rebelfm

UTTOXETER
9TH FEBRUARY 2013
HEAVY
COLD DRY TILL DRIZZLE FOR LAST RACE
TWO MILE FIVE FURLONG CLASS  5 MAIDEN HURDLE
LOWPARKLAD (slight pos)
Given the going it was no surprise that this was run at a slow pace with the leader Awbeg Massini making most and jumping economically. I thought it wasn’t a bad race and the odds on favourite Fourovakind was well ridden by James Banks being produced with a well timed run to lead on the run in for a comfortable victory. Of the remainder I thought the six year old Radio Nowhere ran a promising race in fourth hurdled tidily but either didn’t like the mud or didn’t stay the trip I think it was more the latter than the former and I would expect a decent effort over the minimum trip. The eyecatcher from a positive if tentative vote went to Lowpark Lad who was coming back from a 811 day absence. According from all records this was his first run under rules having turned up for two Irish points and raced with credit particularly when relinquishing lead and battling back to win 4yo gelding event. He didn’t look in bad shape really but was rusty / novicey over the early hurdles but soon got into his stride and without really being pushed got into the contention at the fourth last. He came to hold every chance approaching 2 out but failed to quicken and did not really pick up when the pace changed. He was left to come in his own time. Sure to come on for this and I would think he will stay further particularly on better ground. An encouraging run however after being off the course (where!)  for so long you have to have a nagging doubt about how robust he actually is.

TWO MILES CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS’ CLASS 5 SELLING HURDLE
GET IT ON (pos)
Sedate gallop for this seller. Bridal Madic who was having his racecourse debut hurdled poorly and was soon detached. Stow and Get It On were by far the better technical hurdlers. The winner Stow was bought for thick end of 11 grand and he won readily looking the sort to step up from this seller having good form in class 3 events. It is the runner up who I liked the most from a future perspective. Get It On travelled well and hurdled well throughout keeping close tabs on Stow until the run to the last where he then looked tired. I think he will be seen to better effect on better ground and can pick up a seller but could well progress to becoming a fair handicapper. Has won twice at Market Rasen over the 19 on soft and good ground and has won over hurdles rated 122 in the past compared to today’s 116. On both occasions was held up and goes well for Paul Maloney.  I thought he looked close to his best today, met a useful seller opponent in Stow who has won multiple class 3 events and a small field in heavy ground over a trip short of his optimum would not have suited. One to keep an eye out for when conditions are in his favour.

