15:22 Uttoxeter

Sunday 3 October 2021

All13:3714:1214:4715:2216:0016:3517:1017:40

Barry And Lynda Edwards Golden Anniversary Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 3m 48.0s

Vocal Duke²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: T Lawes| OR: 98

15/8

Maiden on Flat/over hurdles who has posted some creditable efforts in this sphere, including when fourth in a C&D handicap on yard debut last month. Not discounted with a repeat from 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 53-744

Sideshift⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 97

20/1

Flat winner who showed fair form in juvenile hurdles in Ireland last year. Low-key start for present stable though, well held last of 8 over C&D in July. Worth monitoring in the betting for clues now.

Form: 45-7668

Salamanca School¹²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 95

7/1

Fairly useful at best on the Flat for Mark Johnston. Some promise over hurdles for present yard but he again failed to justify support when well held at Ffos Las in June. 4 lb lower here at least.

Form: 6633-89

Gaia Vallis^p,t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 86

4/1

Fontwell chase winner (17.7f) back in the spring who ran well when second in a mares' novice hurdle (19.2f) back at that venue in September. That was a weak race but not discounted back in a handicap.

Form: 54F042

Let's Get Real^t¹⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 84

14/1

Fair form on 2 of 3 starts in bumpers and seemingly brought along with handicaps in mind in this sphere when showing a modicum of promise in mares' novice hurdles earlier this year. One to note.

Form: 383-096

Early Morning Dew²¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Burke| T: P D Niven| OR: 82

3/1

Fair form in two bumpers for Harry Whittington but yet to threaten over hurdles for present yard, running poorly on handicap debut at Newcastle (16.2f) in February. Much more needed on return.

Form: 576809-

Bentley Wood^t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Ben Jones| T: D Burchell| OR: 79

12/1

Fair maiden at best on Flat for Mick Channon but little to shout about over hurdles for new yard, too free in a Worcester maiden (2m) recently. Handicap debut.

Form: 66-8

Joint Account¹²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Charlie Hammond| T: D Frankland| OR: 75

22/1

Yet to better poor form to date and he failed to build on his Plumpton effort in May when well held at Huntingdon (15.8f) later that month. Others make more appeal on return.

Form: 7055-40

Non-Runners

Good Bye¹³⁹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: A E Jones J: William Shanahan

Forecasts

Vocal Duke (15/8), Early Morning Dew (3/1), Gaia Vallis (4/1), Salamanca School (7/1), Good Bye (10/1), Bentley Wood (12/1), Let's Get Real (14/1), Sideshift (20/1), Joint Account (22/1)

Plenty arrive with questions to answer and it may pay to side with handicap-debutante LET'S GET REAL. She offered only minor encouragement in mares' maiden/novice hurdles but is just the type her excellent yard excels with in handicaps and improvement rates a distinct possibility. Gaia Vallis ran well at Fontwell recently and can also feature, whilst Sideshift needs monitoring in the betting.