14:20 Uttoxeter
Saturday 11 February 2017
All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:0016:35
E Sidwell - Wholesale Fruit And Veg - Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus | Class 4 | 3m 2y | Heavy | 9 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 7m 4.00s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Not seen since finishing a close fifth at Cartmel last July, and previous to that won here at Uttoxeter in soft ground (from an 11lb lower mark than today), taking his record here to 311. Handles most ground (including heavy) and tends to run his race from the front more often than not, but has no great record fresh and may just need today's outing to put him right.
Going days becoming harder and harder to predict, as demonstrated by his latest form figures (three PU's from last four attempts) but does go well at Uttoxeter (record in handicap chases here is 121) and goes well in heavy ground, so can't be totally discounted. Very risky, and probably win or nothing, with the former more likely (still 4lb higher than last winning mark).
In great form at present, thrashing a moderate field at Bangor in December and then following that up with another very good effort at Ludlow, only going down by the minimum margin to Ultimatum Du Roy. Will likely try and make all here, and has won on only start here at Uttoxeter (in heavy ground too) back in 2014. Obvious chance off the same mark as Ludlow, and must be on the shortlist.
Only the four chase starts to date and showed ability when finishing third to Lord Heathfield here in December, staying on well in the closing stages and looking a thorough stayer ; made mistakes next time when upped in grade and trip at Plumpton, but again showed some ability despite the errors/ Drops back in grade here and if avoiding mistakes, can get involved.
Has often run well in point to points, winning three of them (and finished runner up in another 7)
and has performed with credit under Rules this winter, going close at Taunton and then winning next time up at Wincanton. Not so good at Leicester on latest outing, although slow run race wouldn't have helped, but ground here is a big question (all best form on good/good to firm).
Won a couple of small handicap chases last March at Bangor and Leicester (latter on heavy ground, so that's no issue today) but not so good since coming back this winter, pulling up twice (mistakes creeping in) and finishing runner up at Ayr in January (again, mistakes costing him any chance). No better in cheekpieces last time and handicapper offering no help either.
Winner of five point-to-points over the past three years (including an Open) but no show in two starts under Rules this winter, doing no better for the addition of cheekpieces last time out ; ground another concern and looks to have too much on his plate here.
Needs to go left handed, and did win a little event at Chepstow last March, making all the running ; not seen since a moderate effort at Warwick last May, so might well need this outing and with no real form on heavy ground either, looks an unlikely winner.
Only has the one chase start so far, when finishing midfield at Wincanton in January (never a threat to the leaders) but is on the same mark as when gamely winning a handicap hurdle at Exeter last March, so no issues from a handicapping point of view. Asking a lot to take on seasoned handicappers on just second chase start, but is open to improvement and should handle the ground, so not totally discounted.
Non-Runners
7

Armedanddangerous47
Weight: 11-5| Age: 12
T: T R Gretton J: James Davies
NR
Forecasts
Whiskey Chaser (7/2), Cailleach Annie (7/2), Winged Crusader (7/2), Son Of Suzie (4/1), Armedanddangerous (6/1), Lunar Flow (14/1), Captain Flash (14/1), Sonoftheking (16/1), Loughalder (18/1), Big Georgie (25/1)
It's possible WINGED CRUSADER might face a bit of competition for the early lead from Whiskey Chaser but a couple of good jumps can see him off, and then he's every chance of continuing his run of good form. Trip track and ground are all ideal, and he can score at the expense of Armedanddangerous who loves the mud and may be coming back to form. If Cailleach Annie can avoid mistakes then she might have some improvement in her and can get involved too.
1. Winged Crusader
2. Armedanddangerous
3. Cailleach Annie
Prize Money
1st: £4,159.002nd: £1,221.003rd: £611.004th: £305.00
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