16:35 Uttoxeter
Saturday 11 February 2017
All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:0016:35
SSJ Electrical Handicap Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 3f 207y | Heavy | 11 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 5m 42.30s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
14 years old now, and not seen on a racecourse for two years. Was never the easiest to win with, even at the peak of his powers, and surely too much to do today.
Looked to have a bright future when winning a Chepstow bumper on his debut, eased down for a for a 14 length victory, and has performed with credit on all three hurdle starts, finding two miles too sharp on his debut here at Uttoxeter and three miles maybe just too far on his latest start. This intermediate trip could prove ideal and he should have more improvement to come.
Hasn't won since 2014, but has performed with credit in better company than today's on a few occasions. Handles heavy ground and record at Uttoxeter reads 2221, so clearly goes well here ; mark has fallen to one that he looks like he can win from, and may need this trip rather than shorter these days, and looks one of the more interesting ones.
Winner of a little bumper at Plumpton back in 2015, and lightly raced since, with just the three starts since. Not a bad effort at Fontwell in November, staying on from off the pace to finish fourth, and then probably ran to a similar level when third to the useful Mariah's Legend at Huntingdon on her latest start. Trainer can ready them for handicaps first time, so needs a market check.
Showed some ability in three novice hurdles (fourth here to Return To Base last November a decent effort) and although he didn't pull any trees up on his handicap debut at Chepstow, he wasn't beaten far in the end and it suggested he was on a workable mark. Seemed to handle heavy ground there and may improve again, so not discounted.
Best run over the past year came at Uttoxeter last September when just touched off by an in-form Vic's Last Stand, but that was on good ground and he's shown very little since. Too much to prove here.
Nothing wrong with his mark, which is 10lb lower than his last win (that came at Ludlow back in 2015) but it's been a tale of woe lately, and not even the application of a tongue tie on his last two starts has seen him do any better. Difficult to see why that should change today.
Has won here (over this trip) in heavy ground in the past, but some dreadful efforts of late, stopping quickly in both runs at Ayr in January. Mark is coming down but can't be entertained until showing some form.
Seems to save his best for Ffos Las these days, and won a couple of sellers there last year; not disgraced at Chepstow on latest start (Major Hindrance just behind) and handcapper is offering him a helping hand these days. Handles heavy ground fine and although likelier winners, may challenge for the places again.
Not seen out since last September, when finishing second to Court King here at Uttoxeter (three miles). Put up 3lb for that, which makes life harder, as does the fact he's no great form fresh and all of his best form comes on good ground. Not hard to look elsewhere.
Inconsistent but does handle heavy ground and did get his head in front in a poor race at Lingfield last March, since when he's shown next to nothing in three starts. Pulled up at Fontwell in January when last seen and needs a big turnaround in fortunes here. Hard to see why that should happen.
Forecasts
Big Meadow (11/10), Midnight Tune (9/2), Calculated Risk (7/1), Major Hindrance (10/1), Key To The West (10/1), Transient Bay (16/1), Georgieshore (16/1), Discay (20/1), Quebec (33/1), Radmores Revenge (50/1), Kublai (50/1)
It may pay to stick with the unexposed pair of Major Hindrance and MIDNIGHT TUNE here, with the vote just going to the Anthony Honeyball charge. The yard can ready one for a handicap debut and this one has shown enough to think he can go close. Major Hindrance seems to be progressing and with no issues over trip or ground, should go well., and Big Meadow, another with more to come, can round out the places.
1. Midnight Tune
2. Major Hindrance
3. Big Meadow
Prize Money
1st: £3,379.002nd: £992.003rd: £496.004th: £248.00
MOST READ RACING
Follow & Track
Your favourite horses, jockeys and trainers with My StableLog in
Discover Sporting Life Plus benefits
