14:45 Uttoxeter
Saturday 28 January 2017
All13:3513:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:30
Staffs Construction Handicap Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 2 | 2m 3f 207y | Soft (Heavy in places) | 8 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 5m 28.80s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Former Grade 1 winner who has lost some of his sparkle in his relatively old age but clearly still retains a large amount of ability. Fourth in a Grade 2 last time, slight question marks over whether he's at his best over this trip but softer ground will help.
Not disgraced behind some quality horses, including Cheltenham championship race contenders, on his last few starts but showed his handicap mark is still not a winning one when well beaten in a 3m handicap hurdle last time. Perhaps the step back down in trip will suit, though, as he has won over this distance before.
Grade 1 winner in late 2013 before a lay-off of almost three years. Hasn't shown quite the same ability since but does seem to be slowly coming back into his old self with a second last time (distances unknown due to visibility issues that day). Can't be discounted.
Beaten only a short-head when favourite at Hereford last time. Goes up 2lb for that unlucky second place, and this is undoubtedly tougher, with others holding more convincing claims.
Thrown in at the deep-end somewhat on handicap debut here, and opening mark of 128 seems a little harsh based on what he's achieved on paper. A lightly-raced gelding, though, with some well-regarded connections.
Was a progressive handicapper over both hurdles and fences last season, and makes his belated seasonal reappearance here. This is tougher than most of his assignments when last seen, but will like the ground and receives weight from some of the classier performers in the race.
Has consistently struggled in similar races recently, slipping down the handicap now to a mark he has won off in the past, but will need to return to that career-best form to be in with a chance.
Showed improvement for Tom Symonds earlier in the season and looks to have gotten even better now in the care of a new, top trainer. Will need a career best for victory here but certainly going the right way.
Forecasts
Le Rocher (13/8), Theatrebar (4/1), Tintern Theatre (9/2), Shades Of Midnight (8/1), The Gipper (9/1), Melodic Rendezvous (10/1), Vicangelome (25/1), Forthefunofit (33/1)
Few of these can be dismissed out-of-hand, with a number of fascinating contenders. Perhaps MELODIC RENDEZVOUS can roll back the years by conceding weight all round here. A former winner at the highest level, he has shown he still retains some of his old ability with decent races in behind the likes of Ch'Tibello and The New One. There will be doubts over whether this is his trip, but he has had excuses on his previous poor runs over 2m4f. Le Rocher, who may or may not have run Clyne very close when second in the Haydock fog last time, and the fast improving Theatrebar are others to consider.
1. Melodic Rendezvous
2. Le Rocher
3. Theatrebar
Prize Money
1st: £9,384.002nd: £2,772.003rd: £1,386.004th: £693.005th: £346.006th: £174.00
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