15:20 Uttoxeter

Friday 26 July 2024

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

Alby Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 4m 58.02s

Liverpool Knight¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 119| C

10/3

Back-to-back winner of C&D novice events last July and progressed again when making all in 2m Market Rasen handicap in September. Back to form when fourth in handicaps at Market Rasen and Worcester this summer but it underlines he needs a bit more from his current mark.

Form: 212-644

Winged Isle⁶³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 115| D

100/1

Dual-winning hurdle in 2021 but lightly raced since and off since pulling up in a Worcester chase in October 2022. Earth Cry has to be considered the yard first string unless the betting strongly hints otherwise.

Form: 21164P/

Cirque Royal^t³⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr N McParlan⁽³⁾| T: Gerald Quinn| OR: 115

28/1

Irish raider who won maiden/novice hurdles over 2m in Britain in May 2022. Better effort in handicaps last summer when fourth of 7 at Perth (2m) last August. Absent since. Has gone well fresh before but this trip is an unknown.

Form: 1153/74-

The Flier Begley⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: R T Dunne| T: G Hanmer| OR: 114| D

28/1

Fair maiden hurdler and fairly useful chase winner for Stuart Crawford in Ireland. Creditable fourth of 8 in handicap chase at Down Royal on final start for that yard in May. Reverts to hurdles on first outing for Gary Hanmer.

Form: 3P2P8-4

Elogio^t,p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 113| D

16/1

Bumper/hurdle winner who made a respectable start for new trainer Lizzie Quinlan when fifth of 12 over 17f at Cartmel last month. Return to a longer trip should suit and not discounted under Brian Hughes.

Form: 65178-5

Hardy Boy¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 112| D

11/1

Attitude and jumping has always been questionable but he has recorded plenty of placed efforts in the last 12 months, including back hurdling at Worcester 18 days ago. Should figure again but recent record suggests it may pay to look elsewhere for win purposes.

Form: 223-3P2

Police Academy²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 111| C| D

5/1

Fine start upon joining Fergal O'Brien last summer, winning 3 of her first 4 starts over hurdles. Good return from a break when 8 lengths second of 13 over C&D (good to soft) last month. Needs considering.

Form: 11216-2

Bashful Boy⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 111| BF

12/1

Completed a cross-code hat-trick last summer. Also an excellent fourth in the Cesarewitch on the Flat in the autumn but has struggled for form since. His mark has come down as a result but best watched unless the betting hints that a revival is anticipated.

Form: P4604-7

Enki Flacke^p³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 111| D

16/1

Won 3 maiden/novice hurdles at Perth for Gordon Elliott in summer 2022 but down the field in 2 handicap hurdles since returning from a long absence for new yard. Has cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 1110/89

Copper Beach⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 111| CD

25/1

C&D winner. 16/1, fifth of 6 in handicap hurdle at Southwell (20.5f, soft) on reappearance 52 days ago, weakening quickly.

Form: 23727-5

Tzarmix^t,p1⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Max Kendrick| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 111

50/1

Ended his time with Sam Thomas with a 3m Chepstow novice win in March 20223 but has failed to make an impact in a novice and 2 handicaps for current yard. May have needed his latest outing after 6 months off but still hard to make a good case for in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: U31/54-5

Walk Of No Shame²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 111| D

25/1

Left a very low-key reappearance effort in her wake when winning 8-runner handicap hurdle at Worcester in June but rather laboured when only fifth over this C&D since.

Form: 13P-015

Earth Cry^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 110| D

7/2

On a hat-trick after wins at Fontwell and Perth this summer. A further 5 lb rise may not prevent this thriving sort from completing a hat-trick.

Form: 522-211

Hiconic^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 110

16/1

Won a pair of 2m handicaps last summer and in good form again this summer, placing at Worcester and Stratford the last twice. Ought to be competitive again.

Form: 224-723

Presenting Nelly^t⁹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 108| C| D

17/2

Third hurdle win of last season when landing a 20.5f handicap at the Ayr Scottish National meeting in April. Easy to excuse a lesser run back there 24 hours later. Freshened up since and needs considering for top stable.

Form: 16P517-

Non-Runners

Kilbrainy¹²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: A M Thomson J: Ryan Mania

Forecasts

Liverpool Knight (10/3), Earth Cry (7/2), Police Academy (5/1), Presenting Nelly (17/2), Hardy Boy (11/1), Bashful Boy (12/1), Hiconic (16/1), Elogio (16/1), Enki Flacke (16/1), Walk Of No Shame (25/1), Copper Beach (25/1), Cirque Royal (28/1), The Flier Begley (28/1), Tzarmix (50/1), Winged Isle (100/1), Kilbrainy (100/1)

EARTH CRY is in the form of his life this summer and can defy the handicapper again and complete a hat-trick. Police Academy rates an obvious threat on the back of her good reappearance run here last month. Presenting Nelly and Hiconic also make the shortlist.