13:30 Uttoxeter

Sunday 26 June 2022

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3516:1016:40

Price Promise At bet365 Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:32 | Winning time: 4m 50.6s

Onward Route^t¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: R Menzies| OR: 117

85/40

Fell with a novice at Newcastle at his mercy in February but having been given time to get over that spill, made no mistake 4 months on when bolting up at Hexham just over a fortnight ago. Capable of defying a penalty so he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 323/3F-1

Arabescato²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J M Quinlan| T: J Butler| BF

9/1

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat (stays 2¼m), winner 4 times in 2021, left with too much to do when runner-up at Pontefract just under 3 weeks ago. One to consider on hurdles bow.

Form:

Cabayo Lord George²⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Chris Ward⁽⁵⁾| T: Deborah Cole

150/1

Little show in a pair of point bumpers in December 2020 and similar story 10 months on/after a breathing operation when well held in a Worcester bumper last October. Tough to see him involved on hurdling debut.

Form: P0/5-

Champagne Gift²¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: D J Jeffreys

28/1

€40,000 3-y-o, £40,000 5-y-o, Presenting gelding. Dam unraced sister to useful bumper winner Very Much So and half-sister to smart hurdle/chase winner (stayed 3m) Jessies Dream (by Presenting). Second of 2 finishers on second of 2 starts in Irish points (Nov 2021).

Form: 82-

Festive Glory¹⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

5/1

Has a reasonable pedigree and caught the eye staying on from a long way back when fifth in a Market Rasen bumper on debut in December. Failed to improve 8 weeks on at Huntingdon but he would be folly to discount on hurdling debut for his top yard.

Form: 56-

Mankhool^t⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph| OR: 114

9/1

Off the mark at the fourth attempt over hurdles at Thurles in March but has failed to kick on from that, only ninth of 12 in novice handicap (16/1) at Cork (19f, good to soft) just over 7 weeks ago. Market check advised on first start since leaving Denis Hogan (£14,000).

Form: 51740-9

Presentandcounting²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 125| D

11/8

Prolific over fences last season, winning 5 times in novice company. However he's been well below form last 2 outings and hopes pinned on a switch back over the smaller obstacles sparking a revival.

Form: 113F6-9

Top Drawer¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Tracey Leeson| OR: 72

66/1

Remains a maiden and though he ran better than for a while when fifth over C&D 17 days ago, he remains opposable.

Form: 589P-55

Forecasts

Presentandcounting (11/8), Onward Route (85/40), Festive Glory (5/1), Arabescato (9/1), Mankhool (9/1), Champagne Gift (28/1), Top Drawer (66/1), Cabayo Lord George (150/1)

This return to hurdling could spark a revival from PRESENTANDCOUNTING, who has seemingly lost plenty of confidence having taken a heavy fall at Ayr in April. He gets the vote to notch a first success over timber at the expense of Onward Route, who ran out a decisive winner at Hexham earlier this month and should be bang there provided this doesn't come too soon. Festive Glory is another to consider for his top stable on first start over hurdles.