14:23 Uttoxeter

Friday 16 October 2020

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2314:5315:2315:53

Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:23 | Winning time: 6m 0.44s

Captain Drake²¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 137| C

5/1

Progressive over fences last term, solid second in Midlands National here (4¼m) in March. Still, may prove vulnerable back in this sphere following a 7-month absence.

Form: 07U1U2-

Dingo Dollar²¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 137| D

11/1

Creditable reappearance effort in this sphere at Newbury last season. Out of luck over fences thereafter but resumes on an attractive mark and needs considering.

Form: 2P/355U-

Supremely Lucky^p1³⁰²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| BF| CDWS

9/1

Dual winner in this sphere during 2018/19 campaign, and performed with credit on 2 of his 3 starts switched to fences last term. Has undergone wind surgery and cheekpieces enlisted back over hurdles.

Form: 421/222-

Poetic Rhythm²⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 135

5/1

Lightly-raced and largely disappointing since landing the Challow Hurdle at Newbury in 2017. On the upside, the handicapper has relented and he'll be a danger to all if resuming in good heart.

Form: 07P2/43-

Illegal Model^t²⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 130| DWS

16/1

Well held sole start between the flags but good start under Rules when landing a heavy-ground Lingfield novice (23f) in January. Unexposed and merits respect, for all that this is much tougher.

Form: 61-

Haul Away^p⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130

16/1

Four-time hurdles winner in 2018. Below par in couple of runs over fences since returning from a 14-month break but couldn't rule out off this mark back hurdling with cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 147/4-42

As I See It²⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 129| D

16/1

Improved when landing 13-runner Exeter handicap hurdle last October. No surprise that he resumes in this sphere having offered little in 2 starts over fences earlier this year. Couldn't rule out.

Form: 10/1F5P-

Espion²¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128| C

7/2

Improved with each of his 3 starts in novice company last season, decisive winner of a 4-runner affair here (19.9f, heavy) when last seen in March. Armed with potential now pitched into a handicap.

Form: 5/531-

Martha Brae²²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 127

18/1

Opened hurdles account in 19.2f mares' novice at Fontwell last December. Runner-up all 3 subsequent starts and, likely to appreciate this stiffer test now handicapping, she's not discounted.

Form: 181222-

The Eaglehaslanded^p,t⁶⁰⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 126| D

33/1

Ended 2018/19 campaign with a couple of decent efforts off higher marks than this at Cheltenham and Wincanton. However, missed whole of last season and this 10-y-o is opposable on debut for new yard.

Form: P05734/

Summer Name^t²⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 125WS

16/1

Back from long layoff when making winning hurdles debut at Ffos Las (2½m) last term. Unsuited by drop to 16.3f next time and he's not a forlorn hope back up in trip on handicap bow. Had has a wind op.

Form: 8/16-

Kingsplace²⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 125

12/1

Warwick bumper winner in 2017 and has shown a fair level of ability over hurdles without managing to get his head in front. Improvement needed now handicapping following an 8-month absence.

Form: 5229/24-

Midnight Sapphire^t⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Miss G Haywood| OR: 110

25/1

Below par back from a break at Newton Abbot (26.4f) in July but subsequently placed in couple of 21.6f handicaps there the following month. However, she last tasted success back in October 2016.

Form: 524-633

Forecasts

Espion (7/2), Captain Drake (5/1), Poetic Rhythm (5/1), Supremely Lucky (9/1), Dingo Dollar (11/1), Kingsplace (12/1), As I See It (16/1), Illegal Model (16/1), Summer Name (16/1), Haul Away (16/1), Martha Brae (18/1), Midnight Sapphire (25/1), The Eaglehaslanded (33/1)

With improvement anticipated now upped in trip on this handicap debut, ESPION looks the one to be on. He may have most to fear from Dingo Dollar, who resumes on a mark 4 lb lower than that off which he was third in Newbury handicap in this sphere on his reappearance last season. The unexposed Illegal Model also merits respect.