14:25 Uttoxeter

Saturday 18 March 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Perfect Payroll Provider Optimum Pay Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 5m 52.8s

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Selected odds by:

Sam Brown^t³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 147| D

14/1

Very smart chaser. Has recorded 2 disappointing runs since his reappearance third in Charlie Hall at Wetherby but still rates an interesting contender back hurdling off the same mark as when easily winning a 3m Aintree handicap chase last spring.

Form: 2P1-35P

Flight Deck^p⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 144

18/1

Ran no sort of race at Sandown last time (seemingly prone to an off day) but prior to that he won a competitive 3m handicap at Chepstow on Welsh National day and the form has been franked. Player if turning up in the mood.

Form: 51-P21P

Dolphin Square^p⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 142| D

28/1

Five wins over hurdles and fences in a very productive 2021/22 campaign. Picked up where he'd left off with 3m Sandown handicap win on reappearance in December but below that level in his 2 outings since.

Form: 911-140

Ballygrifincottage^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 140| BF| D

13/2

Useful novice hurdler last term. Looked a smart recruit to chasing when winning at Haydock in November but pulled up (reportedly bled) in Towton at Wetherby since. Now reverts to hurdles in bid to get back on track. Harry Skelton on yard's other runner.

Form: 1314-1P

Gentleman At Arms^t⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 136WS

25/1

Ended last season with a second in Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree (3m, good). Hasn't scaled the same heights this time round, including over fences last twice. Has had wind surgery ahead of this return to hurdles.

Form: 12-7034

Wilde About Oscar^t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| C

6/1

Endured a disappointing 2021/22 campaign. Back on track when a close third to the reopposing Dolphin Square at Sandown (3m) in December. Another sound effort at Sandown when sixth of 14 in a first-time tongue tie (retained) last month.

Form: 47-03P6

Lynwood Gold^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: B Barr| OR: 135| D

66/1

Recaptured the pick of his Irish form at just the second time of asking for new trainer when comfortably winning a 23f Lingfield handicap in November. Plugging on for a respectable effort when falling last at Exeter latest.

Form: 3P/0-81F

Stellar Magic^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 134

40/1

Back to best when second of 11 in 3m Wincanton handicap on Boxing Day but disappointed when well held at Sandown since. Capable on his day but he's not the easiest to predict.

Form: P44-P20

Ask Me Early^t⁸¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 133| C

11/1

Very progressive novice chaser in 2020/21 (including winning 3m novice handicap on this card) and also scored twice over hurdles last season. Creditable third in Bangor handicap chase on reappearance but ran no sort of race in Welsh National since. Slightly lower mark to work witrh back hurdling.

Form: 1/11U-3P

Collectors Item²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132

3/1

Has made a promising start to his hurdle career, winning novices at Chepstow (2m) and Kempton (3m) before narrowly denied when stepped up to Grade 2 company at Haydock (3m) last month. An opening mark in the low-130s looks workable. High on the shortlist.

Form: 22-1512

Trelawne¹¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 130

15/2

Made it 2-3 over hurdles when seeing off 4 rivals in 2¾m Ffos Las handicap on his reappearance in November. Absent again since but he's clearly capable when fresh and has the potential for better again given his lightly-raced profile.

Form: 13-1

Silver Flyer^p³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Adrian Heskin| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 126| BF

33/1

Made it third time lucky in handicaps when staying on to lead close home at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) just after Christmas. Not in anything like the same form when remote third of 4 there since but it's possible the return to a softer surface will help.

Form: 22-2413

Lord Snootie⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 120

7/2

Irish point winner. Promise in trio of qualifying hurdle runs and he improved markedly in line with longer trip to make winning handicap debut at Warwick (3¼m) in December. HIghly likely there's a good deal more to come and much respected for shrewd outfit.

Form: 13741

Non-Runners

Party Business²⁸

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: Ian Williams J: C J Todd

Forecasts

Collectors Item (3/1), Lord Snootie (7/2), Wilde About Oscar (6/1), Ballygrifincottage (13/2), Trelawne (15/2), Ask Me Early (11/1), Party Business (12/1), Sam Brown (14/1), Flight Deck (18/1), Gentleman At Arms (25/1), Dolphin Square (28/1), Silver Flyer (33/1), Stellar Magic (40/1), Lynwood Gold (66/1)

It may pay to focus on the unexposed types towards the foot of the weights. LORD SNOOTIE did it nicely on his Warwick handicap debut on New Year's Eve and is narrowly preferred to Collectors Item, who went close in a Grade 2 novice last time, and Kim Bailey's Trelawne.