12:48 Uttoxeter

Saturday 27 January 2024

All12:4813:2313:5814:3315:0815:4316:18

Brit Direct Conditional Jockeys' Training Series Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:49 | Winning time: 4m 5.4s

Classic Maestro³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Luke Scott| T: J Candlish| OR: 105| BF

9/2

Fair form when runner-up on last 3 starts over hurdles, the latest in a heavy-ground 2¾m course handicap just over 5 weeks ago. Certainly not discounted trying 2m for the first time.

Form: 43-4222

Present Fair¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: William Maggs⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 105| CD

15/2

Brushed off a disappointing run over fences when winning 10-runner handicap over C&D last month. Not disgraced when fourth from a 3 lb higher mark at Catterick since and should give another good account.

Form: 45-3514

Heure De Gloire^b,t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Ellis Collier| T: D Pipe| OR: 104| D

16/1

Landed a 2m handicap hurdle at Leicester in February. Looks to be being brought along gradually judged on both outings this season and could show the benefit having dropped another 2 lb in the weights.

Form: 2315-76

Foxey⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 104| D

15/2

Flat-bred gelding who got off the mark over hurdles at Newton Abbot (18.5f) in October. Runner-up on chasing debut at Huntingdon later that month before going one better in authoritative fashion at Lingfield just under 7 weeks ago. Plenty to like reverted to hurdles.

Form: 34/5121

Shinji⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁸⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 100| D

9/2

Looked above average when a bumper for Roger Varian (subsequently sold £60,000) on debut in November 2022 but has run a long way below that level on all 3 starts over hurdles. Could prove a different proposition now handicapping.

Form: 130-256

Copper Cove^t⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Benjamin Macey⁽¹⁰⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 99

5/2

Yet to really build on a promising couple of efforts in maiden company last season but seemed a bit fresher than ideal when seventh of 19 in handicap hurdle at Carlisle (20f, soft) on return 3 months ago. Back down in trip and the suspicion remains he should do better at some stage.

Form: 34667-7

Atreides^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 98

6/1

Lightly-raced maiden who compromised his finishing effort by racing freely when fifth at Plumpton (15.9f, good to soft) last month. Mark eases a shade further and he's not without hope if settling better.

Form: 664235

Inebranlable^t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽³⁾| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 96

16/1

Runner-up sole start in points and offered more than on debut in this sphere when fourth of 11 in novice at Ffos Las (15.8f, heavy) last month. Not so good at Exeter 9 days later but could be seen in better light now handicapping.

Form: 2/8-840

Toucan Sam^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Lewis Saunders⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 90

80/1

Not without promise on 2 of his 3 starts in novice/maiden hurdles for this yard back in summer 2022. Understandably looked rusty following 14 months off over at Ayr (18f, soft) 38 days ago (lost tough before end of back straight) and this promises to reveal more.

Form: 5/5346-P

Be My Sea^p⁴⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 10-9| J: Kai Lenihan⁽³⁾| T: D Bourne| OR: 86| D

80/1

Modest handicap hurdler who has offered little in 2 starts for new yard since returning from a lengthy absence. Significantly back down in trip.

Form: 56P2/P9

Forecasts

Copper Cove (5/2), Classic Maestro (9/2), Shinji (9/2), Atreides (6/1), Present Fair (15/2), Foxey (15/2), Heure De Gloire (16/1), Inebranlable (16/1), Be My Sea (80/1), Toucan Sam (80/1)

A tricky opener to solve but the vote goes to COPPER COVE, who seemed a bit fresher than ideal on his seasonal return at Carlisle in October but the suspicion remains that there's more to come from Jonjo O'Neill's 7-y-o at some stage. Foxey was a commanding winner over the larger obstacles last time, so he may emerge as the main danger back hurdling, with Classic Maestro and Heure de Gloire another couple fancied to go well.