14:22 Uttoxeter

Saturday 29 January 2022

All12:0812:3813:1313:4814:2214:5715:3316:08

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:24 | Winning time: 5m 15.3s

Cabot Cliffs^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| C

9/1

Successful 3 times last term and has posted 2 solid efforts to make the frame in 2m handicaps at Chepstow/Ascot this winter. Beaten by more than lack of stamina upped in trip at Kempton 2 weeks ago.

Form: 102-340

Stormy Flight⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 124| CD

9/2

Fairly useful hurdler who wasn't disgraced on chase bow at Chepstow. Well backed back over hurdles when brought down at the first at Wincanton 9 days ago. C&D winner off 2 lb lower in April.

Form: 331-P7B

Hart Of Steel¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 123| D

7/1

Added to his tally in determined style at Carlisle (20f) in October and took another step forward when making all at Bangor 16 days ago. Player.

Form: 2-U1351

Wicked West²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 122| BF

16/5

Improved model for new stable, winning maiden/novice events last year. Poor start in handicaps but bounced back to his best when placed last 2 starts. Step up in trip should suit and shortlisted.

Form: 110532

French Crusader¹¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: T Lawes| OR: 122WS

16/1

Useful hurdler in his prime but is clearly hard to train and has offered little this season back from a long absence. First run for yard after leaving Nicky Henderson.

Form: 212/8P8

Mackelduff⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy| OR: 121| D

5/2

Progressive hurdler who readily defied a 6 lb lower mark on return/handicap debut at Aintree (20f) in October. Good third at Cheltenham and Haydock next 2 starts and remains unexposed.

Form: 43-1133

Here Comes Henry²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 111| D

11/2

Catching the eye in maiden/novice hurdles and duly improved when making a winning handicap bow at Fakenham on New Year's Day. More to come.

Form: 2-5661

Glan Y Gors^t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr P Thomas⁽⁷⁾| T: M Weatherer| OR: 105

100/1

On a lengthy losing run over hurdles/Flat and not easy to make a case for from just out of the weights.

Form: 448-567

Non-Runners

Zambezi Fix²¹

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: B J Llewellyn J: Ben Jones

Forecasts

Mackelduff (5/2), Wicked West (16/5), Zambezi Fix (4/1), Stormy Flight (9/2), Here Comes Henry (11/2), Hart Of Steel (7/1), Cabot Cliffs (9/1), French Crusader (16/1), Glan Y Gors (100/1)

The step up in trip should suit WICKED WEST so he gets the vote off a fair-looking mark. This does look competitive though, with progressive-pair Here Comes Henry and Mackelduff heading the dangers.