16:25 Uttoxeter

Sunday 2 July 2023

All13:5514:3015:1215:5216:2517:00

Best Odds Guaranteed At bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 4m 48.7s

Valentino Dancer^t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Daire Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 120

28/1

Made solid start for this yard in 2021/22, winning twice over hurdles (at around 2m) either side of success on Flat. Probably needed the run after 14 months off on return at Newton Abbot (16.8f, good) last month and percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 3125/6V

Thibault^t¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Lee Edwards| T: A West| OR: 119| D

15/2

Dual-purpose performer who won on the Flat at Chepstow and in this sphere at Plumpton last spring. Mixed bag under both codes subsequently, third of 7 in handicap at Lingfield (15.8f, AW) on the back of another breathing operation just under a fortnight ago.

Form: 130496-

Astromachia⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 117| C

5/2

Useful handicapper on Flat and bright start over hurdles following lengthy absence, landing course maiden (2m) in January and doubling tally in handicap at Fontwell in April. Another good run when third over 19f back at Fontwell since. Respected.

Form: 21441-3

Getareason^p,t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 117| D

25/1

Course chase scorer who landed back-to-back handicap hurdles at Newcastle and Ayr in spring 2022. Shaped as if better for the run after 15 months off when fifth at Hexham recently and this outing should reveal plenty.

Form: 90311/5

Bombyx¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 114

9/2

Useful on the Flat for James Fanshawe and made a winning start over hurdles in March 2021. Pulled up back from a lengthy absence at Stratford in March but showed the benefit of that run when a good fifth of 12 at Ludlow last time. Looks ready to strike again.

Form: 3P2/P-5V

Oceanline^p1,t1²⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 113| DWS

12/1

Useful winner at 14f on the level for Alan King and made perfect start for new connections when a smooth winner of 8-runner novice at Worcester last July. Not so good in handicap back there in September and not seen since. Has had a wind op and tongue tie/cheekpieces are applied.

Form: 5352/17-

Watergrange Jack^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 113| D

4/1

Opened his hurdles account at Ffos Las last June. Refused to race at Fontwell but got back on track in first-time cheekpieces when second of 6 in handicap back at Ffos Las (20f) just under 6 weeks ago. Needs to back it up in retained headgear.

Form: 4035-R2

Faded Fantasy²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 107| D

7/2

Fair maiden on the Flat for Ger Lyons and made the most of a good opportunity with plenty in hand in 12-runner maiden hurdle at Southwell (20.4f, good) just under 3 weeks ago, leading on bridle before 2 out. Open to further progress now handicapping.

Form: 553-21

Forecasts

Astromachia (5/2), Faded Fantasy (7/2), Watergrange Jack (4/1), Bombyx (9/2), Thibault (15/2), Oceanline (12/1), Getareason (25/1), Valentino Dancer (28/1)

A few in with a shout but BOMBYX stepped up markedly on his belated comeback when fifth at Ludlow in May and, upped to 2½m for the first time, Lucy Wadham's 8-y-o is fancied to double his tally over obstacles. Faded Fantasy rates as a big danger on handicap debut having bolted up at Southwell last month, while there were more encouraging signs from Watergrange Jack in headgear last time, so he's another who could have a say in proceedings.