13:30 Uttoxeter

Sunday 1 July 2018

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

bet365.com Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 3m 46.3s

Celestial Path^b⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 12-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 100| D

5/4

Carries a 7lb penalty for winning at Worcester last time but did it very easily there. Strong claims in a similar race, even with the extra weight just a week later.

Form: 4359-P1

Vive Le Roi²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: A W Carroll| OR: 100| D

7/1

Still yet to win a handicap, and slightly improved performance last time out came over a longer trip than this. Drop back down in distance not sure to suit.

Form: 5P8F-05

Kiruna Peak^h²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 98

13/2

Went close on handicap debut at Fontwell last time out and up 4lb, but should improve in this sphere and best efforts to date have all come on a sound surface; considered.

Form: 234-2

Duc Kauto²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 95

14/1

Having his handicap debut here after finishing down the field in a bumper and three novice/maiden hurdles and unseating in the other. Should do better in handicaps but improvement still needed.

Form: 80-U65

Lord Fendale¹³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 94| D

13/2

Well-beaten on every start for this yard so far, and tough to see him leaving that form behind to make an impression here.

Form: U46009-

Edward Elgar^p²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 91| D

8/1

Capable performer on his day and has been rated as high as 119 in the past, but looking a place prospect at absolute best off the back of his performances so far this year.

Form: 3045-46

Prairie Impulse²⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: W T Kennedy| T: R Menzies| OR: 91

33/1

First run since September here when she had failed to build on a winning handicap debut in subsequent runs. Tends to go well fresh but needs to improve on form when last seen.

Form: 85/1247-

Benissimo^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Mr Matthew Ennis⁽⁷⁾| T: A Forbes| OR: 81| D

40/1

No win since May 2016 (for previous yard), and no closer to getting back to winning ways when beaten 36L at this track last time out (over further).

Form: 8/65P-30

Darloa^b,t⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Stock⁽⁵⁾| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 74

20/1

The fact he usually reserves his best performances for this course is an obvious bonus, but he remains a 19 race maiden and others appeal more.

Form: P/7296-P

Diamond Reflection^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 70

33/1

First run over hurdles for this yard/since last September, but the majority of his form on the Flat in the interim leaves him with improvement to find from out of the handicap.

Form: 0848P/7-

Non-Runners

Innocent Girl²⁶

Weight: 11-11| Age: 9

T: H Fry J: Kieron Edgar

Greenworldsolution¹⁷

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: J Candlish J: Sean Quinlan

Pension Madness³⁴

Weight: 10-5| Age: 5

T: M B Shears J: Charlie Hammond

Forecasts

Celestial Path (5/4), Lord Fendale (13/2), Kiruna Peak (13/2), Vive Le Roi (7/1), Innocent Girl (7/1), Edward Elgar (8/1), Pension Madness (12/1), Duc Kauto (14/1), Greenworldsolution (14/1), Darloa (20/1), Diamond Reflection (33/1), Prairie Impulse (33/1), Benissimo (40/1)

Celestial Path holds obvious claims even with a penalty having done it nicely at Worcester last time out, but preference is for the four-year-old KIRUNA PEAK. She took a big step forward on handicap debut last time out, and though she's gone up 4lb in the weights she can only improve in handicap company, and is very likely to appreciate conditions. On her return to hurdles, Innocent Girl completes the shortlist.