14:15 Uttoxeter

Friday 22 December 2023

All12:0012:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Ashley Waller Auctioneers Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 6m 10.30s

Double Click²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 103

12/1

Resumed with win at Ffos Las but he came in last of 9 in handicap hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, soft) 29 days ago. Goes over a longer distance with work to do.

Form: 531-139

John W Creasy²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryan Carver| T: C Honour| OR: 101

9/1

Respectable fourth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Exeter (16.7f, soft) 26 days ago. Significantly up in trip with more needed if he's to gain a maiden success.

Form: 406-504

My Girl Katie³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Reed| T: G Harris| OR: 101

18/1

Yet to fire in three runs over fences, only ninth of 11 in handicap chase at Exeter (24.2f, soft) 32 days ago. Not discounted back over hurdles though.

Form: 234-649

Bobo Mac^p²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: T Symonds| OR: 101

4/1

Arrives in good nick, second of 6 in handicap hurdle at Chepstow (23.6f, soft) 28 days ago, keeping on gamely. Not taken lightly eased 1 lb.

Form: 4545-22

Classic Maestro⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 99

85/40

Has progressed with each of his three runs over hurdles, clear second of 9 in handicap hurdle at Newcastle (20.3f, soft) 8 days ago. Can race off the same mark so he looks the one to beat.

Form: P43-422

Barricane^p³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Lewis Saunders⁽¹⁰⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 98| C

6/1

Course winner but he comes here below form, fifth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Warwick (19f, heavy) 30 days ago. Cheekpieces back on with more required.

Form: 311/005

Tara Cove^t1²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 95

20/1

Winning pointer who has been brought along steadily in this sphere, fourth of 8 in novice hurdle at Bangor (16.7f, heavy) 20 days ago. Tongue strap on for his handicap debut. One to consider.

Form: 211-964

Houston Calling^p1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 87

25/1

Hinted at promise but he looked rusty after 6 months off when ninth of 12 on his handicap debut at Ludlow (21.2f, soft) 25 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Should still improve.

Form: 7636-49

Robeam^p⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: K Brogan| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 77

50/1

Unreliable type who wasn't disgraced when fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Hereford (21.7f, good to firm) 66 days ago. Seventeen runs since his last win in 2022, though.

Form: V4P844

Richardson³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Lee Edwards| T: B Clarke| OR: 75| C

5/1

Course winner who posted a respectable third of 7 in handicap hurdle at this course (19.9f, heavy) 34 days ago. One for the shortlist despite being 2 lb "wrong" in the weights.

Form: 0252-33

Non-Runners

Invincible De Mee⁴⁴

Weight: 10-2| Age: 5

T: Tim Vaughan J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Classic Maestro (85/40), Bobo Mac (4/1), Richardson (5/1), Barricane (6/1), John W Creasy (9/1), Double Click (12/1), My Girl Katie (18/1), Tara Cove (20/1), Houston Calling (25/1), Invincible De Mee (25/1), Robeam (50/1)

A few with chances but CLASSIC MAESTRO can race off the same mark as when an excellent recent Newcastle second so is hard to oppose. Veteran Bobo Mac also figures on a handy-looking mark and rates the chief threat to Jennie Candlish's 5-y-o, with unexposed duo Houston Calling and Tara Cove not ruled out either in an intriguing handicap.