15:43 Uttoxeter

Saturday 12 February 2022

All12:5013:2513:5814:3315:0815:4316:1816:53

Brit Plant Direct Handicap Chase (Div 1)

Off time: 15:44 | Winning time: 6m 49.00s

The Lion Dancer^b²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 100| D

15/2

Off 9 months before fading fifth of 9 in 3m handicap chase at Warwick on yard bow in December. Rare run over hurdles when also fifth of 9 in handicap at Chepstow last time. Bit to prove at present.

Form: PP1P-55

Breizh Alko²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: M Keighley| OR: 100

4/1

Won 23f Haydock handicap hurdle in March 2019. Absent until fifth on chase debut at Lingfield (20f) for new yard in December. Good second hurdling at Chepstow last time. Upped in trip back chasing.

Form: 2661/52

Truckin With Paddy⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: James Davies| T: P G Murphy| OR: 95| D

17/2

Winning pointer at ninth attempt but looks like more of a long-term project based on trio of hurdling outings to date. Now upped markedly in trip for chase/handicap debut.

Form: 22-1689

Bleue Away^t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁵⁾| T: L Horsfall| OR: 94

20/1

Dual point scorer who has taken quite well to chasing, placed first 3 starts in this sphere prior to misfiring when tried in blinkers at Taunton recently. Each-way claims if on-song for new yard.

Form: 22323P

Eaton Miller^p⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Benjamin Poste| T: R Potter| OR: 87| CD

5/2

Modest hurdler/chaser who scored twice last season. Good second after 10 months off in handicap chase at Taunton (26.3f, soft) 44 days ago. Can go one better this time around.

Form: 2311F-2

Hill Of Hope^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Jay Tidball⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 82WS

11/1

Offered little in trio of starts over hurdles in Ireland in the spring. Placed in points since, but has a bit to prove having been pulled up in last two starts over fences. Has had wind operation.

Form: P-220PP

Firenzo^p1²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 80| BF

6/1

Low-mileage 7-y-o who shaped with promise in first two chases 12 months apart. Failed to meet expectations when making bad mistake at Exeter last time, but could bounce back in reapplied cheekpieces.

Form: 098/3-5P

Timely Gift^t⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 78

5/1

Ended 2019 on a high, bagging a couple of handicap hurdles. However, he failed to fire on all cylinders in 2020/21 and below form in both starts over hurdles this season. Now returns to chasing.

Form: 1/82P-69

Non-Runners

Lady Stanhow²⁴

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: J G Cann J: M G Nolan

Getaway Lucy⁵⁸

Weight: 10-11| Age: 8

T: K Woollacott J: Ben Godfrey

Forecasts

Eaton Miller (5/2), Breizh Alko (4/1), Timely Gift (5/1), Firenzo (6/1), The Lion Dancer (15/2), Truckin With Paddy (17/2), Getaway Lucy (10/1), Hill Of Hope (11/1), Bleue Away (20/1), Lady Stanhow (50/1)

EATON MILLER won twice last season for Ryan Potter and made an encouraging reappearance when second at Taunton after 10 months off. He can build on that effort to return to winning ways here. His main danger could be the unexposed Breizh Alko who is now upped in trip back over fences with Brian Hughes booked to ride. Firenzo is also lightly raced and could bounce back in reapplied cheekpieces.