16:10 Uttoxeter

Saturday 15 March 2025

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

JenningsBet 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 13.42s

I'm A Lumberjack³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 122

7/2

Fairly useful bumper performer who confirmed hurdling debut promise when running out a tidy winner of 11-runner maiden (6/5) at Warwick (21f, soft) in December, suited by the longer trip. Proved too free prior to falling at Market Rasen subsequently and remains open to improvement.

Form: 639-21F

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

King Of Answers³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| D

7/4

Point runner-up who was third at Bangor only start in bumpers and proved a different proposition to on hurdling debut when winning 13-runner maiden at Newcastle (20.3f) 30 days ago, forging clear. That performance is supported by the timefigure, so merits respect under a penalty.

Form: 6623-61

Lieutenant Mayne¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Harvey| T: J C McConnell| BF| C

8/1

Dual bumper winner who completed a straightforward task in uncomplicated fashion on hurdles debut at Naas (18.9f) in November. Folded tamely at Carlisle 3 weeks later but is clearly better than that.

Form: 3/116-16

Royal Rambler³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 116

13/2

Built on hurdling debut promise at the second attempt when winning a 14-runner maiden at Chepstow (19.4f, heavy) 34 days ago. Open to further improvement but is faced with less testing ground than previously.

Form: 361

Akimos⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N J Henderson

12/1

Westerner gelding who ran to just a modest level when fifth of 11 in introductory hurdle at Newbury (16.3f, good to soft) on debut 77 days ago. Up in trip. Open to progress.

Form: 5

Choice Runner³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

33/1

Has shaped with some encouragement on both starts in bumpers. Makes hurdles debut up in trip.

Form: 55

Maillot Vert⁴⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Leech

125/1

Showed fair form when third in pair of 4-y-o events at Fontainebleau in 2023/24, but hasn't been seen since.

Form: 2333-

Swift Jet²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: R T Phillips

33/1

Beaten a long way on Rules debut in an Exeter bumper has shown fair form both starts in maiden hurdles, including when third in 7-runner maiden at Ludlow (23.8f) in February. More needed in a deeper race here, however.

Form: 49-53

The Jukebox Kid³⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling

4/1

Bought for £135,000 after easily winning sole start in Irish points and is a half-brother to 4 winners, including fairly useful hurdle winner/smart chaser Yeah Man (23f-3½m winner) and useful hurdler Fletcher (19f/2½m winner, both by Westerner). Notable Rules debutant.

Form: 1-

Non-Runners

The Bluesman¹¹³

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Harry Cobden

Forecasts

King Of Answers (7/4), I'm A Lumberjack (7/2), The Jukebox Kid (4/1), The Bluesman (5/1), Royal Rambler (13/2), Lieutenant Mayne (8/1), Akimos (12/1), Swift Jet (33/1), Choice Runner (33/1), Maillot Vert (125/1)

KING OF ANSWERS was much improved from hurdling debut when scoring at Newcastle last month and, with the performance more or less backed up by the timefigure, he's selected to defy a penalty at the first time of asking. I'm A Lumberjack could settle better returning to a bigger field and remains with potential, with The Bluesman and winning Irish pointer The Jukebox Kid others to note in an interesting novice hurdle.