Post by Old Timer on Mar 20, 2021 11:47:50 GMT
Congratulations to anyone who managed to back the winner of the County Hurdle yesterday – you’re a better man than me Gunga Din! However, I was pleased to see that Ganapathi, Third Time Lucki and Captain Kangaroo didn’t win as predicted – it was the second half I didn’t get right. Let’s hope I do better today, although I’m feeling very lethargic and not thinking straight, so maybe this’ll be another loser.
Uttoxeter 15.35 Listed Handicap Chase 675 (139.8) 34f sf – 20 Run
Last year – 845 (136.6) hv – 14 ran
Truckers Lodge 6/1 8-10-7 (141) by 18 l from Captain Drake 7/1 7-10-2 (138)
Captain Drake 8-10-12 (140) (3.1)
‘19/20 record: 1/1/5
’20/21 record: 1/1/4 Best: 276.7 off 140 carrying 10-4 (Gr 3 HCh 30.5f sf Chep)
09/01/21Gr 3 HCh (854/142.7) 30.5f sf Chep 10-4 28/1 4/18 6 l off 140
chased leaders, slow and lost place 3rd, rider lost iron briefly 9th, headway 11th, every chance 4 out, 4th and fading inside final 100 yards
Plus: class (F); going (W); distance (F); course (F); form run lto;
Minus: break (70 days); up 5lbs (wt);
Verdict: was runner-up last year off a 2lb lower mark, but has seemingly progressed and the winner is 12lbs higher this time round; opened season by winning a hdl here, and was then PU at Cheltenham behind Ramses De Teillee (+12) and meets him on 3lbs better terms today; last run was when 4th in the Welsh National in first-time, 3l back of The Two Amigos (+5) who he meets on 2lbs better terms today; age, weight all right, but it’s not a race for horses that have done well here before.
Time To Get Up 9-10-10 (138) (16.2)
‘20/21 record: 2/1/3 Best: 261.6 off 130 carrying 11-2 (Cl 3 HCh 25f hv Winc)
04/02/21 Cl 3 HCh (102/131.6) 25f hv Winc 11-2 10/1 1/14 5 l off 130
held up in touch, closed from 4 out, led 2 out, edged left flat, drew clear, stayed on well
Plus: form run lto (44 days); down 6 lbs (wt);
Minus: class (?); going; distance (?); course (?); up 2 classes; up 8 lbs (OR);
Verdict: promise over hurdles in Ireland and after almost a year off tried his hand at chasing in England for his new yard; impressive lto when drawing clear of his field to win over 25f and all indications are that he should do better at this trip.
Highland Hunter 8-11-3 (145) (10.6)
‘20/21 record: 1/1/3 Best: 274.2 off 142 carrying 11-11 (Cl 3 HCh 24f sf Exe)
26/02/21 Cl 3 NHCh (71/136.2) 24f sf Exe 11-11 11/4 2/6 4 l off 142
mounted on walkway, raced on inside, led until jumped slowly and headed 2nd, chased leaders, went 2nd after 7th until 9th, 2nd again 12th, pushed along and every chance last, found no extra run-in
Plus: going (Wh); form run lto (22 days); down 8lbs (wt);
Minus: class (?); distance (?); course (?); up 2 classes; up 3lbs (OR);
Verdict: useful hurdler who has switched to chasing since the New Year with distinct promise; however, this is a major step up in class and distance and his ability has to be taken on trust; plus, he’s a little on the high side in the weights.
Coo Star Sivola 9-10-7 (135) (7.1)
‘20/21 record: 0/1/4 Best: 267.7 off 135 carrying 11-5 (Cl 2 Hcap 24f hv Sand)
06/02/21 Cl 2 HCh (176/136.9) 24f hv Sand 11-5 6/1 2/7 4.25 l off 135
chased leaders out wide, went 3rd at 9th, 2nd 3 out, led briefly and mistake 2 out, chased winner after, 1 length down last, driven and no extra run-in
Plus: class (W); going (W); form run lto (42 days); down 12lbs (wt);
Minus: distance (?); course (?); up in class;
Verdict: won the Ultima at the ’18 Festival and was joint favourite for the same race in ’19 off a 3lbs higher mark, but weakened and PU and not seen till this season; gradually making his way back and mark’s now down to 135; not tried the trip before, but if he stays a likely outsider.
I could add a few more to my shortlist, such as Mighty Thunder, but he’s been upped in the weights since his win in the Edinburgh National. Others on the fancied list may fall foul of the age limit – none aged older than 9yo – and of course last year’s hero, Truckers Lodge, has 11-8 to carry. Oddly enough, horses that have previously run here don’t do very well, so one can perhaps say farewell to Captain Drake.
There’s always the case of is the horse likely to stay the trip, and there’s not much evidence to go on with Time To Get Up and Highland Hunter who’ve only had 3 chase runs apiece. I think I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, although HH does have a bit more weight to carry. Then there is the possible return of Coo Star Sivola, another that’s mot proven at this extended distance but is looking more like his old self. I normally like one at double figure odds, but the support for Time To Get Up looks very solid so he does look the most likely. I’ll take a chance on Coo Star Sivola finishing second just in front of Highland Hunter.
