12:55 Uttoxeter

Friday 31 December 2021

All12:2212:5513:3014:0514:3715:0715:40

Richard Oldham Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:57 | Winning time: 4m 15.43s

Heritier^h1,t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 99

50/1

Bumper winner in France, but hasn't shown a great deal in 4 starts over hurdles on these shores, including a remote fifth in a C&D handicap last time. Now has first-time hood added to tongue tie.

Form: 120395

King Ferdinand^h⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 96

12/1

Just minor promise so far and well held on his C&D handicap debut 7 weeks ago. Still early days but needs plenty of improvement.

Form: 65-4787

Lusitanien¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 95

8/1

Latest Plumpton run rather disappointing but he had hinted at promise prior to that. Best run to date came on heavy so these conditions should be to his liking. Still early days with him.

Form: 033-6B7

No Reaction¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Fergus Gregory| T: J Coulson| OR: 95

100/1

Modest in bumpers in Ireland. No better in maiden hurdles, including for new yard latest, but she does at least stand a more realistic chance now handicapping.

Form: 5-05559

Branson Missouri¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 94

11/2

Dual point winner who has achieved only modest form over hurdles so far, but it's possible this shorter trip will help having faded late on in a pair of handicaps around 2½m since joining this yard.

Form: 552446

Zamani³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 94

17/2

Fair winning hurdler. Below that level in 3 chase starts this autumn but his hurdle mark has come down as a result and he's well treated if a return to the smaller obstacles sparks a revival.

Form: 669-755

Rootless Tree^p⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 94| D

4/1

Rated in the 120s at the start of his career but gave no indication that he's ready to take advantage of his falling mark on his C&D return in November.

Form: 06564-0

Cold Shoulder²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: R P McLernon| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 80

33/1

Winless since 2018 and he faded to finish well held on his Fontwell yard debut/reappearance earlier this month.

Form: 5U80P-8

Click And Collect^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 76

7/1

Yet to get his head in front. Did start this season with a pair of creditable in-frame at Hexham but he wasn't in the same form when well held over this C&D latest.

Form: 673-439

Infiniti²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: S Bowen| T: K Frost| OR: 76| BF| D

7/2

2m winner in this sphere and back on her game whe placed at Market Rasen and Leicester on her last starts. Has first run for a new yard here. One to consider.

Form: 5-53823

Good Impression²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Jones| T: D Burchell| OR: 75

11/1

Flat winner in 2019 and 2020. Went close to adding another win in that sphere over the summer and he made a respectable return to hurdles when fourth of 9 at Leicester (2m, soft) 29 days ago.

Form: 48536/4

Amlovi²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: A Wintle| OR: 75| D

25/1

Has failed to complete over fences on his last 3 outings but he has reached the frame on his last 4 attempts over hurdles. On as workable mark if a return to timber sparks him back to life.

Form: 4/33FP-P

Kilcaragh Boy^t²⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Armson| OR: 68| D

40/1

Has won only once since 2016 and he hasn't been showing enough this term to suggest he's likely to end that losing run here from 5 lb out of handicap.

Form: 465370

Non-Runners

Thomas Kershaw⁸⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: Miss Gay Kelleway J: Alex Edwards

Highlander Madrik¹⁵

Weight: 10-10| Age: 4

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Infiniti (7/2), Rootless Tree (4/1), Highlander Madrik (5/1), Branson Missouri (11/2), Click And Collect (7/1), Lusitanien (8/1), Zamani (17/2), Thomas Kershaw (10/1), Good Impression (11/1), King Ferdinand (12/1), Amlovi (25/1), Cold Shoulder (33/1), Kilcaragh Boy (40/1), Heritier (50/1), No Reaction (100/1)

ZAMANI is dangerously well treated so it's worth taking a chance that a return to hurdles sees him bounce back to form. Highlander Madrik strikes as one who could have more to come in handicaps so he's potential danger, particularly if backed. It's possible the return to testing ground will help Lusitanien so he's also on the shortlist.