14:45 Uttoxeter

Wednesday 19 June 2019

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3517:1017:45

Bidfood 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 3m 54.2s

Detatched¹⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: Henry Oliver

18/1

Won an Irish point-to-point and, as his dam is a sister to the high-class Take The Stand, and a half-sister to a winner over fences, the gelding appeals on pedigree; yard is quiet just now though.

Form: 3/1P-

Dontcounturchikens^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: David Dennis| OR: 112

4/1

Showed reasonable form in bumpers and also posted an improved effort over hurdles at Warwick last month; more needed but learning all the time and no forlorn hope of making the frame.

Form: 3/023-3

Feel The Pinch⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

33/1

Well beaten in all starts so far; including on debut over hurdles at Stratford earlier this month. Has a lot to prove.

Form: 00/6-98

Perpignan¹¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams

9/1

Out of a half-sister who is related to high-class chaser Merry Gale (a multiple winner at Listed level as well as in Graded races), and has already won twice between the flags. Interesting debutante under rules. Worth a betting check.

Form: 18/6115-

Pinot Noir³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Chris Ward⁽⁵⁾| T: R Dickin

66/1

Cost just £2,500 as a four-year-old and has an ordinary pedigree; was pulled up in a point-to-point last month and has a good bit to prove on a literal reading of that performance. Yard respected here though.

Form: P

Teddy's Acre^t1¹²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D SkeltonWS

4/11

Form in Irish bumpers reads respectably and the gelding caught the eye enough to fetch £20,000 at the Ascot sales in March. Yard obviously targeting this race and very possible he could be the pick of the trio of Skelton-trained runners.

Form: 95836/5-

Connective^t³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: Micky Hammond

22/1

Flat-bred gelding who won a bumper on debut at Carlisle in April before he faded under pressure when trying to make all the running in a similar race at Sedgefield last month; interesting to note the tactics this time. Worth considering.

Form: 1-4

Mega Move²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton

28/1

Point-to-point form was modest at best and has been well beaten in both previous starts over hurdles; has a bit to find and looks the least likely improver from her yard's three intended runners on this occasion.

Form: 6F4-55

Parisian Affair⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King

20/1

Best effort when second in a Lingfield bumper in February but looked to be of limited ability in two starts over hurdles during the last month; has a bit to prove.

Form: 7024-57

Non-Runners

Iconic Hero³²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Bridget Andrews

Zoutoise¹²⁰

Weight: 10-4| Age: 4

T: T R George J: C Gethings

Forecasts

Teddy's Acre (4/11), Zoutoise (3/1), Dontcounturchikens (4/1), Iconic Hero (6/1), Perpignan (9/1), Detatched (18/1), Parisian Affair (20/1), Connective (22/1), Mega Move (28/1), Feel The Pinch (33/1), Pinot Noir (66/1)

Four of the last five winners of this race have been relatively short prices in the betting and the market activities can again be a handy guide as the likes of Dontcounturchikens, Zoutoise, and Connective are interesting candidates who should be monitored closely. However, slender preference goes the way of TEDDY'S ACRE, who looks the pick of Dan Skelton's trio, and he could be a tough nut to crack if the fitting of a tongue tie helps him to knuckle down on only his second start over hurdles.