17:05 Uttoxeter

Sunday 8 October 2017

All14:2514:5515:3016:0016:3517:0517:35

Patrick Duffy 70th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 5m 53.4s

Rosquero^p¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: William Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 97

12/1

Ran well to finish second to a subsequent winner at Wetherby in April, but two runs since have been disappointing. Has been dropped 5lb and acts on this type of ground so has claims if able to rediscover his best form.

Form: 22U2-67

Corner Creek¹⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore| OR: 96

9/2

Won his only point-to-point race, but efforts under Rules have not gone nearly so well and two attempts over fences have seen him pulled up and, on his last run, beaten a long way over C&D. Down 3lb, but lots to prove.

Form: 574/6P-6

Withoutdefavourite^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 83

6/1

Still looking for his first win over fences after 10 outings, while a hurdle and chase start for his current trainer have hardly been encouraging. Dropping down the weights and his top jockey is on board as usual, but otherwise makes little appeal.

Form: 236/4-P7

Irish Octave^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Gasson| OR: 83

3/1

Showed little on his first two starts over fences, but burst into life at Worcester last time when winning a handicap chase off 9lb lower. Interesting to see if he can back that up, but has every chance if in the same mood.

Form: 36356-1

Jerusalem Bells^t⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 80

20/1

Winning point-to-pointer whose two run for current stable have seen him pulled up. Hard to recommend him on the evidence so far.

Form: 1P/24P-P

Backoftherock^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: D A Rees| OR: 79

5/2

Won two of his 14 point-to-point races, but was well behind Irish Octave at Worcester last time. Has a significant weight pull with that rival, but needs to take a step forward.

Form: 785F45

Solway Trigger²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 69

7/1

Still a maiden after 21 starts under Rules, but has at least finished second in two of his four chases, one of them at this track in July. Runs from 2lb out of the handicap and his failure to win a race is offputting.

Form: 982286

Flichity^b¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: J R Cornwall| OR: 41| CD

66/1

Winner of one of his 52 races over fences, and that was over C&D way back in May, 2014. Runs from over two stones out of the handicap and is impossible to fancy.

Form: 7/P8P3-7

Forecasts

Backoftherock (5/2), Irish Octave (3/1), Corner Creek (9/2), Withoutdefavourite (6/1), Solway Trigger (7/1), Rosquero (12/1), Jerusalem Bells (20/1), Flichity (66/1)

It is hard to make a case for most of these, but something has to win and the suggestion is top weight ROSQUERO, who has won off a higher mark and can handle soft ground. He has to bounce back from a couple of poor runs, though, and if he fails to do so, recent Worcester winner Irish Octave may be the one to benefit. Solway Trigger may be capable of hitting the frame.