13:55 Uttoxeter

Saturday 10 February 2018

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:45

Bradley Pointon 18th Birthday Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:57 | Winning time: 4m 20.8s

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Selected odds by:

Alderson³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: L Heard| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

25/1

Didn't do badly on debut at Bangor, despite showing signs of being a bit green and keen at times, finishing third of four but not beaten far. Will know more here and looks a player for the places at least.

Form: 3

Ballymoy⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-DaviesWS

4/11

Last couple of efforts have seen him come up against two smart sorts in Kalashnikov and Simply The Betts, far from disgraced in either and this looks much easier. Has had wind surgery since last seen. The one to beat on form.

Form: 4-335

Brigadier Bob²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Aspell| T: Kerry Lee

7/1

Solid debut effort at Warwick when bumping into a potentially smart opponent in Thebannerkingrebel, finishing second and clear of the favourite in third. May want further in time but this looks a good start point and he could go close.

Form: 2

Fort Jefferson¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: David England| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

8/1

Winner on the Flat (at 10f) and made a satisfactory debut over hurdles here last month, well beaten in second but the winner looks smart. Ground clearly not an issue and if building on that, may challenge for places at least.

Form: 2

Take Em Out^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

13/2

Looked to be just getting the worse of the battle when falling two out at Catterick latest, but that was a decent effort, as was his previous run at Taunton. Slight question mark how he will cope with deep ground, but on form, has chances.

Form: 225-84F

Top Decision^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: S Drinkwater

33/1

Hasn't set the world alight in two starts so far and looks one that's more for the long term.

Form: 300

Under The Woods¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

20/1

A better second effort when third to Whiskyinthejar here last time but has ground to make up on Fort Jefferson on that. May be one more for handicaps further down the line.

Form: 03

Lady Vitesse^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Stock⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley

50/1

Form a bit patchy so far, not disgraced when fifth at Ludlow last time but that needs improving upon and she's plenty to find here.

Form: 475-05

D'waterside^h1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Loughnane

80/1

Only modest on the Flat (rated in the 50's) and on this deep ground, may have stamina issues as well. Can only be watched on debut today.

Form:

Pacofilha¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: J L Flint

66/1

Has some bits and pieces of form on the Flat but only modest. Has faced a couple of hard tasks over hurdles so far but hasn't shown enough, and will be of more interest in handicaps after today.

Form: 65

Forecasts

Ballymoy (4/11), Take Em Out (13/2), Brigadier Bob (7/1), Fort Jefferson (8/1), Under The Woods (20/1), Alderson (25/1), Top Decision (33/1), Lady Vitesse (50/1), Pacofilha (66/1), D'waterside (80/1)

BALLYMOY has run well against decent sorts this winter and if benefitting from a wind surgery since last seen, could be hard to beat here. There's nothing of the calibre of opponent he's been tackling in this field and he looks the most likely winner. Brigadier Bob might be the one to give him the most to think about if he can put a clear round in. Fort Jefferson and Alderson could fight out third, with deep ground a worry for Take Em Out.