There is a mid-week treat for us at Uttoxeter today. The 13:42 is only a 5 runner novice's handicap chase but it delivers a clash between on the up novice Jagwar and the classy chasing debutant Jinko Blue from the Nicky Henderson stable. It should be a very informative race but away from that there are a few punting angles to be found in the midlands on this blustery Tuesday and one down on the south coast at Fontwell too.
Uttoxeter
12:12, Signs 2000 Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
Katate Dori 13/2 each-way (3 places)
This is a really competitive handicap hurdle to start the day at the home of the Midlands National. I'm On The Way is on a real streak having won 4 of his last 5 races and is sure to have his supporters. There isn't much not to like from Neil Mulholland's 7 year old but after bossing class 5 fields against opponents rated in the 80s and 90s he will now be taking on horses rated between 110 and 122. He's 16 pounds higher in the weights than when winning at Ffos Las in October. So this will be harder for all that he is rapidly improving. Kruger Park is respected from the Paul Nicholls yard but is short enough in the market considering he has been well beaten on his 2 starts to date over this trip. I've decided to go against the 2 market leaders and chance Sam Thomas' unexposed 6 year old Katate Dori. He is 2 pounds lower in the weights than when 3rd at Wincanton in April. He had Irish Hill in front of him that day (won again since) and Getalead in behind (won 3 times since). He needs to bounce back from a moderate run at Ascot 38 days ago but like Wincanton, that race was run on pretty quick ground and by the looks of his action, he will be much more at home on this softer surface. He has clearly always been well thought of as he was sent off favourite for a Cheltenham bumper on debut (4th) and followed that up by finishing 2nd in his second bumper when splitting the classy pair of Bowenspark and Massacio. Over hurdles he's been learning his trade against either classy opposition or on ground which was too lively for him. He races here off a mark of 110 which should be exploitable for the shrewd connections and with Dylan Johnston claiming 3 pounds, he is getting weight from most of the field which should count for a lot over 3 miles on soft ground here. Hopefully the step up in trip, with a first time visor on this sort of ground will help him break his hurdles duck.
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14:12, 4 Oaks Group Handicap Chase
Fantastikas 11/1 each-way (3 places)
This is a pretty strong race for mid week and it's interesting that Not Long Left is currently the 2/1 favourite for the Venetia Williams team after a huge 562 day absence. Autonomous Cloud will be popular back at a course he loves too but at the prices I will take a leap of faith with the enigmatic Fantastikas for the Twiston-Davies team. In 2022 he was sent off the 8/1 for the Ultima of a mark of 144. He has tumbled down the weights since then to a mark of 119 after many poor shows. It hasn't all been terrible over the past 2 years though as last December he did finish a close 2nd in a 3 mile handicap chase at Ludlow. The 1st and 3rd that day have both won a few races since then. He has only been seen twice since, first when finding 3miles 4furlongs on heavy ground at Haydock too much (3rd of 6) and last time when pulling up at Wincanton on seasonal debut. It's possible he desperately needed that run and right handed on good ground was never going to be his bag. Soft ground round Uttoxeter should be up his street and off a mark of 119 if he is ever going to bounce back, this is surely got to be it. He's worth chancing a little bit at the current prices.
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14:42, Homeserve Handicap Hurdle
Don Virginia 10/3 each-way (3 places)
Strictly Tango bumped into a subsequent winner when second last time out at Carlisle and looks set to go close again. He has looked a shade vulnerable in his races though and likes to get on with things up front and there's a good chance that The Grafter will take him on for the lead. This is also going to be the softest ground he's encountered to date. I think Don Virginia will prove much better than a mark of 107 in time. He is a lightly raced 4 year old from the Jonjo O'Neill stable and has been running well on good ground this season. I think he'll improve for getting back on softer ground as the only time he's really encountered it was on debut back in February when he was a good second to the very classy (still unbeaten) Kel Du Large. He's been learning all the time but this isn't the strongest race and I think he'll put his experience to good use here.
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Fontwell
13:30, BetGoodwin Free Bet Nose Losers Handicap Chase
High Treason 7/2 each-way (3 places)
Just the one bet for me at Fontwell today and that comes in the shape of High Treason for Nigel Twiston-Davies and Toby McCain-Mitchell who will be claiming a helpful 7 pounds. This unexposed 5 year old had his chasing debut in a tough handicap at Newbury which was won by Masaccio. This is much, much easier and he's now back at a course at which he defeated subsequent Gerry Fielden winner Navajo Indy at last season over hurdles. I thought he shaped nicely at Newbury and he can take this on his way to better things this season.
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