16:53 Uttoxeter

Saturday 12 February 2022

All12:5013:2513:5814:3315:0815:4316:1816:53

Cazoo Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:53 | Winning time: 5m 26.06s

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Selected odds by:

Ensel Du Perche²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 97

22/1

Fair maiden hurdler for Gavin Cromwell in Ireland. Low-key start initially for this yard but dropped quickly in the weights and last couple of outings have contained more promise. Back up in trip.

Form: 5P0P26

Sir Jack West¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Fergus Gregory| T: Deborah Cole| OR: 96

8/1

Steadily progressive over hurdles in Ireland for Ellmarie Holden and step back in right direction on third outing for current stable when fourth at Wetherby last time, claims if he can build on that.

Form: 633-PP4

Maisiebella⁷³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott| OR: 95

66/1

Hints of ability in bumpers and 3 outings over hurdles. But opening mark looks stiff and she's not been seen for more than 2 years.

Form: 40744/

Gyllen²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 91

80/1

One-time smart on the Flat in France but has yet to better modest form over hurdles, including in a trio of handicaps. Stamina in question over this far, too.

Form: 7074-78

King Ferdinand^h⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R Patrick| T: T Lacey| OR: 91

13/2

Just minor promise so far and down the field in a handicap at this course 43 days ago. Needs the longer trip to bring about a chunk of improvement.

Form: 5-47870

Hiway One O Three²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: David Noonan| T: C Gordon| OR: 91

12/1

Showed ability in a trio of bumpers and, while he has cut little over hurdles to date, there's a chance he ups his game now tackling handicaps and a longer trip, so worth a market check.

Form: 45-4959

Flintara²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 89

11/2

Yet to register a victory, but has been in reasonable form over hurdles this season and this isn't much of a race, so he should be in the mix.

Form: 0-33P25

Just Toby¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁵⁾| T: David Dennis| OR: 85

22/1

Showed more than previously when runner-up at Lingfield in October but hasn't fired since and now returns to this sphere after an inauspicious first crack at chasing recently.

Form: 3-828FU

Moonacura⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd| OR: 84

3/1

Good start when third in a big-field 2m maiden hurdle at Gowran in March but laboured performances on all 3 outings for current yard.

Form: 3-00P

Mickyh^p,t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: James Davies| T: A West| OR: 80

10/3

Off the mark at Plumpton last month and backed it up with a good second at Chepstow. Seems to be going the right way now, and this lacks depth, so should prove hard to pass from the front.

Form: PP-7812

Oceans Red^p1⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Toby Wynne⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 76

12/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler who is yet to fire in handicaps. Cheekpieces on back from a 2-month break, but he has something to prove.

Form: P369-P7

Captain Grinnaway²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 75

16/1

Yet to show anything so, while the longer trip could help on handicap debut, he's hard to make a solid case for.

Form: 008

Non-Runners

High Grounds¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 9

T: R Potter J: Non Runner

Getaway Cory⁵⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: K Woollacott J: Ben Godfrey

Forecasts

Moonacura (3/1), Mickyh (10/3), High Grounds (9/2), Getaway Cory (5/1), Flintara (11/2), King Ferdinand (13/2), Sir Jack West (8/1), Oceans Red (12/1), Hiway One O Three (12/1), Captain Grinnaway (16/1), Just Toby (22/1), Ensel Du Perche (22/1), Maisiebella (66/1), Gyllen (80/1)

MICKYH seems to be getting better and another forceful ride should see him to good effect at this track, so he's preferred to the consistent Flintara in what strikes as a weak race on paper. Sir Jack West can't be ruled out and, on the off chance that High Grounds participates (entered at Bangor on Friday), he'd be a definite player.