15:35 Uttoxeter

Saturday 15 March 2025

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

JenningsBet Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 6m 23.07s

Deafening Silence^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 133| D

6/1

Grade 2 winner over hurdles and, after almost a year off, shaped well on chase debut when third at Haydock in November. Made it fourth time lucky in this sphere with cheekpieces applied in 3-runner novice at Warwick (24f, soft) just over 3 weeks ago and can kick on back in handicap company.

Form: 11-3421

Isaac Des Obeaux^p1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128

22/1

Back-to-back hurdles winner last winter and signed 2023/24 campaign off by finishing a close third in 3m handicap at Taunton in April. Still early days in this sphere but will need to show much more than he has in handicap chases so far if he's to figure prominently. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 3P3-5P3

Fortunate Man^b1,t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126| BF| D

6/1

Won 2 of 4 races over hurdles and made third start over fences a winning one when landing an Aintree handicap (25f, soft) on Boxing Day. Ran at least as well when placed on both subsequent outings and should remain competitive. Blinkers the headgear of choice this time.

Form: 1-72123

Walk On Quest^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 124

4/1

Promise on 2 of his 4 starts over hurdles and much-improved switched to larger obstacles, completing a 4-timer in 5-runner handicap at Kelso (21.6f, good to soft) a fortnight ago. Likely to continue to improve for a while yet, he can defy a further 4 lb rise in the weights.

Form: 421111

Latenightrumble^t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 119| D

7/1

Four-time point winner who surpassed his hurdles form when making a winning handicap chase debut over 3m at Wetherby in December. Would have won there again last month but for sprawling on landing at the last (neck ahead and yet to be asked for effort at the time) and should go close again.

Form: 573122

Stans The Man^b,t²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Godfrey| T: Ella Pickard| OR: 118| BF| D

10/1

Done well since switched back to fences, landing 4-runner Exeter handicap in November prior to following up at Doncaster (3¼m, good) later that month. Has found just one too good on his last 2 starts and respected once more despite career-high mark.

Form: 4U1122

Eyed^t³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: H Morrison| OR: 118| D

11/4

Fair hurdler/chaser for Paul Webber and confirmed stable debut promise when off the mark in this sphere at Market Rasen. Got no further than the first fence at Lingfield next time but hasn't looked back since, scoring at former course and Kempton in recent weeks. Another 5 lb rise to deal with.

Form: 421F11

Minella Blueway^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 115| D

13/2

Winning pointer and matched his hurdles form on third chase start when second of 5 in handicap at Windsor in December. Went one better in convincing fashion in 4-runner handicap chase at Ludlow (23.8f, soft) recently and not out of things up in grade.

Form: 2-65271

Non-Runners

High Treason⁷⁷

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Eyed (11/4), Walk On Quest (4/1), Fortunate Man (6/1), Deafening Silence (6/1), Minella Blueway (13/2), Latenightrumble (7/1), Stans The Man (10/1), High Treason (20/1), Isaac Des Obeaux (22/1)

Cases can be made for most of these, but the suggestion is WALK ON QUEST, who is unbeaten in 4 starts over fences and Lucinda Russell's 6-y-o had plenty up his sleeve when scoring at Kelso a fortnight ago. Heading up the dangers is Latenightrumble, who looked an unlucky loser at Wetherby last month, with Deafening Silence and Minella Blueway taken to fight out minor honours.