21:00 Uttoxeter

Tuesday 5 July 2022

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Cazoo Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 21:01 | Winning time: 5m 49.80s

Moonlight Beam⁴⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Justin Landy| OR: 118| D

16/1

Went close on the third of his three appearances in bumpers and made it 2-3 over hurdles in a 23.3f Hexham novice when last seen in March 2021. Subsequent absence an obvious concern ahead of this handicap debut, but market check advised all the same.

Form: 352311/

Sammylou^t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: F O'Brien| OR: 117

11/1

Failed to fire in three starts during the winter, but much more like it when losing out only to a bang in-form rival at Fontwell (25.8f) last month. Nudged back up 2 lb, but still below his last winning mark and another bold show anticipated.

Form: 618P9-2

Cracking Smart^t³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Roisin Leech⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 115

40/1

Would be thrown in off this mark if back to anything like his best, but recent efforts over hurdles have hardly been inspiring and he was pulled up on his latest start in this sphere at Cheltenham in January.

Form: 6P454-P

Via Dolorosa^b,t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Philip Armson⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 115| BF| D

11/2

Useful in France and matched that form for current yard when landing 3m handicap chases at Southwell and Fakenham in March. Run of good form came to a grinding halt last time (pulled up), but couldn't rule out off a potentially lenient mark back hurdling.

Form: 0P-222P

Breaking Waves^b⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington| OR: 114

5/1

Produced one of his better recent efforts when third at Market Rasen in March and shaped better than the distance beaten next time. Remains on an attractive mark and needs considering, for all that consistency isn't his forte.

Form: 270P35-

Heavey^b,t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 111| D

14/1

Bounced back to form when successful over fences at Wincanton (25f) in January. More miss than hit subsequently, though, and finished last of six in first-time blinkers on his return to this sphere at Perth last month.

Form: 14PP-F6

Landen Calling^b,t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 108| CD

13/8

First-time blinkers seemingly worked the oracle as he showed much improved form to get off the mark over C&D in April. Proved that to be no flash in the pan when hitting the crossbar back here next time and he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 5557-12

Corrany²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁷⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 108

18/1

Successful over fences fir Nicky Henderson last spring, but his profile is anything but convincing and has offered little in five starts for new yard this year, including back hurdling the last twice.

Form: 9/74PP-8

For Jim^p¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 107| C

33/1

Runner-up on latest hurdles start at Hexham last summer and since scored twice over fences. Hinted that he could be working his way back to form in a handicap chase last time, despite failing to complete, and he's not without hope back in this sphere.

Form: 1P7-54F

Presenting Yeats^p,t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: James Best| T: M F Harris| OR: 93

6/1

Remains 3 lb above last winning mark and while he hasn't disgraced himself in three starts since returning from a break in April, there's an air of vulnerability about him. Engaged 5.05 Worcester Monday.

Form: 1323-43

Forecasts

Landen Calling (13/8), Breaking Waves (5/1), Via Dolorosa (11/2), Presenting Yeats (6/1), Sammylou (11/1), Heavey (14/1), Moonlight Beam (16/1), Corrany (18/1), For Jim (33/1), Cracking Smart (40/1)

The vote goes to LANDEN CALLING, who has shown much-improved form in C&D handicaps the last twice. He has been raised 4 lb for his near miss at the hands of You Name Him on the latter occasion, but that is easy to swallow given that the winner boosted the form when going in again at Southwell recently. Via Dolorosa is interesting back in this sphere off a potentially very handy mark, but his latest effort was poor and it could be that Sammylou and Breaking Waves will emerge as the main dangers.