16:10 Uttoxeter

Sunday 26 June 2022

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

Best Odds Guaranteed At bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 46.40s

Laura Bullion^t¹⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Chris Ward⁽⁵⁾| T: Deborah Cole| OR: 120

80/1

Fairly infrequent winner in Ireland but bright start for Ollie Murphy, hitting frame on first 2 starts over hurdles during the winter. Disappointed on Flat at Lingfield in January and he may be best watched back from a break/for new yard.

Form: 440/234-

Orchard Grove⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 113| CWS

6/1

Completed a 4-timer in handicaps at around 2m last season and, on the back of a break ran creditably when second at Chepstow (2m) in April. Not in same form when fourth at Bangor since but undergone wind surgery ahead of this. Watch the betting.

Form: 11172-4

Leylak^p³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 113

7/2

Below best back from 14 months off at Ludlow (15.7f) in May but right back on track (upped in trip) when running out a convincing winner of a Warwick novice (19f) 32 days ago. Well worth a look returned to handicaps from what could prove a lenient mark.

Form: 3353/31

Accidental Rebel^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 109

12/1

Fair hurdler who belatedly got off the mark (in first-time tongue tie) starting out for new yard at Ludlow (21f) 5 weeks ago, idling but holding runner-up near finish. Needs to pull out a bit more back in a handicap.

Form: 9/635P-1

Jen's Boy^p⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 109| C

18/1

Mixed bag over hurdles during second half of last year but did at least sign off with just about a career-best in this sphere to score at Plumpton (205f) in November. Pulled up on return over fences in May though, and others preferred back over timber on balance.

Form: 38441-P

Gaulois^p⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 108

15/2

Showed definite promise over hurdles last year and dispelled a couple of lesser displays to come out on top in a Newton Abbot maiden (21.5f) 46 days ago, that despite a less-than-convincing round of jumping. Returns to handicaps now and it does remain early days.

Form: 32/3P0-1

Kuraka^p¹¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 108

13/2

Sole hurdles success was gained in a Limerick maiden for Gordon Elliott back in April 2018. On a handy mark nowadays but again produced a laboured display at Newbury in March. Break/yard switch needs to have positive effect now.

Form: 3/35345-

Finisk River^p1,t1⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 107

12/1

Avoided mistakes and ran well when third in big-field Cheltenham handicap (21f) in November but it's all been rather low-key since, again well held at Southwell (20.4f) in April. Losing run goes back to 2020. Cheekpieces/tongue tie reached for.

Form: 538847-

Classic Concorde³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: C Brace| T: D Brace| OR: 105

22/1

Successful just twice from 44 runs in Ireland and he ran below his best when fifth in a Limerick claimer (19f) in April (final start for Andrew McNamara). Interesting to see what the market makes of him here.

Form: 55084-5

Duke Of Luckley⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| OR: 105

3/1

Showed improved form to get off the mark in clear-cut style at Southwell (15.8f) in May, going on between last 2 and staying on well. 9 lb higher now but totally unexposed at this sort of trip and highly likely there's more to come.

Form: 9P9F2-1

Carn A Chlamain³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 109

14/1

Fair maiden on the Flat and perfect start over hurdles when landing 9-runner Southwell novice (15.8f) in April. Below best next time but back on track when second behind re-opposing Leylak at Warwick (19f) since. This more suitable with handy 4-y-o allowance.

Form: 1-52

Forecasts

Duke Of Luckley (3/1), Leylak (7/2), Orchard Grove (6/1), Kuraka (13/2), Gaulois (15/2), Accidental Rebel (12/1), Finisk River (12/1), Carn A Chlamain (14/1), Jen's Boy (18/1), Classic Concorde (22/1), Laura Bullion (80/1)

LEYLAK got firmly back on track when running out a convincing winner of a Warwick novice over this sort of trip 32 days ago and, from an appealing mark back in a handicap, he gets the nod to follow up. That said, recent Southwell scorer Duke of Luckley remains unexposed and ought to be suited by this trip, so rates a big threat. Carn A Chlamain and Accidental Rebel complete the shortlist.