14:25 Uttoxeter

Saturday 15 March 2025

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

JenningsBet Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 3.47s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Indiana Dream^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 143

80/1

Won a bumper for Emmanuel Clayeux in France and a maiden hurdle/chase for WiIlie Mullins in Ireland on his first 3 starts. However, lost his unbeaten record with a whimper after another absence in a Windsor chase for new yard and shaped similarly when pulled-up last month. Plenty to prove.

Form: 11/1-4P

Red Dirt Road⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 142| D

8/1

Winner of 4 of his 8 hurdles starts, back-to-back victories in his most recent starts, having been well-suited by positive tactics. Overcame a 5lb rise to emphatically land a valuable Sandown handicap (23.5f, Heavy) last month. Faces different conditions off 9 lb higher but may still be improving.

Form: 14/2-511

Red Risk^p⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137| C

22/1

Course winner was second in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby last season after a break and again proved effective fresh (racing off last winning mark) when third in a Pertemps Qualifier at Musselburgh (23.8f, good to soft) 41 days ago. Each-way prospects again off 1 lb higher.

Form: 8407-63

Joyeux Machin²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135

3/1

Useful for Paul Nolan and has been working his way back to form for this yard, shaping with a serious amount of promise when third in a big-field handicap at Wetherby (19.7f) and again when finishing strongly behind Altobelli at Ascot last month. Makes plenty of appeal stepping back up in trip.

Form: P70532

Guard Duty^h¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 134| C

6/1

Successful in 3 of his 6 completed hurdles starts and has jumped more fluently with experience. Followed up his victory at Windsor's Winter Million meeting with a smooth-travelling success at Newbury (20.5f) 2 weeks ago. This should be run to suit and thriving sort remains of interest up in trip.

Form: 13U211

Samuel Spade²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 133

20/1

Five-time winner over hurdles for this stable including on most recent outing when landing a 17-runner handicap at Ascot (23.5f) last month, proving his stamina for this sort of trip. An 8lb rise prompts a step up in grade but he arrives in good heart with a valuable 5 lb conditional in the saddle.

Form: 0-32381

Backmersackme^p,t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Conor Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 132

14/1

Bumper winner is yet to get his head in front over hurdles but he has shaped well in some valuable handicaps on both sides of the Irish Sea. Only narrowly beaten at Navan (25f, soft) on penultimate start and shaped as though still in form at Leopardstown last time. Chance in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 644527

Phantomofthepoints^p1³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 132

25/1

Doubled his hurdles tally when successful at Wincanton (3m, soft) in January, finding plenty for pressure on that occasion. Found it tougher off a higher mark when eighth of 12 at Exeter (23.1f) the following month and cheekpieces now applied in the hope of unlocking a bit more improvement.

Form: 16-3418

Blaze The Way⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: D E Mullins| T: Ms M Mullins| OR: 129

6/1

Bumper winner proved a different proposition when winning on handicap hurdle debut at Navan (25f) in December, relishing the greater test of stamina. Improved again when runner-up back down in trip at the same venue 56 days ago, faring much the best of those up with the pace. One for the shortlist.

Form: P-33712

Up For Parol³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 127

25/1

Capitalised on falling handicap mark and ended long losing sequence when successful in a 9-runner handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (23.9f, heavy) in January, quickening clear. Wasn't in the same form at Newbury subsequently though and he needs to bounce back to form if he's to go close here.

Form: 323-215

Patriotik¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 124

11/1

Has some notable form this season, finishing fifth in a strong renewal of the Silver Trophy at Chepstow (19.5f) and chasing home Red Dirt Road at Aintree on Boxing Day. Found longer trip much more to his liking when winning at Doncaster (24.4f) 2 weeks ago and remains of interest off 3 lb higher.

Form: 25U281

Dartmoor Pirate⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 123

12/1

Didn't take to chasing this season but back on track and seemingly suited by the longer trip when second of 10 in a Pertemps Qualifier at Wincanton (24.7f, soft) on Boxing Day. Wasn't in the same form in a stronger race when a well-held fifth behind Red Dirt Road. May find a few too good again.

Form: 242-625

Strackan³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: David Bass| T: H D Daly| OR: 123| C| D

16/1

Has returned an improved performer, completing a hat-trick on soft/heavy when seeing off 8 rivals at Cheltenham on New Year's Day having been well positioned the way that race unfolded. Winning run came to an end off 6 lb higher mark at Exeter last month but shaped as though still in good form.

Form: 9-21115

Castelfort⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 123

25/1

Fairly useful form when winning pair of juvenile hurdles last season and has matched that form in handicaps, successful at Chepstow (2m) over Christmas. Stayed the longer trip but undone by 8 lb rise when third at same venue 46 days ago. Needs to improve again for this greater stamina test.

Form: 126-013

Fingal's Hill^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: P Atkinson| OR: 119

28/1

Recorded a 4-timer in handicaps in 2023 and has been working his way back to form this season, posted best effort when reverted to front-running tactics over shorter earlier this month, third of 10 at Kelso (20.9f). Should just about see out this longer trip but may face competition for the lead.

Form: 4-83563

Chasingouttheblues²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 119

17/2

Progressive sort has won 3 of his 6 hurdles starts, improving for the step up to 3 miles when landing a 9-runner handicap hurdle at Ayr and more than matched that when unlucky in a valuable stayers' hurdle at Haydock last month, badly hampered. Lightly-raced sort has to remain of interest.

Form: 517113

Equinus³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: James Best| T: S-J Davies| OR: 118

150/1

Fairly useful winner at 25f over hurdles for Nigel Twiston-Davies. Early faller on his return/chase debut starting out for new yard at Aintree (25f) in November but showed little interest when pulled-up on subsequent start last month. Return to hurdles unlikely to produce a better outcome.

Form: 5344-FP

Forecasts

Joyeux Machin (3/1), Blaze The Way (6/1), Guard Duty (6/1), Red Dirt Road (8/1), Chasingouttheblues (17/2), Patriotik (11/1), Dartmoor Pirate (12/1), Backmersackme (14/1), Strackan (16/1), Samuel Spade (20/1), Red Risk (22/1), Up For Parol (25/1), Phantomofthepoints (25/1), Castelfort (25/1), Fingal's Hill (28/1), Indiana Dream (80/1), Equinus (150/1)

JOYEUX MACHIN has seemingly been brought to the boil at just the right time by master-target-trainer Dan Skelton and he's taken to land this decent pot. Guard Duty is progressive and will enjoy getting plenty of cover in this big-field handicap, so he's the main danger ahead of Irish-raider Blaze the Way who remains unexposed over this sort of trip. Of the several other interesting types, Chasingouttheblues deserves an honourable mention following his luckless passage at Haydock last month.