14:45 Uttoxeter

Friday 7 June 2019

All14:1014:4515:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

Wade Ceramics Gluggle Jug 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 3m 56.4s

Baby Ted³⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

25/1

Twice placed in bumpers (soft/heavy) but after three unsuccessful attempts over hurdles, it's difficult to say that he's heading in a positive direction; that said, given the fine reputation of trainer NTD it remains possible that he can progress.

Form: 335/5U-

Ballon Onabudget³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 117| D

1/1

Tramore bumper winner for D.E. Fitzgerald in October 2018; sets the standard on form, twice a runner up over obstacles since joining Tom George, including at Exeter (2m2½f, good) last month.

Form: 00128-2

Have This For Now¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Joshua Moore| T: S Drinkwater

33/1

Beaten less than 10L (fifth) by Tuesday's Southwell winner Stony Stream on return from a lengthy absence (stable debut) in a Stratford bumper last month. However, worryingly was reported afterwards to have broken a blood vessel; hurdles debut.

Form: 40/5

Indieburg²⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: H WhittingtonWS

25/1

Sageburg gelding; weakened tamely on debut in a Wincanton bumper (1m7½f, good) last November; switches to hurdling off a 209 day absence.

Form: 9-

Lord Walsingham⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King

16/1

Cost £46,000 as a 3yo as the first foal out of a bumper/2m4f hurdle winning dam; hasn't made any real impact over hurdles yet (0-2); needs to improve markedly upon his Warwick maiden (2m3f) fifth of ten.

Form: 0/064-

Staged Engagement²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: A W Short⁽³⁾| T: P E Collins| CD

5/4

Has become a regular feature at Uttoxeter since winning a bumper here by 7L in June 2018; his hurdling technique is improving and he faced a stiff task when finishing best of the rest behind Southern Sam (1/5f) over 2m4f here recently.

Form: 31242-2

Maliboo²²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland

16/1

Mahler mare who gamely won a mares' maiden PTP at The Pigeons (3m, good) last October; has moved on since and now debuts under rules for Neil Mulholland; will probably find a couple stronger.

Form: 4B2/5F1-

Non-Runners

Champagne Mist³²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: A Ralph J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Ballon Onabudget (1/1), Staged Engagement (5/4), Champagne Mist (11/4), Maliboo (16/1), Lord Walsingham (16/1), Indieburg (25/1), Baby Ted (25/1), Have This For Now (33/1)

Potentially an above average maiden hurdle for the time of the year, and it'll come as no major surprise if a couple of those with less obvious claims in the line-up are also capable of showing improvement (namely Lord Walsingham and Indieburg). However, the Tom George-trained BALLON ONABUDGET sets the clear standard on all known form and potentially has most to fear from the Uttoxeter regular Staged Engagement.