16:50 Uttoxeter

Sunday 27 May 2018

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Drive Home With James Summers Signal 1 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 4m 54.20s

Workbench^t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 120| D

33/1

Won in impressive fashion at Sandown before Christmas but couldn't back that up one month later at Catterick and never a factor at Ludlow this month on return from break. Goes up in trip now

Form: 53414-6

Oskar Denarius^h,t¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 119

11/2

Progressive handicap hurdler has won five of his last six starts (pulled up in the other), readily obliged at Newton Abbot (2m2½f, good) this month. Handicapper slaps another 11lb on in bid to halt him.

Form: 11P1-11

Barton Knoll¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: J Mackie| OR: 118| D

11/2

Novice hurdle winner at Wetherby (2m3½f, good) in October, runner-up at Huntingdon over same trip this month after a break and easily could be more to come off 1lb higher mark.

Form: 2/215U-2

Burst Ya Bubble³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 118| C

7/2

Improved to make winning start in handicap hurdles at Warwick (2m3f, good to soft) this month, getting up late on. Raised 4lb on strength of that win. Should be in the thick of this.

Form: 312951-

Battle Of Ideas⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 117

8/1

Scored over almost this trip at Plumpton in December but has found life tough handicapping to date. Drops another 3lb now, has been prominent in betting lately.

Form: 31P634-

Seaston Spirit^p1¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 115

25/1

Heavy ground maiden hurdle winner over 2m3f at Fontwell in January but struggled under a penalty in two subsequent runs. Was still pitching on handicap debut at Warwick (2m5f, good) when brought down four out this month.

Form: 32142-B

Costa Percy¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 120

14/1

Lightly-raced dual purpose performer, won first two of four juvenile hurdles in June last year, competitive in two more under penalty. Makes handicap debut and is fit from two recent Flat runs. Needs a second look.

Form: 1123-

Muhtaris^p⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Edward Austin⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 113

16/1

Useful handicap hurdler on his day but hadn't been seen for 15 months before pair of recent lacklustre efforts on Flat at Kempton and over timber at Exeter (2m2½f, heavy). Watching brief today.

Form: P1B0P/5-

Dinsdale^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: M Scudamore| OR: 112

20/1

Returned from wind surgery with really promising Fakenham run (second) last month, but failed miserably to build on that at Kempton since (both 2m) when backed for conditional jockeys' handicap. Hard to assess now.

Form: 3/P7420-

Lets Go Dutchess¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Conor Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bishop| OR: 112| D

20/1

Some good form in weaker handicap hurdles earlier in the year, but handicapper looks in charge on the basis of her most recent efforts and a faller at Newton Abbot 10 days ago.

Form: 1/21P5-F

Transpennine Star³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 110| BF

11/1

Won twice on Flat at 1m6f for Michael Dods and has shown some ability in four starts over timber so far. Runner-up in 3m soft-ground Towcester handicap last month, up 2lb here and in the mix.

Form: 3332-

Shrubland^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 109| C

11/2

Took him 19 races to get off the mark and did so on debut for this trainer. Has run very consistently in five starts since, winning twice, just denied at Newton Abbot on return and likely to go well again here from 2lb higher mark.

Form: 11213-2

Great Lover^p1⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 108

33/1

Mixed form in novice company, best effort when finishing fourth on soft ground at Taunton in February. Tailed off on handicap bow at Chepstow (2m, heavy) and first-time cheekpieces need to have dramatic effect.

Form: P8450-

Kiwayu^t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 105| CD

40/1

Only win came in September, 2016, although to be fair he has been lightly raced since and presumably has had his problems since. Beaten a fair way at Huntingdon (2m3½f, good) this month. Drops 5lb now.

Form: 213/P0-0

Forecasts

Burst Ya Bubble (7/2), Barton Knoll (11/2), Shrubland (11/2), Oskar Denarius (11/2), Battle Of Ideas (8/1), Transpennine Star (11/1), Costa Percy (14/1), Muhtaris (16/1), Lets Go Dutchess (20/1), Dinsdale (20/1), Seaston Spirit (25/1), Workbench (33/1), Great Lover (33/1), Kiwayu (40/1)

Oskar Denarius continues to defy the assessor and the front-running sort is by no means sure to be halted but an 11lb hike for his recent Newton Abbot win might just prove enough. He won't go out easily. SHRUBLAND has turned over a new leaf for this trainer and is now a consistent barometer, he found the winner just too game on his reappearance at Newton Abbot this month, but will be fitter now and might get his fourth win in eight starts for current connections. Barton Knoll should be sharper for his own return while Seaston Spirit is capable of having a say if getting a clear round.