Uttoxeter & Cheadle Voice Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 6m 5.40s

Another Brown Bear^h1,t1¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Edwards| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 103

22/1

Fair form when runner-up in introductory hurdle at Ludlow in November 2021, but disappointing otherwise under Rules. Offered little after 6 months off (had wind op) at this C&D 11 days ago, so he has enough to prove with hood/tongue strap now reached for.

Form: P7P/3P-P

Drop Him In²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy| OR: 102

6/1

Having dropped a long way in the weights, finally off the mark in handicap chase at Huntingdon (23.6f) in March. Below-par effort back in cheekpieces last time, but he remains on a workable reverted to hurdling with the headgear discarded.

Form: 7U414-6

For Jim^v⁴⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 101| CD

4/1

With visor reapplied, got back to winning ways at this C&D last July. However, his form has gone the wrong way since, pulled up on his last 2 outings (over fences on first occasion). Now 8 lb below his last winning mark if the return of the visor can spark a revival.

Form: 1368PP-

Merveillo^p1²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 83

5/2

Useful on the Flat and shaped better than the distance beaten when third on debut in this sphere at Haydock (24.3f) in November. Hasn't gone on as hoped since then, but he's dropped further in the weights and now goes back up in trip with cheekpieces on first time.

Form: P0805-6

Absolutely Dylan¹⁵⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-3| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 78| D

14/1

On a long losing run and produced a laboured effort after 15-month absence in handicap chase at Hexham (15.6f) in November. Fared no better at Catterick (25.2f) in January, but he lurks on a dangerous mark now returned to hurdling.

Form: 5260/47-

Hollow Ron^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 77

13/8

Won sole start in points but little impact in a trio of novice hurdles last year. However, has shown more in handicaps on his last 2 starts, off a further 8 weeks before finishing fourth at Ludlow (21.2f) last month. Can open his account under Rules upped in trip.

Form: 18783-4

Non-Runners

Millie Of Mayo¹¹³

Weight: 11-1| Age: 8

T: N G Richards J: Danny McMenamin

Forecasts

Hollow Ron (13/8), Merveillo (5/2), For Jim (4/1), Drop Him In (6/1), Millie Of Mayo (8/1), Absolutely Dylan (14/1), Another Brown Bear (22/1)

A winner in points, HOLLOW RON has shown more sent handicapping under Rules when making the frame on his last 2 starts, so he could still have more to offer as he now goes up in trip. The 5-y-o is taken to get the better of Merveillo, who has dropped to a dangerous mark with cheekpieces on for the first time. Drop Him In is the pick of the remainder.