14:25 Uttoxeter

Saturday 20 March 2021

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:1517:50

1834 Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 13.70s

Eclair Surf³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 136| D

5/1

Winning pointer/hurdler who confirmed the promise of his chasing debut when scoring at Hereford in December. Resumed his progress minus the headgear at Sandown last month so respected up 5 lb.

Form: F4-2141

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

St Barts⁹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 136| C| D

3/1

Winning pointer/hurdler who confirmed promise of chasing debut when making all in 8-runner handicap chase at Newbury (23.4f, soft) 94 days ago. 3 from 6 under Rules and is open to further improvement.

Form: 6131-21

Acey Milan^t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 135

9/1

Stepped up on hurdle efforts when landing 25f Aintree novice handicap on chase debut/return. Disappointed next 2 starts, however, and took a heavy fall at Haydock earlier this year. Bit to prove now.

Form: 68-152F

Young Wolf²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135| CD

20/1

Won twice at the start of the season but has struggled in competitive handicaps on his last 3 starts. Others are preferred again.

Form: 21260P

Ask Me Early^t1⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 135| BF| D

9/2

Point winner and no surprise he's taken very well to fences, winning 23.5f handicaps at Chepstow in recent months. Ran no sort of race back on testing ground at Sandown last time so can bounce back.

Form: 13-311P

Shanty Alley^p⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: B I Case| OR: 132| CD

9/2

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser who just came up short in his hat-trick bid at Wincanton last month having bolted up from the front at Uttoxeter and Doncaster in December/January. Much respected.

Form: F-33112

Flegmatik³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128

9/1

Fairly useful 2m hurdler who made smooth transition to chasing with handicap win at Carlisle on return. Disappointing since, though, including when well-beaten in first-time cheekpieces last month.

Form: 03-15P4

Seemorelights^h²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A M Thomson| OR: 124| BF

20/1

Fairly useful hurdler at up to 3m who has started positively over fences, including when third in novice at Ayr. Disappointed after a break at Newcastle 3 weeks ago and now a hood goes back on.

Form: 4F6/234

Brianstorm¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 119| BF| D

18/1

On a potentially lenient mark based on hurdling form and shaped well when second at Exeter (19.2f, soft, 4/1) after 22 months off. Disappointed both starts since however and suddenly has it to prove.

Form: 654/27P

Forecasts

St Barts (3/1), Ask Me Early (9/2), Shanty Alley (9/2), Eclair Surf (5/1), Flegmatik (9/1), Acey Milan (9/1), Brianstorm (18/1), Young Wolf (20/1), Seemorelights (20/1)

Competitive stuff but ST BARTS gets the vote to enhance his fine record under Rules to 4-7 having confirmed the promise of his chasing debut when making all at Newbury in December. With further improvement on the cards, he could be tough to pass. Shanty Alley continues to thrive and heads up the possible dangers, ahead of Ask Me Early and Eclair Surf.