13:10 Uttoxeter

Saturday 11 February 2017

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:0016:35

Connor's 21st Birthday Celebrations Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:11 | Winning time: 5m 32.88s

Samdibien^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: Jake Greenall| T: S Thomas| OR: 108

6/1

Showed some ability in three novice hurdles but looked a different horse when going handicapping at Fontwell last time, travelling well on the lead and hadn't been asked for any effort when falling two out. Looked set to win there, so 4lb rise is far from excessive and as long as that fall hasn't knocked his confidence, every chance of compensation today.

Form: 34FP42-

Wazowski³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: James Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105

4/1

Had looked regressive since a win at Hexham last June, often finishing tailed off (over a variety of trips and ground) but bounced right back to form with a narrow defeat at Hereford, finishing a neck second to Way Of The World. That form isn't working out, however, so from a 3lb higher mark today, needs to do better again.

Form: 8P2533-

Sword of The Lord^v³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 104

9/2

Only moderate form over hurdles to date, and still winless after 16 attempts. Last two runs don't suggest he's about to hit form, and best form (as it is) has come on quicker ground than today. Two non-completions at Uttoxeter hardly make a compelling case, either.

Form: R241P6

Airpur Desbois^p,t1⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: A Glassonbury| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 96

8/1

Lightly raced sort has his first run for Oliver Greenall today (formerly with Charlie Mann), and although recent form figures give little encouragement, he did have some form in novice hurdles a couple of seasons back and his fourth at Fontwell in November suggests he's not totally a lost cause. Gets a first time tongue tie today as well, so although an unlikely winner, is worth a market check all the same.

Form: P4P2PP-

Pension Madness^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: M D I Usher| OR: 105

20/1

Regressive on the flat last year and has shown little over hurdles so far, best effort coming at Newbury when a staying on third to Cosmeapolitan over half a mile shorter than today. No form on heavy and stamina may well be an issue too, and more likely winners in the field.

Form: 736P56-

Modulus^v1¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁷⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 90

9/2

Ran well enough on debut for the yard over this C&D last June, and a couple of respectable efforts since, including when not beaten far by Stepover at Doncaster last time; the issue is this heavy ground, as he has no form on it and all best runs have come on good/good to soft.

Form: U12404

Act Four^t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Stan Sheppard⁽⁵⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 86

11/2

Won a Towcester bumper for Nicky Henderson way back in 2013, but in truth it's been all downhill since, with new yard struggling to get him back to any sort of form. Addition of the tongue tie on last two starts has done little to stop the rot, and can't be entertained as the winner here.

Form: 586161

Man In Black^p⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 84

8/1

Had been off for almost two and a half years before reappearing at Uttoxeter in December, where he was well beaten in the end, and in truth has barely beaten a horse home in any of his last four starts. Needs to have come on an awful lot from that December run to hold any hope here.

Form: 594800/

Friends Of Ama Gi¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: C Gethings⁽⁵⁾| T: B Leavy| OR: 83

80/1

Shown nothing in four hurdles starts to date and needs huge improvement for going into a handicap today.

Form: P/

Non-Runners

Tactical Manoeuvre²⁵

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: Alexandra Dunn J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Wazowski (4/1), Modulus (9/2), Sword of The Lord (9/2), Act Four (11/2), Samdibien (6/1), Airpur Desbois (8/1), Man In Black (8/1), Pension Madness (20/1), Tactical Manoeuvre (25/1), Friends Of Ama Gi (80/1)

This looks a great chance for the unlucky SAMDIBIEN to gain compenastion for his Fontwell fall, where he appeared to have the race at his mercy. The handicapper has been lenient in only putting him up 4lb for that, and he can make all here. Tactical Manoevre hasn't shown much but gets a tongue tie today and his shrewd yard have landed punts in similar races to this in the past. He needs monitoring, as does Airpur Desbois, , who may be capable of better. 1. Samdibien 2. Tactical Manoeuvre 3. Airpur Desbois