12:37 Uttoxeter

Friday 18 December 2020

All12:0712:3713:1013:4514:2014:5515:27

Vote For Hollie Doyle On SPOTY Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 5m 26.92s

Ah Well²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: J M Quinlan| T: T Gallagher| OR: 101

12/1

Low-mileage hurdler who arrives in decent form, though spoiled his chance by hanging left when third of 16 in 3m handicap at Doncaster 21 days ago. Not ruled out off unchanged mark.

Form: 3/B5-633

Follow Your Fire³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 98| D

40/1

Suited by step up in trip when off the mark over 20f in Sedgefield handicap hurdle last March but yet to hit form in two runs this term, beating only one back there last time. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 9961-00

Galtee Mountain¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: M D Grant| T: P G Murphy| OR: 91

16/1

Dual 19f hurdle winner last season who (16/1) got back on track when third of 11 in 20f handicap at Ffos Las 19 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: P31-573

Espinator²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: A Wintle| OR: 91

50/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler, and only eleventh of 17 on handicap bow at Doncaster (19.4f) 21 days ago. Needs big step forward.

Form: 666-50

Dainty Doris²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr T Chatfeild-Roberts⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 89

80/1

Has offered little in three 19f novice hurdles this season. Makes handicap debut now but easy to look elsewhere.

Form: P-P55

Bridey's Lettuce^p1²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: C J Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 88| C

50/1

Course winner but soon off bridle when pulled up in 19f handicap at Doncaster three weeks ago. Cheekpieces reached for now but hard to warm to.

Form: 412-96P

Donald Dux^t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 88| D

10/11

Much improved this term on back of wind operation, and bolted up in 20f handicap hurdle at Newcastle 8 days ago, storming clear from 3 out. Escapes a penalty so looks very hard to beat here.

Form: 4631-21

Shimba Hills^p,t²⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Mrs Izzie Hill⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 86| D

40/1

Ended last term with 20f handicap wins at Lingfield and Southwell. Has 9-month absence to overcome on comeback though so others appeal more.

Form: 3P3181-

Richardson³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 82

10/1

Modest maiden hurdler who posted good sixth of 15 in handicap (25/1) over C&D 34 days ago. Form has been franked so he's worth considering off 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 07P-696

No Alarm^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁷⁾| T: A Forbes| OR: 81

150/1

Winless since early 2019, and he has shown little both starts this term. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: 908P-57

Glencoum Lass¹⁰^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J McGrath| T: T Lawes| OR: 74| CD

4/1

Lightly-raced mare who (12/1) readily opened her account in handicap over C&D 10 days ago. Goes well in the mud so another bold showing is on the cards under 7 lb penalty.

Form: 52/P-851

Knocknamona⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 80| CD

5/1

Arrives on back of career-best win in 20f handicap chase (9/2) at Bangor 7 days ago. Has rare start over hurdles now but no forlorn hope off reduced mark.

Form: 47U-P81

Kilcaragh Boy^t³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-4| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Armson| OR: 76| D

20/1

Veteran ended a long losing run at Hexham in October but below-form fifth of 15 in 20f handicap there 30 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 8359-15

A Falling Star²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Bargary| T: A Phillips| OR: 72

200/1

Yet to show any form of note, and pulled up in 3m handicap hurdle at Ludlow (80/1) 25 days ago. Readily opposed.

Form: 5/8P8P

Smashing Lass^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 72

50/1

7f Flat winner who is still to score over hurdles, though she wasn't disgraced when fifth of 19 in handicap over C&D (40/1) 10 days ago. Cheekpieces on now with bit to find.

Form: 9-06085

Non-Runners

Follow That⁵⁸

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: O Murphy J: Non Runner

Enforcement¹

Weight: 10-3| Age: 5

T: M Keighley J: Kai Lenihan

Forecasts

Donald Dux (10/11), Glencoum Lass (4/1), Knocknamona (5/1), Richardson (10/1), Ah Well (12/1), Follow That (12/1), Enforcement (14/1), Galtee Mountain (16/1), Kilcaragh Boy (20/1), Follow Your Fire (40/1), Shimba Hills (40/1), Bridey's Lettuce (50/1), Espinator (50/1), Smashing Lass (50/1), Dainty Doris (80/1), No Alarm (150/1), A Falling Star (200/1)

A big field but it's impossible to ignore the claims of DONALD DUX who has been transformed by a breathing op and has plenty in hand at the weights here going unpenalised for his easy victory at Newcastle. C&D winner Glencoum Lass looks the one to chase him home, with in-form maiden Richardson appealing as the pick of the remainder and a solid place prospect.