17:45 Uttoxeter

Saturday 4 May 2024

All16:0016:3517:1017:4518:1818:5319:25

Carlsberg Marston's Staffordshire Plate Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:46 | Winning time: 6m 26.38s

Flegmatik^p,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 143| D

14/1

Ended a near 2-year losing run when scoring at Kempton in January. Took his form up a notch when an excellent runner-up there (2m4f) in March but shaped as if over the top at Aintree since.

Form: 23142P-

Cheddleton^p⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 138

22/1

Ran poorly on his 2 starts following his reappearance but with cheekpieces applied he returned to form when winning 4-runner handicap chase at Newcastle (20.1f, soft). However, added to mixed record with a poor effort back hurdling at Bangor 6 weeks ago.

Form: 2/44P1P-

Ballygrifincottage^p,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| D

7/2

Low-mileage chaser who produced best effort for a while when second in a 3m Sandown handicap and backed that up when seventh of 26 in Scottish National 2 weeks ago, right in the mix for most of the latter stages despite racing wide throughout. Player back down in trip if this doesn't come too soon.

Form: P/3P527-

Farceur Du Large⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 135| D

13/2

Useful at best in Ireland. Lost his way a little over there but showed he retains all his ability when winning first 2 starts for new stable at Sandown (for Military amateur jockeys). Shaped as if still in good form in Midlands National here since and drop back in trip very much in his favour.

Form: P/P8115-

Docpickedme^p,t¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: R Hobson| OR: 129| C| D

18/1

Boasts an all-or-nothing profile, producing a career-best win at Wetherby (19.4f) before poor efforts at Doncaster/Kempton. Hard to know what to expect.

Form: 2771PP-

Top Ville Ben^h³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-10| J: R T Dunne| T: P A Kirby| OR: 125| D

28/1

Winless for well over 2 years and further signs of decline last season. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: FP28P5-

Stormy Flight^p⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: H Cobden| T: J Scott| OR: 124| C

13/2

Gradually worked his way back to form last season and took advantage of a drop in the weights in 4-runner event at Exeter in December. Resumed winning ways in veterans event there in March but will find this tougher.

Form: 436131-

Pimlico Point^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 123| D

7/2

Low-mileage 7-y-o who got off the mark in this sphere in 4-runner handicap chase at Exeter (24.2f, heavy) in February. Let down by jumping at Ffos Las since but remains with potential.

Form: 3P/241U-

Imperial Alex³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: T Lacey| OR: 115| D

7/2

Winning hurdler who made up into a better chaser last season, gaining a first success over fences when scoring easily in handicap at Chepstow (23.6f, heavy) in March. Defied a penalty in emphatic fashion at Wetherby since so not taken lightly despite racing off 10 lb higher in much better race.

Form: 222211-

Non-Runners

Lord Baddesley⁴⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: C Gordon J: Freddie Gordon

Forecasts

Imperial Alex (7/2), Pimlico Point (7/2), Ballygrifincottage (7/2), Farceur Du Large (13/2), Stormy Flight (13/2), Lord Baddesley (10/1), Flegmatik (14/1), Docpickedme (18/1), Cheddleton (22/1), Top Ville Ben (28/1)

FARCEUR DU LARGE shaped as if still in very good form when fifth in the Midlands Grand National here 7 weeks ago, the combination of the much longer trip and a stopping blunder in the straight exaggerating the distance he was beaten, and he's fancied to resume winning ways back down in distance. Ballygrifincottage is another who shaped better than the bare result when seventh in the Scottish National and rates a big threat if this doesn't come too soon. In-form Imperial Alex is best of the rest.