1220 Uttoxeter

This is the sort of race where one could do the reverse forecast & still lose!

Very surprised the jockey on the second joined the winner so early. The race was set up for him to pounce late.

Would you have enjoyed it more if there had been 6 no hopers in there? They went a good even gallop, both jumped OK and are well above average. No bet race but a very good one to watch. Now we have just 3 in a 3 mile novice at Wetherby. They are just not in training and the sport will have to get used to Irish chasers winning every significant race.

At a time when owners are complaining quite rightly about prize money this sort of thing does no good at all. Little benefit to the levy either.

But haw many English owners buy future chasers? And if they do, how many survive a couple of seasons over hurdles? they are just not there. The few large trainers still have some. Nicholls has most, Nicky Henderson a few but not nearly as many as he used to. The old school like Henry Daly still buy or get sent chasers but the vast majority in NH stables are ex flat and can't jump a fence.

What tosh from Luke as usual. Western Knight might have run poorly in his second bumper but his first one was very good rated 95! I backed it place only. Traded at over 40 on here earlier. Tizzard in very decent form.