13:50 Uttoxeter

Wednesday 4 September 2019

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:20

Paul Beddard Celebration Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 48.1s

Cornish Warrior^p⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 100

33/1

On a good mark these days but shows little sign of being able to take advantage and was pulled up at Stratford on latest start. Back over hurdles today, which could help, but he's clearly risky at present.

Form: 103-57P

Oldabbey Bridge^v1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: J McGrath| T: C Hobson| OR: 98| C

16/1

Was going nowhere quickly until springing a 50-1 surprise here two starts ago,beating the form pick for the race. Couldn't repeat that at Worcester last time but possible a return to this venue might see him bounce back.

Form: 04-5017

North Star Oscar^h,t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 97| BF

5/1

Won over this trip at Ffos Las in June but since then has thrown in a couple of stinkers, finding little for pressure at Worcester last time and giving up too quickly for comfort. Others make more appeal.

Form: 85-6136

Mr Love¹³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 97WS

7/1

First start for new yard (having been with Lucy Wadham), better known as a chaser. Often attracts support but fails to deliver and looks one paced whatever trip he tries. Yard do very well here though, and he can't be discounted.

Form: 5/6U476-

Stonemadforspeed¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 95

8/1

Only knows the one way, go hard from the front and try and run the rest into the ground. In good form at present and has his conditions once again, but tends to find something too good for him most times and may be settling for places again.

Form: 0-43932

Watching Brief¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: Christian Williams| OR: 94

25/1

Yet to score in 17 starts and hasn't set the world alight in two starts for his new yard. Well behind Stonemadforspeed last time and hard to see how he reverses that form. Best watched at present.

Form: 0-43599

Jimmi Chew¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 85

6/1

Still relatively early days for this unexposed 6yo and it was definitely a step in the right direction at Southwell last time, finishing a close fourth. Needs to build on that but no forlorn hope if doing so. Trip and ground fine.

Form: 837-P64

Racing Spirit^b,t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dave Roberts| OR: 81

5/1

Beaten 15l at Stratford last time but that was still a better effort, and the combination of a wind operation and blinkers seemed to have a positive effect. Big plus is the form of the yard, which is superb, and with conditions fine, has chances.

Form: 32/5-372

Billy Congo^t¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Christian Williams| OR: 80

40/1

Veteran that's well handicapped if you go back far enough but only seen out a few times in recent years and there was little immediate promise in his Worcester effort a fortnight ago. Will be fitter for that but still hard to fancy.

Form: PP009/0

Simply Lucky^p,t¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 78| CD

20/1

C&D winner here in June (on ground softer than he's likely to encounter today) but has found life harder since then and was well beaten at Southwell latest. Return to the scene of his win could help, but makes only minimal appeal.

Form: 6-61657

Havana River³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Alain Cawley| T: J Farrelly| OR: 78

9/2

Doing very little to suggest he can win this at present and was well behind one or two of these at Stratford last time out. Hard to make a solid case for.

Form: 3-07PP7

Howlongisafoot^p¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: H Cobden| T: C Gordon| OR: 77| D

9/1

Useful at his peak but going backwards at a rate of knots at present, looking less than enthusiastic about the game at times. Makes next to no appeal here.

Form: 5-PPP70

Grand Coureur^b,t1¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Brennan| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 71

10/1

Placed in a couple of low-grade chases this summer but tends to find little off the bridle and can hang for pressure. Back over hurdles but even so, not hard to look elsewhere for the winner.

Form: 04-P225

Forecasts

Havana River (9/2), North Star Oscar (5/1), Racing Spirit (5/1), Jimmi Chew (6/1), Mr Love (7/1), Stonemadforspeed (8/1), Howlongisafoot (9/1), Grand Coureur (10/1), Oldabbey Bridge (16/1), Simply Lucky (20/1), Watching Brief (25/1), Cornish Warrior (33/1), Billy Congo (40/1)

Mr Love is likely to be well supported on his debut for Dan Skelton but he's been well backed before, only to disappoint, and he could end up a very short price here. Stonemadforspeed is in good form but can drop the lot if he doesn't get his own way up front and that's not guaranteed here. JIMMI CHEW looks to have got his act together and ran much better at Southwell last time, so with the likelihood of a bit more improvement to come, is givent he vote. Dave Roberts has his string in good order and Racing Spirit has place chances, at worst.