14:30 Uttoxeter

Saturday 10 February 2018

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:45

Dale's 30th & AB Cassim's Retirement Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:33 | Winning time: 6m 56.7s

Grove Silver^p³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 116| C

9/2

Possibly unlucky at Ludlow last time out, still narrowly in front when falling two out and looked sure to play a part in the finish. However, different ground to cope with here and he's yet to win at the trip. Others preferred.

Form: 35-973F

Greyed A²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 116

6/1

Well placed to pick up a couple of weak events this winter but readily found out when upped in the weights and in a better race at Chepstow last time, pulling up. This slightly easier but may have had his fun for the time being.

Form: P-9P11P

Kilcullen Flem^p¹¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 115| D

9/2

Travelled nicely before putting the race to bed easily enough at Hexham when last seen (in October) and tiredness late understandable. Clearly goes well fresh, trip and ground no issue and new yard may well yet find more improvement. Big player.

Form: 7P144-1

Pine Warbler^p,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 109

13/2

Yet to win in 11 starts but did turn in a good effort here last April, a repeat of which would give him a chance. Handicapper cutting him some slack if he can refind some form but latest effort disappointing, so plenty to prove now.

Form: 5P2-U84

Mr Love¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham| OR: 107

5/2

Good chasing type that looks a bit one paced, but doing little wrong at present and close third to the consistent Dontminddboys at Leicester last time is fine. Same mark here and with ground and trip fine, looks sure to get involved again.

Form: 2/425-43

Hattons Hill^p⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: H Hogarth| OR: 105| D

20/1

Rattled off the wins last year but pulled up on last couple of outings and not hard to think the handicapper has him where he wants him now. Ground possibly not ideal either and not hard to look elsewhere.

Form: 1-111PP

Ceann Sibheal^b1,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 102

15/2

Becoming very disappointing, variety of headgear and tongue-tie have been tried recently but all to no avail. Blinkers given a go now but it's surely more in hope than confidence. Can't be entertained in current form.

Form: 5/6P-443

Try It Sometime^b,t⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 73| CD

50/1

Early faller at Towcester when last seen but in truth form has been going nowhere for a while now, and he's no realistic chance from over a stone out of the handicap here.

Form: 9556-PU

Forecasts

Mr Love (5/2), Grove Silver (9/2), Kilcullen Flem (9/2), Greyed A (6/1), Pine Warbler (13/2), Ceann Sibheal (15/2), Hattons Hill (20/1), Try It Sometime (50/1)

KILCULLEN FLEM and Mr Love are the two that should have more to offer over fences, and the vote just goes to the former who has been off for a while but can clearly go well fresh and has conditions to suit. Mr Love did little wrong at Leicester and should be the one to shake the selection up. Pine Warbler comes with a list of risks now but is undeniably well treated and a good run wouldn't be the biggest shock.