16:23 Uttoxeter

Friday 25 July 2025

All13:3014:0214:3715:1215:4716:2316:5817:35

Boots Opticians Uttoxeter Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:23 | Winning time: 4m 50.5s

Icare Allen^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: Benjamin Macey⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 121| C

33/1

Opened account on this side of the Irish Sea over a trip just shy of 3m here in November, but he's proved more miss than hit since and latest effort back here last month wasn't at all encouraging, for all that he was considerately handled.

Form: 290-260

Whizz Kid^t,p1³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 119| BF

14/1

Fairly useful hurdler who has had multiple breathing operations. Shaped well back from a break when a close third in a 6-runner Bangor handicap (19.6f, good) last month, but failed to build on that next time and will need to get back to something close to his best with cheekpieces added.

Form: F/433-33

Sacchoandvanzetti^t³⁸⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Fern O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 119

40/1

Fair winning hurdler in Ireland for John Queally and opened account for present connections when last seen at Stratford (2¾m, good) 12 months ago. Resumes on a 4 lb higher mark in this stronger race and he's entitled to come on for the run. Yard also saddles Liverpool Knight.

Form: 2247/F1-

Doc McCoy^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Isabelle Ryder⁽⁷⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 119| BF| D

18/1

Thrived since returned to this sphere, winning 3 times and runner-up twice from 5 runs over hurdles since April. On the downside, his mark has suffered in line with that good run of form (now 14 lb higher than when scoring at Fontwell on penultimate start) and some of these may be better treated.

Form: P1-2112

Liverpool Knight⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| C

7/2

Three-time winner for Olly Murphy in 2023 and good third to Hiconic on final run for that yard in last year's renewal of this race. 1 lb lower this time round and, though yet to strike for current yard, he again shaped well when 1¼ lengths fourth to Lipa K at Bangor last time. Key player.

Form: 8235-44

Ballybegg^b²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 117| CD

28/1

Two of his 4 wins over hurdles have been registered over this C&D, but he's proved rather in-and-out since latest success in a Ludlow handicap chase in January 2024.

Form: 326-537

Lahinch Wave⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 115| D

7/1

Made all when scoring on handicap debut at Worcester (2½m, good) last September and while she failed to build on that next 2 starts, her latest second in a handicap back over that C&D represented a firm step back in the right direction. One to consider.

Form: 3/13-42

Luckie Seven²⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 115| BF| D

6/1

Bagged a Doncaster bumper in 2023 and winner of first 2 hurdles starts (both at Perth) following a 15-month lay-off last summer. Handicap debut third at Kelso (21f, good to soft) when last seen in November was no more than respectable, but he's still one to be interested in given his low mileage.

Form: 212/113-

Getaway Drumlee^t³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Elliott England⁽¹⁰⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 110| D

16/1

Mixed bag in this sphere and over fences since winning a heavy-ground Fontwell handicap hurdle by a wide margin last spring. Appears to be versatile ground-wise, so conditions here are no great concern and he'll be a danger to all if he puts his best foot forward.

Form: 2P95-D4

Callin Baton Rouge⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: James Bowen| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 109| BF| CD

7/1

Back to form with a bang when successful over C&D last month. Drop back to 2m counted against her back here recently and while moving back up in trip will help, others look stronger.

Form: 0-44P15

Ukantango^t,p1¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 109

10/1

Took a step back in the right direction following wind surgery when chasing home Handlethekettle at Worcester (2½m, good to firm) last month. Only fourth to that rival over the same C&D next time, though, and needs to raise his game a touch now equipped with cheekpieces.

Form: 2/43-524

Hiconic^t⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 109| CD

22/1

Sprang a minor surprise (sent off at 16/1) when getting her head in front in this race 12 months ago, but she hasn't come close to matching that level of form in 3 subsequent appearances.

Form: 2314-74

Gentleman Jacques^v,t⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 108| D

20/1

Facile winner of 15-runner handicap at Wincanton (19.8f, heavy) under Harry Cobden in January. Has subsequently added to what now looks like a patchy profile with heavy defeats at Warwick and Worcester, but the ability is there if he's in the right mood.

Form: 44217-6

Rockola⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 107| D

5/1

Back-to-back winner of mares' handicaps during the winter and has progressed in 3 starts since returning from a short break in April, placed at Ludlow and Fontwell prior to proving 1½ lengths too strong for Lahinch Wave at Worcester last time (Hiconic well held in fourth). Big player up 5 lb.

Form: 1163-21

Non-Runners

Lipa K²¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Non Runner

Mr Yeats¹⁸

Weight: 10-5| Age: 8

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Liverpool Knight (7/2), Rockola (5/1), Luckie Seven (6/1), Lahinch Wave (7/1), Callin Baton Rouge (7/1), Ukantango (10/1), Lipa K (12/1), Whizz Kid (14/1), Getaway Drumlee (16/1), Doc McCoy (18/1), Gentleman Jacques (20/1), Hiconic (22/1), Ballybegg (28/1), Icare Allen (33/1), Mr Yeats (33/1), Sacchoandvanzetti (40/1)

Upwardly mobile mare ROCKOLA looks capable of taking this 5 lb higher mark in her stride after beating Lahinch Wave and five others at Worcester last month. She could be seen in an even better light here in what promises to be a strongly-run race. Liverpool Knight wasn't beaten far when third in this race last year and he is second choice ahead of the lightly-raced Luckie Seven, while Getaway Drumlee and Gentleman Jacques are both capable of producing bold shows off their present marks.