12:15 Uttoxeter

Tuesday 31 December 2019

All12:1512:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:30

Ever So Sensible Restaurants Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:16 | Winning time: 4m 10.1s

Highland Bobby⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr James King⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 102| D

10/1

Has fallen 11lb below his last winning mark due to a string of moderate efforts since then. Disappointing again when a distant fourth of five that finished at Fakenham (2m; good) last month. Tough task off top weight.

Form: 448434

Anywayyoulookatit²¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 100

50/1

Makes stable/seasonal debut for new yard after showing moderate ability for Joseph O'Brien in Ireland. Not been seen since unseating his rider at the first flight at Ballinrobe (3m1f; good) in May. Drops back markedly in trip. Watch market vibes.

Form: 0/000-U

Collodi¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: C R Dore| OR: 98| D

16/1

Gone well at this track before, and he showed improvement from his seasonal reappearance when a staying-on fourth at Fakenham (2m; good to soft). Now takes a slight drop in grade, and he is 3lb below his last winning mark. Wouldn't want it heavy.

Form: 1-C2U04

Ulysses²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Dave Crosse| T: D Shaw| OR: 94

28/1

Still 3lb above last winning mark and has been struggling for form this winter, which was highlighted by his recent effort at Leicester (2m4f; heavy) at the start of the month when well-beaten into fifth. Can be confidently ruled out.

Form: 225575

Ted Bach²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 92

14/1

Produced a pair of much more promising efforts the last twice, most recently when fourth in a slightly higher grade at Lingfield (2m3f; heavy). Threatening to take advantage of falling mark. Interesting to see if there is any market support for him.

Form: 195-834

Tennewrow^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: A Ralph| OR: 89

12/1

Ended last season in promising fashion with a couple of placed efforts. Better was expected when she could only manage to finish sixth of seven on her seasonal reappearance at this track over 2m4f. Vast improvement needed if she is to feature.

Form: 76P32-6

All Good Things^b,t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 87| BF| D

4/1

Was nine-length behind Richardofdoccombe when runner-up over C&D three starts ago. 2lb better off with that rival now. Then went one better at Southwell (2m; soft) before running underwhelmingly last time out. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 705218

Flanagans Field^b¹⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 84| D

7/1

Has been in consistent form of late, and backed up his recent Plumpton (2m; soft) success with a fine second at Bangor-on-dee (2m; heavy) earlier this month. Must enter calculations off an unchanged mark.

Form: 423512

Richardofdoccombe^t⁴⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 10-10| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: Miss G Haywood| OR: 84| CD

9/4

Got off the mark in handicaps when a nine-length winner over C&D last month on his seasonal return. 5lb rise may well underestimate him, but there is an element of risk involved with him reproducing that sort of form with him being a 13-year-old.

Form: 4F9/57-1

Man Of The North²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Lee Edwards| T: A W Carroll| OR: 83

14/1

Tailed off at Huntingdon (2m4f; good to soft) last time out when stepped up in trip/grade. Now returns to 2m and is back down to the mark he scored off when shedding his maiden tag at the start of the year.

Form: 7174-07

Dubai Outlaw^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Jamie Bargary| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 76

8/1

0-7 under rules/over hurdles but he ran more encouragingly on return from a short break at Hereford (2m3f; soft) over slightly further. Must now build upon that though. Place claims if able to do so.

Form: 00-89P5

Just Spot²⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bishop| OR: 70

40/1

Isn't getting any younger, but for a 12-year-old she hasn't had that many starts. Very patchy record of late, and she was always towards the rear when 12th of 15 at Exeter (2m2f; soft) on her seasonal reappearance. Can be confidently ruled out.

Form: 36/RP0-0

Kilcaragh Boy^t¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Armson| OR: 70| D

28/1

Modest strike rate of just 1-56. Improvement needed on most recent run at this track over 2m4f when a well-beaten fifth. However, the drop back in trip should help off a 4lb lower mark.

Form: 527835

Non-Runners

Alltimegold²⁵

Weight: 12-0| Age: 6

T: Tim Vaughan J: Charlie Price

Forecasts

Richardofdoccombe (9/4), All Good Things (4/1), Alltimegold (13/2), Flanagans Field (7/1), Dubai Outlaw (8/1), Highland Bobby (10/1), Tennewrow (12/1), Man Of The North (14/1), Ted Bach (14/1), Collodi (16/1), Ulysses (28/1), Kilcaragh Boy (28/1), Just Spot (40/1), Anywayyoulookatit (50/1)

A very difficult puzzle to solve in this opening race with Alltimegold considered due to his consistent record. However, he must prove he is as effective on softer ground. It would be no surprise if stable newcomer Anywayyoulookatit found improvement for the change of scenery and any market support for him would be significant. Flanagans Field is considered after he backed up his recent Plumpton win when runner-up at Bangor on ground which is likely to be similar to what he will experience in this. However, in what looks an open contest, the selection is TED BACH whose mark is steadily falling and he has threatened to take advantage of that the last twice.