Uttoxeter Saturday
1.50 Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
One Eye On Vegas creeps into this run-of-the-mill handicap hurdle at the foot of the weights, and the lightly-raced seven-year-old looks poised to complete a quick-fire hat-trick for trainer, Stuart Edmunds.
The latter has emerged with a flurry of winners after a sticky first half to the jumps season, and currently he has his team in fine form. Since cheekpieces were applied two starts back, One Eye On Vegas has looked much improved, racing with a greater zest and showing that extreme underfoot conditions hold no fear for him.
2.25 bet 365 Handicap Hurdle 2m 7f 110yds
A significant increase in prize money to a total race value of £100,000 has attracted the seven-race card’s biggest field and produced a contest dominated by in-form young stayers. In such an open heat it might well pay to play two horses from the middle and bottom of the handicap.
Those punters that backed Cuthbert Dibble at Haydock the other day were given a fright when Lord Snootie closed the winner all the way to the line. The former gave the form a timely boost with a plucky third in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham on Thursday, and on that evidence, a 3lb rise for Lord Snootie’s half-length second at Haydock seems lenient.
A year ago, the Christian Williams-trained gelding was a runner-up in this race and can go one better this time.
The case for the bottom weight Gwennie May Boy requires a bit more explanation, but a switch to Dan Skelton’s yard from Jonjo O’Neill’s Jackdaw’s Castle brought instant success for this doughty type, who showed a clean pair of heels to beat smart stable companion, Catch Him Derry, over today’s longer trip at Bangor.
Most notable in that race was how strongly Gwennie May Boy finished on heavy ground. With a pedigree that shouts stamina and not speed, he could well bridge the gulf in class between Bangor and Uttoxeter by out-running his double-figure odds.
3.00 bet365 Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase 4m 2f 8yds
This marathon contest on typically gruelling ground calls for a horse that can establish a steady rhythm and jump with fluency when faced with such an attritional test, and Emma Lavelle’s much improved stayer My Silver Lining fits the bill.
This progressive grey mare has landed two wins and three seconds since scoring at Cheltenham’s April meeting, most recently finishing runner-up to the progressive Yeah Man in last month’s Haydock’s Grand National Trial. On that occasion, she rallied bravely at the business end in what had become a supremely testing challenge, and I suspect the step up to four miles and two furlongs on heavy at Uttoxeter could bring about further improvement. Looking at the opposition, there doesn’t appear to be an obvious front-runner in the field, and My Silver Lining’s jockey, James Best, will be happy to take a lead and let his mount settle into an even and steady gallop before moving into contention in the closing stages.
Market leader Iron Bridge is 4lb better off for a six-length beating at Haydock but will need to jump as neatly as My Silver Lining to reverse Haydock form.
3.35 bet365 Novices’ Handicap Chase 3m
Gavin Cromwell’s runners in Britain have become a first port-of-call for punters and Evies Vladimir has quickly found his form this winter for the Cromwell yard.
His progressive profile puts him in the picture here and he remains an unknown quantity for the opposition on his British debut in this valuable novices’ handicap chase. He ran right up to his best when scoring at Fairyhouse on his penultimate start and should have more in his locker faced with this longer trip.
This staying handicap has developed into a decent race in the past few seasons, but this small field renewal is one of the weaker editions. With that in mind, Evies Vladimir has been found a good opportunity, and he’s just the latest in a select line of horses that Gavin Cromwell has campaigned enterprisingly in Britain this season. He could well be rewarded with a further British success.
Kempton Saturday
1.35 Try Unibet’s New Acca Boosts Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 2m 2f
Gary Moore’s horses are always worth a second look around Kempton especially in chases over the minimum trip. The yard’s Issar D’Airy strikes as a case in point, and this limited handicap looks a nice fit for Moore’s unbeaten young chaser.
Taking readily to fences, he jumped well to score decisively at Newbury in December before digging deep to hold off a determined rival at the same course 24 days later. An 8lb rise for that success looks reasonable, and he can complete a hat-trick. Gary Moore has found a most winnable race for Issar D’Airy. Beau Balko could prove the biggest danger but hasn’t looked an assured jumper.
2.10 Read Nicky Henderson’s Exclusive Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f
A wide-open renewal of this two miles. five furlongs handicap hurdle and there are plenty of options. Perhaps the best way to go is by backing the sharply progressive Titan Discovery, who looks primed for a big run for his fledgling stable.
Robbie Llewellyn’s homebred and rising star was an easy winner at Sandown last time, where he gave the strong impression of being a horse to follow when upped in grade.
A 6lb rise may underplay the value of his latest win, and while this is a tougher test, his smooth travelling style and change of gear is a positive in this type of race. He represents decent value towards the head of a competitive market.
2.45 Unibet New And Improved Bet Builder Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110yds
The Paul Nicholls-trained Complete Unknown landed a bit of touch for punters in this same race 12 months ago, and I can see Outlaw Peter coming in for good support and giving team Ditcheat back-to-back victories in the card’s most valuable race.
The Paul Nicholls eight-year-old was among the market leaders for a deeper contest than this one when third, and just a neck behind Thunder Rock on unsuitably softer ground at Musselburgh. The runner-up duly gave that form a tidy boost by landing the Premier Chase at Kelso next time.
Interestingly, Outlaw Peter tends to come alive at Kempton and has won twice here over hurdles, including on this card a year ago. This has presumably been a target.
Recommended:
Lord Snootie 2.25 Uttoxeter 1pt win @ 11/2
Gwennie May Boy 2.25 Uttoxeter 1pt each-way @ 16/1
My Silver Lining 3.00 Uttoxeter 1pt win @ 7/1
Titan Discovery 2.10 Kempton 1pt win @ 4/1