UTTOXETER
1.50
IT’S time to believe in WOULDUADAMANDEVEIT.
He’s not been sighted in three starts in novices’ hurdles but his bumper form was very good.
If he can show that sort of form he would be really well weighted and it didn’t help that he jumped out to his left on Exeter’s left-handed track last time.
I’m expecting him to take a big step forward on his handicap debut.
Diger Daudaie should love this thorough test of stamina. He ran a belter on his dip into handicaps when third behind in-form Samburu Shujaa and Tobefair at Chepstow.
Charlie Longsdon has booked good amateur Abbie McCain and I expect the pair of them to go well.
Solstice Star is in cracking form with three wins in his last four races. Those victories have come on decent ground but he’s got plenty of form on much softer.
Too Many Chiefs was pulled up last time out. That was over 2m4f and he’s much better over today’s longer trip.
Holdbacktheriver won over fences in January. He’s not had many chances over 3m and he could have more improvement in him.
2.25
GO with the Flow.
TARA FLOW is really well weighted on her hurdles form from a few seasons ago. She missed two years before making his return in January and took a step forward when runner-up at Ffos Las last month. That form leaves her short of what’s required today but she’s only run on decent ground this term. She was always at her best on testing ground so I’m expecting a bold show today.
It’s to know exactly how well Captain Cattistock jumped when beating Molineaux at Exeter last month as they only appeared from the fog on the run-in. It can’t have been badly but it is a slight concern all his wins have come on right-handed tracks.
Lough Derg Farmer won by a wide margin at Carlisle a few weeks ago. Luckily, the handicapper took into account the last-fence fall of his nearest rival so hasn’t overreacted. This is a tougher race but he’s always had plenty of potential.
Scotchtown went close in a good Sandown race last month having previously run well at Newbury. There’s no doubt he’s a got a race like this in him but it’s worrying he’s yet to win in ten chase starts. The effect of the visor that seems to have sparked improvement recently could easily start to wear off.
3.00
PRAISE the Lord.
It’s going to take some getting with the ground riding so testing and that will suit LORD NAPIER.
He’s won four of his last six starts on soft going or worse and one of those defeats came when an excellent sixth behind Mohaayed at Ascot before Christmas.
That was over 2m and he’s much better over further. He stepped up to 3m and drew right away in the closing stages at Sandown last month.
The return to 2m4f shouldn’t be a problem with conditions sure to sap the stamina of his rivals.
Buckhorn Timothy is another at home in the mud. He won nicely at Ffos Las in November but he is generally best when fresh and he could have run better after a break at Exeter last month.
Jolly’s Cracked It is decent on his day but all four of his hurdles wins have come at Ascot.
Coeur Blimey blows hot and cold. He’s at his best on soft ground but jumping mistakes have probably stopped him fulfilling his potential.
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3.35
HIT the Bar in the Marston’s Midlands National. MILANSBAR has twice been runner-up in this marathon contest.
He’s now 5lbs lower in the weights compared with his second behind Regal Flow 12 months ago and the testing ground is just what he wants.
There was nothing wrong with his Newbury fourth a couple of weeks ago on ground much quicker than ideal and the blinkers he usually wears are back on today.
Bryony Frost struck up a good relationship with Neil King’s stayer last year. The pair won the Classic Chase at Warwick and went on to finish fifth in the Grand National.
Chef D’Oeuvre is another who will love the soft ground. He’s been rejuvenated by trainer Sam England and he’s always shaped as if he would stay forever.
His defeat of Back To The Thatch at Haydock over Christmas was a fine effort but he probably bettered than when finishing a close third behind Robinsfirth at the same track last month.
American promised to develop into a Gold Cup horse as a novice so it’s disappointing he’s out a day later. His problems seem to be catching up with him and I can’t have him despite getting his favoured conditions as his recent form suggests he’s nowhere near as good as he was.
KEMPTON
2.05
Win on Tim in this novices’ handicap chase.
TIMOTEO failed to win over hurdles but he was impressive when switched to fences at Stratford on Monday. His jumping was very good and he looks really well weight now he’s found his vocation.
The ground should be ideal and I can’t see him having much trouble making it a quickfire double for trainer Alan King and jockey Wayne Hutchinson.
Envoye Special is the danger. He was chucked in against Kalashnikov at Plumpton for his British debut in December.
He beat the rest easily and I wouldn’t be getting carried away with his midfield finish at Kempton on Boxing Day behind Arkle faller Glen Forsa.
That race worked out really well and it was only a mistake three from home that finished his challenge. There’s clearly races to be won with him but it’s a slight worry he pulled in the early stages in that contest.
2.40
GET an Edge in the Matchbook Silver Plate.
BURROWS EDGE won twice in soft ground last year so it was good to see him run so well on decent ground when runner-up at Kempton after nine months off the track at Kempton last month.
There was a blanket finish to that race but I’ve no doubt Burrows Edge is going to sharpen up for the run. He seemed to blow up before running on strongly in a manner of horse who clearly needed his comeback run.
My Way is interesting on his handicap debut. The form of the novice races he hit the frame in on his last two starts has worked out nicely. There’s every chance he’ll take a fair step forward on his handicap debut.
3.15
ONEFORTHEROADTOM looks worth the wait.
He was a promising hurdler but it’s not clicked over fences so far. This is a significant drop in grade and he’s obviously well weighted on his hurdles efforts.
His sixth behind Kildisart at Cheltenham in January was not a bad effort and I’m sure he’s got races in him off this mark.
Kayf Blanco is gunning for a hat-trick of wins but it has to be said he was lucky to follow up Fakenham victory in a three-runner race at Ludlow last time. He’ll do well to make it three wins on the bounce.
Brother Tedd ran well when runner-up after 18 months off the track at Ludlow. He’s fairly weightd on his best form but is thoroughly exposed and needs to prove he can back up last month’s effort.
FONTWELL
1.40 Duhallow Gesture
2.15 Le Coeur Net
2.50 Shapiro
3.25 Corinto
4.00 Royals And Rebels
4.35 Flaminger
5.10 The Cannister Man
KEMPTON
1.30 Heatstroke
2.05 Timoteo
2.40 Burrows Edge (treble)
3.15 Onefortheroadtom
3.50 Darling Maltaix
4.25 Jarlath
5.00 Shishkin
NEWCASTLE
2.00 Darling Du Large
2.35 Craiganboy
3.10 Vado Forte
3.45 Sam’s Adventure
4.20 Lastin’ Memories
4.55 Graystown
5.30 Rock On Rocco
UTTOXETER
1.50 Woulduadamandeveit
2.25 Tara Flow
3.00 Lord Napier (nb)
3.35 Milansbar (nap)
4.10 The Captains Inn
4.45 Cuddles McGraw
5.20 Astra Via
5.50 The Cob
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.40 Big Bad Lol
6.15 Tough Remedy
6.45 Paradise Boy
7.15 Tiger Eye
7.45 Tour De Paris
8.15 Phosphor
