19:50 Uttoxeter

Wednesday 30 August 2023

All16:4017:1517:5018:2018:5019:2019:50

Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 4m 59.20s

Just A Mystery³³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Max Kendrick| T: F O'Brien| OR: 94

18/1

Just modest form in 3 starts to date, shaping as if he'd be suited by longer trips when third of 6 in novice hurdle at this course (15.8f, good to soft) 33 days ago. Should improve now handicapping, though opening mark looks on stiff side.

Form: PPP853

Ranco^p,t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 92| D

4/1

Seemed well suited by the step up in trip when winning 9-runner handicap hurdle at Worcester (20f, good to soft) 41 days ago. That effort represented a career best and he's highly respected from 4 lb higher mark.

Form: 433-741

Valentine Getaway²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 89

5/2

Seemed stretched by longer trip but essentially shaped as if in good heart when fourth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Worcester (23f, good, 8/1) 29 days ago. Can prove competitive with drop back to this distance a clear positive.

Form: 4543-54

Activist^b1,t⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 91WS

12/1

Fairly useful on Flat in France. Hasn't finished any better than mid-division in 3 qualifying runs but appeals as the type to fare better now handicapping, so looks open to progress following breathing op and with blinkers applied.

Form: 655

Bluebella^t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 87| BF

3/1

Much improved when getting off the mark at Worcester (2m) in May and has continued to progress since, holding every chance when falling the last at that course last month. Looks set to go well again.

Form: 09-122F

Jacks Orchard^p1¹⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 83

9/2

Lightly-raced 6-y-o who ran best race yet when fourth on handicap debut at Exeter (16.7f0 in March, noted doing best work at the finish. Very much the type to be suited by this step back up in trip and interesting if the market speaks in his favour fitted with headgear.

Form: 62/6P54-

Willy Nilly⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 79

28/1

Disappointing maiden hurdler, showing nothing in 4 starts since leaving Donald McCain. Can't be fancied.

Form: 66/8-063

Tika Moon^b²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 74

150/1

Limited impact in bumpers/novice hurdles for Paul Webber and has fared no better for this yard.

Form: PP6/6-97

Solid Fuel⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: James Best| T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy| OR: 70

12/1

Has confirmed he possesses some ability on last 2 outings, third at Fontwell before faring easily the best of those ridden up with the pace when fourth at Worcester last time. This race is tougher but he's not fully discounted.

Form: 56-0434

Non-Runners

Ten Past Midnight³³

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: M Keighley J: S Bowen

Happy Index⁹⁴

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: P R Webber J: Adam Wedge

Forecasts

Valentine Getaway (5/2), Bluebella (3/1), Ranco (4/1), Jacks Orchard (9/2), Happy Index (9/2), Ten Past Midnight (13/2), Activist (12/1), Solid Fuel (12/1), Just A Mystery (18/1), Willy Nilly (28/1), Tika Moon (150/1)

An interesting race for the grade, with BLUEBELLA fancied to resume her progress if none the worse for a late tumble at Worcester last time. Valentine Getaway produced an encouraging effort over a trip that stretched her last time, so is respected back down in grade, with Ten Past Midnight, Ranco and Happy Index others to consider in a tightly-knit affair.