TWO MILES FIVE FURLONG CLASS 5 HANDICAP HURDLE
NOTHING POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE
This was a moderate race run at a steady pace. Landenstown Star was a negative from my visit here on new years  eve and never looked like being a worry to being laid win (5/1) and place till the cows came home. Switch to hurdles appeared to be on a sort of confidence builder but from my perspective I didn’t think he showed much aptitude for the fight when the pace quickened approaching  3 out where he had every chance but plodded in from there to finish sixth of the thirteen. It wasn’t a hopeless run by any means but I still think he can be laid with confidence in subsequent efforts and a chased mark of 98 still looks around 10lbs off competitive. Of the remainder the ex Jim Bolger Galway winner Leyland was a bit disappointing as I thought he had form to suggest a competitive effort. However Wilson Renwick was showing him going past the jamstick first time and Leyland soon wilted when the pace was upped. He really didn’t seem to stay this trip in the mud and he might be better on better ground. His hurdling was a bit sketchy to say the least and as such I would leave him alone despite promise. In short the winner I Know The Code quickened up well off top weight to win readily, the Bogeyman ran prominently hurdling OK but seemed not to see out the trip to finish third, Petroupetrov ran in snatches and did fine to finish second but was caught out in my view by change of pace and once got going stayed on as such I think he could do with a three miler. Nuisance was very disappointing and was never going well, Sacco Doro didn’t seem to want to run was left at the start benefited by the slow pace and got into the pack again around half way but was soon cooked so the effort had probably drained him, one to avoid really. Lindongrove tried to make all and stayed on resolutely once picked up which showed good attitude.
THREE MILE CLASS 4 HANDICAP CHASE
SANDYNOW (pos)
Top race of the day and despite some fears that with several out and out front runners in the field giving the possibility of them ‘cutting each others throats’, this was run a decent but not crazy pace which meant this was a pretty fair test. The horse to take out of this was the faller at the second last Sandynow. Held up at the rear early on he was steadily produced from halfway and was on the heels of the leaders from four out. He looked all over the winner when coming between horse to take second approaching 2 out. The leader jumped markedly left over the obstacle and Snadynow looked unsighted pitched too steep and threw his jockey when buckling. Never really down was soon back in his stride and leaped the last riderless. Clearly nonetheworse for a bit of a soft fall and I would not hold this against him at all. This was his fourth ever chase is still a novice and this 102 mark is very fair. His jumping in general was much improved today and I would suspect he would be chalked out further in the odds because of this fall and some perception that his jumping is poor. I think he stays this trip and acts in this ground. He represents a decent chance next run. The winner Rebeccas Choice came from behind and benefited from Sandynow’s fall. Refitting of cheekpeices probably helped but not guaranteed to repeat trick! Second home was the old mudlark Mark the Book who was the cause of Sandynow’s fall in the main and stayed on for minor honours. Of the rest I though Mohi Rahrere (ran well in last year’s Midland Grand National) went fine till weakening about 6 out and was pulled up when pulled up 4 out  so not the best preparation if aiming at another tilt next month, Kilsascan is on a really decent mark of 90 and keeps running very well over these three mile and a bit races in the mud. Not necessarily a good win bet but when conditions are on his side off this sort of mark will always give you a good run for your money usually getting placed. Finally I thought Kilcommon Pride jumped well today. I think the 111 rating is a bit high, he does stay this trip but the deep ground is not in his favour he really needs soft at worst.
TWO MILE FIVE FURLONG CLASS 4 HANDICAP HURDLE
LE BACARDY (pos)
I thought they went a decent clip given the conditions in this event. My positive would go to the ex French debutant Le Bacardy who is in the main bred for the flat but has some fair form in France being 5th in an Auteuil  listed event before switching successfully four times in claimers. He wore headgear more often than not in France and raced today in cheekpeices. Entered at 120 in todays handicap which might have  been a bit stiff based on his form and I thought might drop a couple of furlongs to getr a better chance of lasting home. Acts on soft ground and like many French horses enjoys a bit of mud as that is about all the jumpers seem to encounter over there. Held up as usual and jumped fine getting into a strong position approaching 3 out just not quickening or lasting home as well as some but still a pretty decent GB debut suggesting he will pick up handicap hurdles in due course. Of the rest the runner up Hassadin looked very genuine if a touch one paced, Radmores Revenge ran well to be a staying on third and the winner Barrakilla raced wide on the better ground or ground which was not so cut up as the inside and asserted from being prominent approaching last to win easing down. Looked a fair performance in truth. Bound For Glory  didn’t hurdle that well and looked to me not to be that keen on the mud, Gud Day is about a stone too high in the weights off 118 and I would say definitely needs good ground having said that ran OK today just needs a  bit of respite from the assessor and the elements.
TWO MILES MARES CLASS 4 HANDICAP HURDLE
SCHOLASTICA (pos)
In my view the jockeys of the other runners let Lee Edwards get away with murder today and gifted his mount Dirty Deal a long and  soft lead which they never really got to grips with. Edwards took maximum advantage and played a waiting in the lead job dictating the pace brilliantly. Having establish a long t[lead he let the mare have a breather down the backstraight and this let the field take closer order. He then let her down again entering the straight and she zipped away for a comfortable victory. The main casualty of this was the best mare in the race Scholastica. She was caught flatfooted and just couldn’t get near Dirty Deal from approaching the last after trying to recover from an error two out which was vital to her chances. But to her credit she buckled down to finish second. She has now run well on all three races here. She opened her account first time up in a bumper and showed plenty of pace including a decent effort behind the progressive potentially high class Shutthefrontdoor beaten eight lengths in an Ascot championship bumper. Thumped a field of novices over course and distance to win second hurdle, was then a creditable third in listed event at Haydock. Off this 115 she can be considered very fairly treated and I think she will be better over further. Her final bumper was an excellent fifth in a very valuable Newbury event which had today’s 147 rated feature handicap at Newbury (Your Tent Or Mine) in the line up. I think flat tracks will suit her best and a sounder surface will also benefit. She is one to keep on your side in handicap events as 115 looks soft to me.

TWO MILE CLASS 4 HANDICAP CHASE
STARSKY DES MOTTES (neg)
Not a bad event with the winner Greywell Boy running well and showing good genuine attitude to come back from a defeat looking error to  get up readily on the run in. This led me to make the runner up Starsky des Mottes a negative as I thought he looked a bit ungenuine and so lay material in the future. That lack of tenacity is vital over the jumps. Of the remainder I thought Ballywhat ran well but jumping let him down a bit and that coupled with a 10lbs weight rise without winning a race must be very frustrating for Kim Bailey, he has been going well in his recent races but 120 is difficult for the assessor to justify.  AnayTurge ran with credit but his 7lbs hike to 117 did for him in my opinion.