12:45 Uttoxeter

Tuesday 31 December 2019

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

Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:46 | Winning time: 6m 28.10s

A Book Of Intrigue^h,t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: J G M O'Shea

40/1

Talented bumper performer who is yet to translate that ability over obstacles. Showed slight improvement from hurdles debut when fourth at Hereford (2m5f; heavy). This looks easier, but on what he has shown so far he is still difficult to recommend.

Form: 3/1-1044

Accordingtogino²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 121

11/8

Finished a close-up third at Chepstow (2m7f; soft) most recently behind the subsequent Welsh National winner Potters Corner. Now returns to novice company, and although he is 0-6 over hurdles he does possess some smart pieces of form. Huge player.

Form: 253-323

Apple Rock⁴⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling

9/1

Placed in a couple of point-to-points at the end of last year before being snapped up by connections for £15,000. By Royal Anthem. Yard have turned a corner recently, and he could have a say if market speaks positively about him.

Form: 32-

Bonanza Sam²⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Garner| T: J Mason

25/1

Point-to-point scorer by Black Sam Bellamy. Makes hurdles debut for yard who don't tend to have many runners under rules (not had a winner for 711 days). Would be a surprise if he were good enough to make a winning debut.

Form: 12-

Getaman²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D J Jeffreys

40/1

Failed to make any impact on either of his starts over hurdles to date, finishing tailed-off on each occasion. Cannot be fancied in any way based on that, and another quiet showing looks highly likely.

Form: 2PP1-00

Golden Sovereign⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 118

11/8

Has had five attempts over hurdles, and is still to taste success. Handicap debut when runner-up at Exeter (2m7f; good) over this trip was encouraging. However, he took a backwards step when finishing in midfield at Chepstow (2m7f; soft) last month.

Form: 8354-27

Lies About Milan⁵⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr S J P Bargary⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien

5/1

Point-to-point winner at Moig South (3m; soft to heavy) last month. Now makes hurdle/rules debut for this stable and it will be interesting to see what the market makes of him. Bred to stay. Shortlist material.

Form: 1

Little Saint^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: Sean Conway| OR: 94

66/1

Reverts to novice company after posting a much more solid effort when third in a handicap at Southwell (2m4f; heavy) last time out. This isn't the strongest of maiden hurdles, so he could grab a place.

Form: 5P5853

Robsam²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley

100/1

Well-beaten in midfield on hurdles debut at Market Rasen (2m4f; soft) when sixth in the same race that April Rising (9th) ran in. Looks more of a handicap project, and so he remains best watched until entering that sphere.

Form: 6-66

April Rising²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Ross Chapman| T: S A Harris

125/1

0-5 on the flat, and then made a very low-key hurdles debut at Market Rasen (2m4f; soft) at the start of the month when trailing in last of those that finished. Major revival required as she steps up in trip.

Form: 9

My Foxy Lady²⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: J L Needham

125/1

Only had the three starts, so she is lightly raced for a seven-year-old. However, she has shown next to nothing on each of them. Pulled-up on hurdles debut at Ffos Las (2m6f; good) when last seen in April. Impossible to fancy.

Form: 66P-

Forecasts

Golden Sovereign (11/8), Accordingtogino (11/8), Lies About Milan (5/1), Apple Rock (9/1), Bonanza Sam (25/1), A Book Of Intrigue (40/1), Getaman (40/1), Little Saint (66/1), Robsam (100/1), April Rising (125/1), My Foxy Lady (125/1)

Quite a few in this race with chances, namely the point-to-point recruits Apple Rock and Lies About Milan are also respected with the former representing an in-form yard, and the latter making his rules debut for a stable with a 15% strike-rate at this track. Despite disappointing last time out, Golden Sovereign will likely have a big role to play given the strength of his form when runner-up on his penultimate start. Preference is for ACCORDINGTOGINO who is still a maiden but the strength of his third last time out has been well advertised. This looks a much weaker contest and he can put his experience to good use to finally get a first win over hurdles.