Racecards
16:30 Uttoxeter
Totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 3m 2f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Form 37-4357
- Age 11
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Nick Williams
held up, in touch, led 8th until approaching 12th, weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 23P1P-P
- Age 10
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
led 2nd to 5th, remained prominent, weakened and pulled up before 14th
- Form 0-01P6U
- Age 9
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer Heather Dalton
- Jockey A O'keeffe
prominent, hit 5th, led approaching 12th, headed before blundering 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up before 3 out
- Form 1/1143-1
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey W T Kennedy
behind and not travelling well, headway after 11th, led approaching 4 out, headed 3 out, beaten 2 out, tired and hung left between last 2, hung right before refusing last
- Form F/23-22
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer D J Wintle
- Jockey W Marston
chased leaders, lost place and mistake 9th, reminders, weakened and hung right before blundering badly 14th, soon pulled up
- Form 2-4573P
- Age 7
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey P Aspell
chased leaders, niggled along 6th, lost place 9th, headway approaching 14th, led 3 out, ridden clear from 2 out
- Form UP4453
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey J Kington
led to 2nd, led 5th to 8th, ridden 13th, weakened 4 out, left remote 2nd last
In depth
Verdict
Passenger Omar, Always Waining and Ballyboley are three for the shortlist here, with the vote going to the first-named. Noel Chance's lightly-raced 9-year-old enters handicaps off a mark of 110 and he has the scope to be a fair bit better than that mark. Three of the horses four wins have come for today's jockey William Kennedy so there is no reason why he won't be in the mixer today, especially as he should have improved for the experience of that first run over fences. Always Waining is a course winner so warrants respect, however he has flopped when tried on similar ground before so cannot be fancied today. Ballyboley hasn't finished out of the top three in his four starts to date and David Wintle's charge should have come on for his chase debut back in November. Finzi is another with place claims, and as a thorough stayer, he should be finishing to good effect. Alexanderthegreat is very much in and out however if putting it all in today, he could go well at a price. Ultimately this looks a tricky race to call for punters, but we will side with Passenger Omar to land the spoils.
Formwatch
Swansea Bay 12-1 (11-3) Behind, ridden and headway 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, 7th of 20, 17l behind I Hear Thunder (11-2) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Nov.
Earl's Kitchen 20-1 (10-5) In touch, ridden to chase leaders 13th, weakened under pressure 19th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Tana River (11-5) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Alexanderthegreat (IRE) 20-1 (11-6) Prominent, joined leader 6th, led 9th, headed next, every chance when unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Parkinson (10-4) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan, 10 ran.
Passenger Omar (IRE) 11-10fav (11-3) Held up, joined leader 4th, led breifly until jumped slowly 12th, ridden to lead last driven out, won at Warwick 3m 2f beg chs (4) hvy in Dec beating Iris De Balme (11-6) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Ballyboley (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up, pecked 10th, left poor 2nd 12th, 2nd of 5, 30l behind Fair Question (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Bannister Lane 8-1 (9-13) Not jumped well, close up, weakened from 15th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Kilbeggan Blade (11-7) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec, 14 ran.
Finzi (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Led 2nd, headed 11th, ridden 12th, weakened after 3 out, 3rd of 12, 17l behind Cinnamon Line (11-2) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Always Waining (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, headway 10th, led after 2 out, ran on well, won at Taunton 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Jan beating Chief Yeoman (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.