15:15 Uttoxeter

Friday 20 December 2024

All11:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

QuinnBet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 33.3s

West Park Boy²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 92

11/1

Clear signs of ability in his 3 qualifying runs and seemed the type who would make an impact in handicap hurdles. Shaped as if needed the run after 22 months off when seventh of 15 on handicap debut at Taunton (19f, good to soft, 16/1) 22 days ago. He should strip fitter here and remains unexposed.

Form: 805/7

Brockarno⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R Patrick| T: B Clarke| OR: 90

20/1

Showed promise in a bumper on his debut in February 2023. Not given a hard time in a couple of novice outings at Bangor in May but was disappointing when returning to the same venue in October (16.7f, Heavy) following a 154-day absence. Makes handicap debut here off the back of a 52-day break.

Form: 36/0-637

Auba Me Yang²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 89

40/1

(Winner at Ffos Las in February 2023 and possibly needed the run after 19 months off but did stop pretty sharply nonetheless when pulled up at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft) in early November. Seemed to go amiss when pulled up at Doncaster 3 weeks ago.

Form: 5149/PP

Stopherandgo²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: K Pickard| OR: 86

11/1

A modest winner at 15f over hurdles but disappointed twice over the larger obstacles (including when pulled up on reappearance at Wincanton in October). Showed a bit more when seventh of 13 in a handicap chase at Taunton (18.2f, good to soft, 16/1) 22 days ago. Reverts to hurdles now.

Form: 93P8-P7

Kayf Hope²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J M Quinlan| T: T Gallagher| OR: 86

20/1

Fetched £55,000 after winning an Irish point in 2022 but didn't cut much ice in 3 starts over hurdles so far, before being pitched into the deep end last time, readily outclassed in a Listed hurdle at Newbury last month. This looks a more realistic assignment and she should be more competitive here.

Form: 210/3-79

Joker De Thaix⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 80

14/1

Made the frame in a Uttoxeter maiden (19.9f) but that remains a standout effort, pulled up on handicap debut at Taunton in March. Jumped poorly at Fontwell on his return and again with hood back on/tongue strap applied when upped in trip (24.5f) at Wincanton 64 days ago. One to watch in the betting.

Form: P48P-5P

Henrysbrotherjack⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 80

5/6

Stoutly bred sort who didn't show a great deal in 4 runs over hurdles last season, including on handicap debut at Market Rasen on final outing. Much shorter in betting following 6-month break but only beat one home at this venue 63 days ago. Returns from short-break now and is stepped up in trip.

Form: 6460-0

Palawan Du Mazet^b⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: A E Jones| OR: 80

7/1

Creditable fifth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot (18.5f, good to soft, 20/1) in July and ran to a similar level on reappearance when fifth at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft) 44 days ago. A repeat of those efforts would make him competitive here.

Form: 8878-55

Take A Hike^t1⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 79

25/1

Runner-up both completed starts in Irish points but minor promise only on in outings over timber (racing over 2m). Back on the track after 74-day break, returns with tongue-tie and tackles longer trip. Has shown little on the track but could be one to watch in the betting on handicap debut.

Form: 2U25-59

Dropitlikeitshot¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Bryan Carver| T: C Honour| OR: 76

10/1

Modest maiden hurdler who wasn't disgraced when fifth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Leicester (15.5f, good to soft) in November. Ran to a similar level when respectable fifth of 10 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Exeter (18.5f, heavy) 14 days ago and that makes him worthy of respect in a weak event.

Form: 58-6955

Parish Star^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: N J Hawke| OR: 76

20/1

Modest on the Flat in Ireland and little impact over hurdles last season. Showed some spark following a wind op when fourth of 15 back from an 8-month break at (2½m, good to soft) and performed to a similar level when fifth of 16 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Southwell (20.4f, soft) 17 days ago.

Form: P675-45

Tellairsue^p⁵⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: James Best| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 74WS

50/1

Imposing sort who appeared to benefit from the step up in trip when landing a 4-runner Fontwell handicap (25.8f, good to firm) in April last year. Disappointing when keen in a stronger event the following month. Market may be best guide on return to track following wind operation and 19 months off.

Form: 87P71/8-

Non-Runners

Fame And Fun¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: P & M Bowen J: Non Runner

Rehill Relic²¹

Weight: 11-11| Age: 5

T: S Allwood J: Non Runner

Bruce Gobbler¹⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: K Woollacott J: Non Runner

Rhodia²⁴³

Weight: 10-9| Age: 8

T: Sarah Hollinshead J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Henrysbrotherjack (5/6), Rehill Relic (5/1), Palawan Du Mazet (7/1), Rhodia (10/1), Dropitlikeitshot (10/1), Stopherandgo (11/1), West Park Boy (11/1), Joker De Thaix (14/1), Fame And Fun (14/1), Brockarno (20/1), Parish Star (20/1), Kayf Hope (20/1), Take A Hike (25/1), Bruce Gobbler (25/1), Auba Me Yang (40/1), Tellairsue (50/1)

In what looks a modest handicap hurdle, it will be interesting to see if there is a springer in the market. A solid case can be made for REHILL RELIC who confirmed the promise of his novice hurdle efforts when placed at Doncaster three weeks ago and a repeat performance will see him in the mix here. Palawan du Mazet is another who has a respectable recent run to his name while Joker de Thaix, returning from a short break, represents a yard that is more than capable of readying one.