15:00 Uttoxeter

Saturday 19 March 2022

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:18

Optimum Pay Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 4m 54.70s

Ch'tibello⁶³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 142

7/1

Smart hurdler at best who won at 2019 Cheltenham Festival. Stepped up on reappearance when fair third at Hereford in December but fell early in Lanzarote at Kempton since. Stable won this last year.

Form: 3/26-54F

Beauport⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 142| D

7/2

Won the EBF Final at Sandown last March and has shown even better form when runner-up in competitive handicaps on all 3 outings this season. Drop back in trip not sure to suit but still a big player.

Form: 131-222

Red Risk³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140| CD

10/1

Useful chaser for this yard. Lost his way in that sphere in the autumn but back on song with C&D hurdle win last month. 11 lb rise mean he'll need a career best to follow up.

Form: 5U-3561

Haafapiece²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 136| D

50/1

Course bumper winner. In excellent form at Wetherby this term, scoring twice over 2½m. Respectable 8 lengths seventh of 11 at Kempton (21f) latest. Needs to show he's as good away from Wetherby.

Form: 29-1317

Ballybegg^b²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 135| CD

33/1

Proved disappointing on 2 stabs as a chaser, but was perked up no end by first-time blinkers when making all back over hurdles here in December. Not in anything like same form at Ascot since, though.

Form: 19-PP1P

Llandinabo Lad^p1²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: David Noonan| T: T Symonds| OR: 135

12/1

Yet to add to his two wins over hurdles this term. Faced a stiff task but ran poorly all the same when distant last of 4 in Kingwell at Wincanton latest. Back up in trip with cheekpieces added.

Form: 25P-264

Boothill^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 132

5/2

Won bumper/novice hurdle in 2020 and shaped with plenty of promise when third in 2m Ascot handicap on return. Only mid-field in Betfair at Newbury latest but this is a slightly easier assignment.

Form: 21/1-349

Jepeck²¹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-0| J: Cameron Iles⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 130| D

33/1

Still a useful hurdler despite his veteran status, scoring at Wincanton in January and good placed efforts all 3 runs since. Needs considering.

Form: P71322

Teescomponentsyess^p,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Jordan Gainford⁽³⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 124| D

14/1

Limerick handicap hurdle winner in December and good in-frame efforts over hurdles on both completed starts since. Ought to be in the mix once again.

Form: 0P14R4

Jetaway Joey^p,t⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 123| CD

10/1

Improved again to win C&D novice on reappearance and has run a couple of decent races in handicap company since. Likely to be competitive.

Form: 331-152

Panic Attack^p¹⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 121| C

6/1

Dual winner last term who returmed from 5 months off to finish good fourth over 3m at Cheltenham (3m) in October. Respected back from another break for yard which has won this twice in recent years.

Form: 0183-24

Non-Runners

Freedom To Dream¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: Peter Fahey J: Kevin Sexton

Forecasts

Boothill (5/2), Beauport (7/2), Panic Attack (6/1), Freedom To Dream (13/2), Ch'tibello (7/1), Jetaway Joey (10/1), Red Risk (10/1), Llandinabo Lad (12/1), Teescomponentsyess (14/1), Jepeck (33/1), Ballybegg (33/1), Haafapiece (50/1)

The return to a shorter trip is a slight concern for BEAUPORT but his form is rock solid and he deserves to win a nice prize like this. David Pipe has a good record in this race in recent years so Panic Attack could be the one to give the selection most to think about ahead of Jepeck.