14:32 Uttoxeter

Saturday 28 January 2023

All12:1512:4713:2713:5714:3215:0715:4216:17

Diegos 69th Keep Batting Birthday Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:32 | Winning time: 5m 0.47s

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Selected odds by:

Floueur^p1,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 146

28/1

Useful hurdler. Blinkered for 1st time, career best when winning 7-runner minor event hurdle (5/1) at Clonmel (24f, heavy) on penultimate start but disappointing next time and has left Gordon Elliott since. New yard try cheekpieces.

Form: 0P-P018

A Different Kind⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135

7/2

Useful novice hurdler last season and made an encouraging handicap debut/reappearance when short-head second of 11 at Aintree. Disappointing at Cheltenham since but has had a break since ang goes back up in trip.

Form: 1137-20

West To The Bridge^p,t³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 133| D

12/1

In the form of his life last season, completing a 4-timer between January and March. Back to form when third at Chepstow a month ago and not a forlorn hope with cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 15-0953

Ballybegg^v1⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 130| CD

9/1

Perked up no end by first-time blinkers when making all back over hurdles in a C&D handicap last December but he's only enhanced his list of non-completions since, again beaten some way out on return at Lingfield in November. Visor now the headgear of choice.

Form: PP1PP-P

Es Perfecto⁶⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 129

9/1

Point winner who has shown fairly useful form over hurdles and got back to winning ways in a novice at Chepstow. Off almost 2 years since, but claims if he's ready to go.

Form: 31F241/

Go Dante³⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy| OR: 128

5/2

Looked good prospect with impressive victories in Wincanton bumper and Bangor novice hurdle last year. Absent since finishing 13 lengths fourth in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury overa year ago. Peak fitness has to be taken on trust but an opening mark in the 120s could underestimate him.

Form: 1/124-

Rathmacknee¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Adrian Heskin| T: N J Henderson| OR: 126| D

9/2

Marked improvement following a breathing op when 33-length winner of a Fakenham maiden in May. Much better than the result on his Cheltenham return and confirmed that when quickening up to lead late on at Doncaster (19.5f). Easy to excuse his latest run in Lanzarote (badly hampered second).

Form: 32-101P

Corrieben Reiver³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 125

40/1

Lightly-raced for his age. Looked useful over hurdles at the beginning of 2021 but very lightly raced since and beaten a long way in 2 chase starts this season. Hard to assess at present.

Form: 112/7-3P

Dargiannini^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 123| D

11/2

Dual winning hurdler in 2021 and posted a couple of solid efforts in defeat for Paul Nicholls last term. However, pulled up on final outing for that stable and fell on chase/stable debut at Doncaster.

Form: P273P-F

Forecasts

Go Dante (5/2), A Different Kind (7/2), Rathmacknee (9/2), Dargiannini (11/2), Es Perfecto (9/1), Ballybegg (9/1), West To The Bridge (12/1), Floueur (28/1), Corrieben Reiver (40/1)

RAHMACKNEE quickened well to score with something in hand at Doncaster in December and, with his subsequent run easily excused, there's hope for him to resume winning ways. Es Perfecto is a danger despite a lengthy absence and A Different Kind is likely to bounce back following a break.