16:10 Uttoxeter

Sunday 6 October 2019

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4517:20

Christian Hardwick Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 6m 3.20s

Final Choice^p⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: A West| OR: 123| C

8/1

Improved for step up to 2m4f when winning here in the summer and going up to this trip latest was well handled as he finished second at Market Rasen. Not convinced he's well handicapped but could easily make the frame.

Form: 43-2162

Merry Milan²⁰⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 122| D

13/2

Lightly raced sort was tailed off last when most recently seen in March at Plumpton (3m1f). Suspect he is capable off this sort of mark but form is patchy and he is high risk overall.

Form: 2F4730-

Allelu Alleluia^t1³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 120| D

10/1

Has won over hurdles (1-8) but is fully 19lb lower rated over them so has to be of serious interest even though he was last of four back over the smaller obstacles latest with that race possibly just needed.

Form: 92P-164

Francky Du Berlais^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 120

7/1

Won twice as a novice but lightly raced in handicap company over hurdles and indeed fences. Race-fit here and conditions suit well so has sound enough each way claims with handicap mark looking possible.

Form: 4-22435

On The Road¹⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 110

16/1

Winless in nine since running up a sequence in 2017 and little recent evidence to suggest him well treated so on balance others are preferred.

Form: 5/5P563-

Cracker Jak¹⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 109

5/4

Ended last season with back-to-back wins (his first two) at Newbury over 3m and Sedgefield over 2m5½f. Should be more to come now and latest 7lb rise unlikely to be a hindrance at this stage.

Form: 693211-

Very Extravagant¹⁹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 108| CD

8/1

Four-time winner for Neil Mulholland and not badly treated as she starts out for new yard given she won off mark just 3lb lower last season. That over 3m3f so stamina very much her strong suit and could go close if this is strongly run.

Form: P33217-

Bolton Boy¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 105

10/1

Won on his third career appearance at Sedgefield (2m4f) in a five runner field. Has struggled in his four starts this year, including when a never sighted ninth of 10 at Warwick latest. Hard to fancy.

Form: 715F4-9

No Alarm¹⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: A Forbes| OR: 97

22/1

Can go well after a break which is encouraging but his latest runs at Bangor and Market Rasen temper any enthusiasm and on the face of it he isn't well treated at present.

Form: PP016-6

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 10p in the pound

Non-Runners

Another Frontier¹⁶³

Weight: 10-13| Age: 8

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Jamie Bargary

Forecasts

Cracker Jak (5/4), Merry Milan (13/2), Francky Du Berlais (7/1), Final Choice (8/1), Very Extravagant (8/1), Bolton Boy (10/1), Allelu Alleluia (10/1), Another Frontier (10/1), On The Road (16/1), No Alarm (22/1)

Although not as race fit as some of his rivals a chance is taken on CRACKER JAK who ended last season with two wins to look a highly progressive five-year-old. There could easily be more to come so he is worth following again early this season. Others with chances include Another Frontier who is best caught it seems first time out and Very Extravagant who will be staying on when others have cried enough.