Racecards
14:15 Uttoxeter
Federation Of Small Businesses Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
- Form 0/7-1
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer Miss H C Knight
- Jockey A P McCoy
mid-division, hampered 1st, headway after 7th, chased winner approaching 2 out, every chance when mistake last, edged left flat, weakened final 100 yards
- Form 654-118
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer R J Price
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
led until tried to refuse, unseated rider 1st
- Form 4542-41
- Age 4
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
raced keenly, mid-division, hampered 1st, headway approaching 6th, challenged last, ridden and hung left flat, no extra
Desert Stag
26- Form 43-473
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Micky Hammond
- Jockey L Treadwell
in touch, weakened approaching 2 out, hit last
- Form 9
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R Ford
- Jockey P Kinsella
hampered 1st, jumped badly, mid-division, no chance from 7th
Karinga King
22- Form P0
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R C Guest
- Jockey D N Cullinane
mid-division, weakened after 7th
- Form 2310-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs K Walton
- Jockey R McGrath
left in lead and mistake 1st, headed 3 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 6
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer P T Midgley
- Jockey T Siddall
chased leaders, weakening when not fluent 2 out
- Form U
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer Miss M E Rowland
- Jockey L Vickers
mistakes, raced keenly in mid-division, weakning when jumped left 3 out
Robert The Brave
203- Form 6-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey W T Kennedy
raced keenly, always prominent, hampered first, led 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on flat
Alto Stratus
31- Form 69-55
- Age 7
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer G A Swinbank
- Jockey D C Costello
left chasing leader 1st, hit 6th, not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out
- Age 6
- Weight 10-5
held up, struggling 3rd, soon tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
Musical Affair
377- Form U-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-2
held up, hampered first, headway after 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Mutual Friend, Benmore Boy and Desert Lover make most appeal in this novices' hurdle and the vote is given to Mutual Friend. The selection won in facile fashion last time at Aintree when he beat Dee Jay Wells. That win will have given him a real confidence boost and although he doesn't always find a great deal for pressure, he should be too good for his rivals today. Benmore Boy looks his chief rival as he arrives here in good form and he remains unexposed. The booking of AP McCoy catches the eye and although he has more on his plate today, it could be dangerous to dismiss his chance too readily. Desert Lover won well at Stratford but then disappointed last time and off his current mark he may find this race too hot. The others don't make much appeal but Still At Lunch has won a bumper and he has only had one try over hurdles, albeit a very disappointing effort. This is not a race to set the pulse racing, but it does look a good opportunity for Mutual Friend who can make it back-to-back wins.
Formwatch
Benmore Boy (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Keen towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 5th, went 2nd after 3 out, led approaching last, ridden out, won at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in May beating Andrew Nick (11-5) by 3l, 12 ran.
Desert Lover (IRE) 17-2 (9-13) Pulled hard, soon in touch, pushed along after 5th, weakening when mistake next, 8th of 10, 15l behind Iffy (11-2) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Mutual Friend (USA) 13-8fav (10-11) Held up mid-division, headway 6th, led going well after 2 out, hit last, soon clear, easily, won at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gd beating Dee Jay Wells (10-8) by 15l, 11 ran.
Desert Stag 12-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, left in lead after 3rd, headed when mistake 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 4, 6l behind Follow On (10-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft.
Devils Bridge 28-1 (11-4) Mid-division, weakened over 3f out, 9th of 13, 36l behind Oneforsaturday (11-4) at Wetherby 2m nhf (6) gf in May.
Indigo Dancer 33-1 (10-7) Always behind, jumped slowly 2nd, tailed off 4th, 8th of 15, well behind Red Admiral (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf.
Karinga King 100-1 (10-12) Behind, outpaced when stumbled 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind Final Veto (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Sleep Talk (USA) 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leader until approaching 6th, weakening when hampered 3 out, mistake 2 out, 8th of 11, well behind Winsley Hill (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) gf.
Still At Lunch (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Always behind, last of 10, well behind Kalahari King (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Deadline (UAE) 80-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 15, 25l behind Southern Regent (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gd.
Giovanni d'Oro (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) unseated rider in race won by Red Admiral (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf, 15 ran.
Robert The Brave 14-1 (11-0) Raced mid-division, moved closer after 3rd, mistake 5th, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 12, well behind Mamlook (11-5) at Warwick 2m 3yo nov hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Alto Stratus 25-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, led and jumped right, hit 4th, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened from next, last of 5, 30l behind Chevy To The Levy (11-6) at Wetherby 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Saddlers' Gait (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, weakened over 5f out, 10th of 12, well behind Santia (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f mrs nhf (5) gd in May.
Musical Affair 20-1 (10-5) Jumped badly right and unseated rider in race won by Dansilver (10-12) at Hereford 2m 1f 3yo nov hdl (4) gd in Jun '07, 12 ran.