13:30 Uttoxeter

Sunday 29 June 2025

All13:3014:0014:3215:0515:4016:2016:57

bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 5m 40.89s

Minella Rescue⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: G Hanmer| OR: 136| CD

4/1

Second in the Grade 1 Sefton at Aintree in April and showed that was no fluke when landing a C&D handicap (good) last month. Should remain very competitive off 3 lb higher for a yard which has won this race before.

Form: 42320-1

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Mousey Brown^t⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Patrick M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: D A McLoughlin| OR: 132

14/1

Dual chaser winner last summer. As good as ever when placed in a Grade 3 hurdle at Punchestown in February but below par in handicaps over fences and hurdles since. Bounce back needed.

Form: 192670-

Johnson's Blue¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 131| D

22/1

A winner of 8 of his 18 hurdle races. Showed he retains his ability on second start back after an absence when narrowly denied at Hexham (2½m, good to soft) 15 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 1U10/02

Lihyan^h²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 125| CD

11/1

Five-time winner over hurdles for current connections and again showed his ability to come from last to first in a falsely-run race when sprinting to victory in a 4-runner race at Huntingdon (25f) last month. Showed he's still in good form when third at Stratford since.

Form: 302-813

Porter In The Park⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 122

20/1

Better than ever when notching a fourth career win in 21f Ludlow handicap (good) in March. Well held in a well-contested Haydock Class 2 since and this is no easier.

Form: 55251-0

Roger Pol²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 121| CD

9/2

Snug winner of a small-field C&D handicap 24 days ago, eased down to score by 1¼ lengths. A 4 lb rise looks fair.

Form: P0/13P-1

Icare Allen^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 121| CD

66/1

C&D winner on heavy in November and also second at Catterick in January. Two lesser runs have followed, though.

Form: 7290-26

Jaytee^p²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: Ian Williams| OR: 120| D

40/1

Four wins (2 hurdle, 2 chase) in the 2023/24 season and probably needed the run on his return from a 16-month absence minus his usual headgear 4 weeks ago. The headgear returns now and no surprise were he to prove a different proposition.

Form: 8P121/5

Pounding Poet^p,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: T Lacey| OR: 119| BF| CD

9/1

C&D winner who is well treated on his peak form and was beaten only 1½ lengths when last of 3 to Roger Pol over C&D (good to soft) 24 days ago. Merits consideration.

Form: PP4/63-3

Mostly Sunny^p⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 119

7/2

Returned to form with first-time cheekpieces added when scoring at Plumpton (20.5f, good to soft) in April. Solid efforts in defeat at Sandown and Haydock since and should give another good account, for all that he's edging up the weights.

Form: 57512-4

Saint Bibiana^p1,t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: G Nicholls| OR: 116| C

12/1

Back on song returned to hurdles this season, winning at Huntingdon (25f0 and Warwick (3¼m) in recent weeks. Has first-time cheekpieces added to her tongue tie. Another 6 lb higher but should still make a bold bid in her current mood.

Form: 634-311

Twist Of Fatecatch^p1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 116| BF

8/1

Promising type who opened account in Fontwell maiden in April and better form when placed in a pair of handicaps over 2½m since. Has unexposed potential now stepping up in trip with cheekpieces also added.

Form: 4621-32

Gwash²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 113

25/1

Maiden hurdle winner last April. Hasn't progressed since, although it's possible his recent 19.5f Bangor handicap debut was needed after 11 months off.

Form: 71/F45-6

Coconut Twist^b⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Robbie David⁽⁷⁾| T: Daisy Hitchins| OR: 113| D

22/1

Three handicap hurdle wins in 2025 but his run of good form came to a shuddering halt when pulled up at Southwell last month, looking unwilling. He's a generally likeable sort so hopefully that was a one-off.

Form: 33112-P

Non-Runners

Secret Trix⁴³

Weight: 11-10| Age: 8

T: O Murphy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Mostly Sunny (7/2), Minella Rescue (4/1), Roger Pol (9/2), Twist Of Fatecatch (8/1), Pounding Poet (9/1), Lihyan (11/1), Saint Bibiana (12/1), Secret Trix (12/1), Mousey Brown (14/1), Porter In The Park (20/1), Coconut Twist (22/1), Johnson's Blue (22/1), Gwash (25/1), Jaytee (40/1), Icare Allen (66/1)

A very competitive opener in which it might be worth siding with POUNDING POET to turn around C&D form with Roger Pol from earlier in the month. Saint Bibiana, who has been prolific over hurdles in the last year or so, Mostly Sunny and the unexposed Twist of Fatecatch also make the shortlist.