16:45 Uttoxeter

Sunday 8 October 2023

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Staffordshire Beer Festival Saturday 18th November Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 6m 14.1s

Fulgurant^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 100

13/2

Placed on completed start in points and having been well held in 3 starts under Rules, ran his best race up in trip when runner-up at Worcester (23f, good to soft) 5 weeks ago, albeit benefiting from a couple taking each other on up front. Quickly switches to fences.

Form: PF/8-352

Kap Chidley¹⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 99

11/2

From the family of very smart chaser Hammersly Lake and having shown plenty in points promises to do better over fences judged by his good second at Chepstow (19.4f) in March. Undone by a couple of errors at Newton Abbot when last seen 6 months ago and worth another chance.

Form: 275324-

Frontier General²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 96| DWS

12/1

Pulled up on his chase debut in July 2022 and on the back of a breathing operation, was beaten by more than his absence on first outing since leaving Henry de Bromhead at Hereford in February. Has another go chasing but can only be watched on return (had another wind op).

Form: 06/02P8-

Dreams Of Diamonds⁵⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 86

11/2

Showed a bit in Exeter bumper on debut but went with little encouragement in a trio of hurdle spins in early-2022 (gambled on latest). Sent chasing after 18 months and given he was clearly thought capable of better, he's worth a market check.

Form: 4473/

Safe Destination¹⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 82

10/3

Offered bits of promise in maiden/novice hurdles but proved to be a disappointment sent chasing when pulled up at this C&D (soft) 5 months ago (showed signs of post-race ataxia). 5 lb lower here and will need to leave that well behind.

Form: 50664-P

Gibberwell^p¹⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: J Coulson| OR: 81| D

8/1

Justified support to get off the mark over fences at Hexham in April, keeping mistakes to a minimum and value for extra having done just enough once in front. Cheekpieces back on for his return and needs considering up 6 lb.

Form: 94FPP1-

Unai^p¹³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Lee Edwards| T: B Clarke| OR: 81| D

12/1

Fair winning chaser but offered little last term and was pulled up at Ffos Las in May. Has since rejoined former yard but has too much to prove for all his mark is in freefall.

Form: 57685-P

Bob Bank¹⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 80

20/1

Well beaten in 2 bumpers and been a similar story in all 3 attempts over hurdles. Sent chasing upped in trip and could prove a different proposition (is bred to stay well).

Form: 96804-

R Bernard¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: R T Dunne| T: S Allwood| OR: 72

5/1

Poor maiden hurdler and little impact in 3 novice handicap chases, looking rusty after 5 months off at this C&D (soft) 19 days ago. Could leave that effort behind here.

Form: 92/8P0-3

Old Page^p³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Reed| T: D Thompson| OR: 64| D

25/1

Successful in Irish points but remains with little form under Rules and no signs of improvement for new yard (albeit from a long way out of the weights). Faces another struggle.

Form: PP4P5P

Non-Runners

Ali Star Bert¹¹³

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: S A Harris J: J M Quinlan

Forecasts

Safe Destination (10/3), R Bernard (5/1), Kap Chidley (11/2), Dreams Of Diamonds (11/2), Ali Star Bert (6/1), Fulgurant (13/2), Gibberwell (8/1), Unai (12/1), Frontier General (12/1), Bob Bank (20/1), Old Page (25/1)

This can go the way of C&D winner ALI STAR BERT, who ran poorly back over hurdles here in June but is expected to get back on track reverted to the larger obstacles following his summer break. Gibberwell was value for extra having done just enough once in front at Hexham back in April so he may emerge as the main danger if ready to roll, with chasing-debutants Bob Bank and Fulgurant completing the shortlist.