slow jump 3 out, weakened quickly thereafter, 8th of 9, 23 1/4l behind Masters Legacy (10-8) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Mackelduff (FR) 3-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders after 4 out, awkward 2 out, plugged on in 3rd from 2 out, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 9, 6 1/2l behind Up For Parol (10-12) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
Here Comes Henry (IRE) 4-1 (10-7) Towards rear, struggling from 4th, ridden and headway 2 out, led approaching last, ran on, won at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Small Bad Bob (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
Glan Y Gors (IRE) 22-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, lost place 6f out, hung right over 3f out, 12th of 13, 23 1/2l behind Black Kalanisi (10-11) at Southwell 2m hcp (5) pol in Jan.
Zambezi Fix (FR) 15-2 (10-8) Held up in rear, good headway out wide chasing leaders and awkward 2 out, went 2nd at the last, stayed on run-in, always held, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Hydroplane (10-2) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.