14:30 Uttoxeter

Friday 28 October 2022

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:45

Brit Direct Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 3.30s

Bridge Road^t1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 100

7/2

Has been a consistent performer over hurdles during the current campaign, running well when second at Carlisle (17.2f, good to soft) 15 days ago. Makes chase debut with tongue tie now applied. Respected.

Form: 8-22252

Ballybough Mary²²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 96

9/1

Point/bumper scorer but didn't make much of an impact over hurdles last season, failing to improve switched to handicaps on final 2 outings of the campaign. Now goes over fences on first run after leaving Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Form: 0/5P354-

Getabuck³⁹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 96

12/1

Returned from wind op last summer with good second in handicap at Stratford (17f) before disappointing both subsequent outings. Off 13 months but has been given a chance by the handicapper on first run after leaving Ali Stronge.

Form: 646/25P-

Colemanstown Lad^t⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 92

11/1

Well-bred type who shaped better than previously when third in handicap hurdle at Perth (20.2f, soft) in September, rallying well close home. Needs to continue progress as he makes chase debut.

Form: 3/0-4773

Unit Sixtyfour³³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 88

5/1

Runner-up on second start in Irish points and showed improved form on handicap hurdle debut when filling the same position at Southwell (20.4f, good) 11 months ago. Interesting starting off over fences.

Form: P267/82-

Conceal^p1¹⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: Billy Aprahamian| OR: 88

50/1

Fourth of 9 in handicap at Worcester on debut over fences last summer but has failed to back that up in 2 starts under Rules since, leaving Ben Pauling prior to his latest outing in May. Cheekpieces on for 1st time. Best watched.

Form: 4PP44-8

On The Platform²⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 87| D

7/2

Having twice found 3m on heavy going here too taxing, got back on track under less testing conditions when runner-up in handicap at Bangor in April. Can deservedly get off the mark over fences.

Form: 124342-

Hang Tough^p,t²²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 86

10/1

Having dropped in the weights through the campaign, took advantage on his final start last season when scoring at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft) in March. Needs to return in the same form after 7 months off.

Form: 34P6U1-

Kingston King^t,v³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Max Kendrick| T: J Coulson| OR: 85

28/1

Won pair of handicaps over fences for David Rees last season. After 5 months off (had wind op) and in first-time visor, back to form when only narrowly denied at Southwell (20.4f, good to firm) last month. Can get involved.

Form: 3P62-P2

Lindisfarne^t¹³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Bryan Carver| T: R Walford| OR: 79| BF

7/1

Has benefited from going up in trip this season, finishing runner-up in handicap hurdles at Worcester on both outings. Needs to find more again as he makes his chase debut on first start since June.

Form: P874-22

Agent Saonois^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Reed| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 76| C

16/1

Opened hurdles account when scoring here (2m) in July and ran to similar level at the first attempt over fences when runner-up at Plumpton (19.8f) in September. Unfortunate to unseat rider back at Plumpton 11 days ago. Can go well.

Form: 71752U

Scottsdale¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: P Winks| OR: 66

80/1

Seventeen runs since last win in 2019, again finishing well held in handicap chase at Market Rasen 13 days ago.

Form: PP-6444

Non-Runners

Bitasweetsymphony²⁰²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 7

T: S Allwood J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

On The Platform (7/2), Bridge Road (7/2), Unit Sixtyfour (5/1), Lindisfarne (7/1), Ballybough Mary (9/1), Hang Tough (10/1), Bitasweetsymphony (10/1), Colemanstown Lad (11/1), Getabuck (12/1), Agent Saonois (16/1), Kingston King (28/1), Conceal (50/1), Scottsdale (80/1)

An open-looking contest, with ON THE PLATFORM taken to deservedly open his account over fences. The 6-y-o went well after a break last year so can make a winning return to action, with Agent Saonois heading the list of dangers ahead of Getabuck.