Uttoxeter 15.35 Listed Handicap Chase 675 (139.8) 34f sf – 20 Run
Last year – 845 (136.6) hv – 14 ran
Truckers Lodge 6/1 8-10-7 (141) by 18 l from Captain Drake 7/1 7-10-2 (138)
Captain Drake 8-10-12 (140) (3.1)
‘19/20 record: 1/1/5
’20/21 record: 1/1/4 Best: 276.7 off 140 carrying 10-4 (Gr 3 HCh 30.5f sf Chep)
09/01/21Gr 3 HCh (854/142.7) 30.5f sf Chep 10-4 28/1 4/18 6 l off 140
chased leaders, slow and lost place 3rd, rider lost iron briefly 9th, headway 11th, every chance 4 out, 4th and fading inside final 100 yards
Plus: class (F); going (W); distance (F); course (F); form run lto;
Minus: break (70 days); up 5lbs (wt);
Verdict: was runner-up last year off a 2lb lower mark, but has seemingly progressed and the winner is 12lbs higher this time round; opened season by winning a hdl here, and was then PU at Cheltenham behind Ramses De Teillee (+12) and meets him on 3lbs better terms today; last run was when 4th in the Welsh National in first-time, 3l back of The Two Amigos (+5) who he meets on 2lbs better terms today; age, weight all right, but it’s not a race for horses that have done well here before.
Time To Get Up 9-10-10 (138) (16.2)
‘20/21 record: 2/1/3 Best: 261.6 off 130 carrying 11-2 (Cl 3 HCh 25f hv Winc)
04/02/21 Cl 3 HCh (102/131.6) 25f hv Winc 11-2 10/1 1/14 5 l off 130
held up in touch, closed from 4 out, led 2 out, edged left flat, drew clear, stayed on well
Plus: form run lto (44 days); down 6 lbs (wt);
Minus: class (?); going; distance (?); course (?); up 2 classes; up 8 lbs (OR);
Verdict: promise over hurdles in Ireland and after almost a year off tried his hand at chasing in England for his new yard; impressive lto when drawing clear of his field to win over 25f and all indications are that he should do better at this trip.
Highland Hunter 8-11-3 (145) (10.6)
‘20/21 record: 1/1/3 Best: 274.2 off 142 carrying 11-11 (Cl 3 HCh 24f sf Exe)
26/02/21 Cl 3 NHCh (71/136.2) 24f sf Exe 11-11 11/4 2/6 4 l off 142
mounted on walkway, raced on inside, led until jumped slowly and headed 2nd, chased leaders, went 2nd after 7th until 9th, 2nd again 12th, pushed along and every chance last, found no extra run-in
Plus: going (Wh); form run lto (22 days); down 8lbs (wt);
Minus: class (?); distance (?); course (?); up 2 classes; up 3lbs (OR);
Verdict: useful hurdler who has switched to chasing since the New Year with distinct promise; however, this is a major step up in class and distance and his ability has to be taken on trust; plus, he’s a little on the high side in the weights.
Coo Star Sivola 9-10-7 (135) (7.1)
‘20/21 record: 0/1/4 Best: 267.7 off 135 carrying 11-5 (Cl 2 Hcap 24f hv Sand)
06/02/21 Cl 2 HCh (176/136.9) 24f hv Sand 11-5 6/1 2/7 4.25 l off 135
chased leaders out wide, went 3rd at 9th, 2nd 3 out, led briefly and mistake 2 out, chased winner after, 1 length down last, driven and no extra run-in
Plus: class (W); going (W); form run lto (42 days); down 12lbs (wt);
Minus: distance (?); course (?); up in class;
Verdict: won the Ultima at the ’18 Festival and was joint favourite for the same race in ’19 off a 3lbs higher mark, but weakened and PU and not seen till this season; gradually making his way back and mark’s now down to 135; not tried the trip before, but if he stays a likely outsider.
I could add a few more to my shortlist, such as Mighty Thunder, but he’s been upped in the weights since his win in the Edinburgh National. Others on the fancied list may fall foul of the age limit – none aged older than 9yo – and of course last year’s hero, Truckers Lodge, has 11-8 to carry. Oddly enough, horses that have previously run here don’t do very well, so one can perhaps say farewell to Captain Drake.
There’s always the case of is the horse likely to stay the trip, and there’s not much evidence to go on with Time To Get Up and Highland Hunter who’ve only had 3 chase runs apiece. I think I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt, although HH does have a bit more weight to carry. Then there is the possible return of Coo Star Sivola, another that’s mot proven at this extended distance but is looking more like his old self. I normally like one at double figure odds, but the support for Time To Get Up looks very solid so he does look the most likely. I’ll take a chance on Coo Star Sivola finishing second just in front of Highland Hunter.