June 22 / 19.40 Uttoxeter

19.40

Soft

Abacus High Quality Decorators Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 3f 207y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Abacus High Quality Decorators Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 4542-2

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Consistent 5yo with 2-10 strike-rate over hurdles; second to progressive rivals on consecutive starts this spring (2m/2m3f) and remains unexposed over this sort of trip; ought to be right in the thick of things.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

31st Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

17:25 Plumpton

Mothill

11st 11lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Neil Mulholland

Has won three of his last four hurdles, latterly edging home in the new cheekpieces at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) after Joe Anderson had lost his whip (still a fine ride; always ideally positioned up with the pace); mark continues to rise (up another 5lb) but he's not easily knocked.

4/1

1st

13

17th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 58y

Class 2

14:25 Ascot

Mothill

10st 5lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Neil Mulholland

Wins in 2023 came in Class 4 events at Uttoxeter and Sedgefield (both 2m4f, good to soft) and the rise in class seemed to find him out when he was only eighth in the Lanzarote at Kempton last time; needs first-time cheekpieces to spark a career-best effort.

16/1

8th

17

13th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:42 Kempton

Mothill

10st 9lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Neil Mulholland

Solid record in Class 4 this term, winning at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) most recently; 5lb claimer Joe Anderson (won on him last June) returns, in bid to offset 5lb rise; 4-12 over hurdles; upped sharply in grade but arrives in top form; shortlisted.

16/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.90

Form: 63423-

Last run: 68 days

W: 10st 13lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
12yo who is not the force of old and hasn't won since 2020; ended last season with two good efforts on slow ground, though, and any lingering juice in the ground will aid his cause here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

12:47 Uttoxeter

Mcgowans Pass

11st 10lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Jennie Candlish

Won on soft ground over 2m4f here last May but has suffered three serious defeats in the meantime and he's a 14yo now.

14/1

6th

6

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

12:47 Uttoxeter

Mcgowans Pass

11st 10lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Jennie Candlish

Won on soft ground over 2m4f here last May but has suffered three serious defeats in the meantime and he's a 14yo now.

14/1

5th

8

31st Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

13:00 Uttoxeter

Mcgowans Pass

10st 9lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

disputed lead, not fluent 3rd, lost position after 4 out

16/1

Form: 62U-38 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Not as good as he was over fences but remains capable of useful chase form; didn't really fire here last month but still looks interesting off his lower hurdle mark; best on good ground but handles soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th Jul 2023

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

16:40 Market Rasen

Captain Tom Cat

11st 10lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland

pressed leader, led 9th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, 2 lengths second when fell last

3/1

8

2nd Jul 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 2

14:05 Cartmel

Captain Tom Cat

10st 9lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland

Twice finished placed this spring (2m4f, soft/good) and the handicapper has given him a big chance as he's now 8lb lower; not ruled out but he has to perform better than he's managed the last twice.

14/1

3rd

2

22nd Jun 2023

Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

19:40 Uttoxeter

Captain Tom Cat

11st 13lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland

Not as good as he was over fences but remains capable of useful chase form; didn't really fire here last month but still looks interesting off his lower hurdle mark; best on good ground but handles soft.

8/1

Form: 2/14- D

Last run: 127 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Second to a good horse on bumper debut in 2021 and returned from one-year absence to make winning hurdle debut at Fontwell (2m3f, good) in October; a respectable fourth at Wetherby followed in February, and he ought to have some improvement to come in handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

14:55 Wincanton

Montgomery

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Low-mileage 8yo who is 3-6 over fences and was a highly commendable fifth in Sandown's London National (3m4f, soft) before a puzzling effort when only 6-4 at Haydock; strong contender on that penultimate effort.

3/1

5th

4

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

14:55 Wincanton

Montgomery

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Low-mileage 8yo who is 3-6 over fences and was a highly commendable fifth in Sandown's London National (3m4f, soft) before a puzzling effort when only 6-4 at Haydock; strong contender on that penultimate effort.

3/1

3

30th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 4f 97y

Class 2

15:10 Haydock

Montgomery

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Lightly raced 7yo who won his first three chase starts earlier this year (2m6f/3m, soft/heavy) and he reappeared with a fair fifth at Sandown (3m4f, soft) this month; could improve for that latest outing and he's one of two for a trainer with a fine record in this race; likely player.

7/4

Form: 12P-33 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Made very encouraging return from layoff when staying-on third at Kempton (2m5f, good; usual cheekpieces missing) last month and may not have had the race run to suit when slightly below that form on his latest outing (cheekpieces back on); remains one to be interested in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Warwick

Salley Gardens

12st 0lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

Ex-Olly Murphy; yet to win for current yard and now back from another lengthy break; others preferred.

25/1

5th

1

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

13:02 Southwell

Salley Gardens

11st 12lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

Won three chases for Ollie Murphy, two of them three-runner races over C&D; yet to win for current yard but he was a creditable third at Stratford (2m5f, good) when last seen in October; all wins on good ground.

10/1

1

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

14:30 Stratford

Salley Gardens

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

Won on good ground at Southwell (2m4f) and Uttoxeter (2m5f) in final two runs for Olly Murphy; no impact in four starts for current yard but he wasn't beaten far in a Class 2 at Bangor (3m) last time and is now back on last winning mark; could be dangerous with Sean Bowen booked on this drop back in trip and grade.

11/4

Form: 1114-1 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Has excellent 6-8 strike-rate since switched to handicap hurdles, the latest win gained at Southwell (2m4f, good) last month; latest 6lb rise demands more from him, but further improvement is not out of the question.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

30th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

15:00 Ffos Las

Blue Shark

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Strike-rate of 6-17 over hurdles and the latest of those wins was off a 3lb higher mark; however, there's been pretty much nothing to take from his last five appearances and would appear to be going chasing under a cloud.

12/1

0

8

25th Jan 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

14:35 Huntingdon

Blue Shark

11st 10lb

J: James Smith

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Six wins between November 2022 and May 2023 included one over C&D (good); back to within 1lb of the final winning mark in that sequence, but too far below par the last four times to expect him to capitalise.

16/1

0

5

16th Dec 2023

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:48 Hereford

Blue Shark

11st 10lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Between November of last year and this May he won six times in seven starts (2m3f-2m4f); however, shot up the weights as a consequence and he's beaten only one finisher in his last three appearances; has stamina to prove.

12/1

Form: 2P4-62

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

Shallow River

11st 12lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Olly Murphy

Won a 3m handicap hurdle on soft ground at Carlisle in December 2024 but hasn't been out since; looks his stable's second string.

14/1

1st

4

15th Dec 2024

Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:07 Carlisle

Shallow River

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Tailed off on his stable and seasonal debut at Newton Abbot in October but may have needed the run and a good case can be made on last winter's form, including a win at Exeter (2m7f, heavy) in February; chance.

8/1

1st

4

15th Dec 2024

Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:07 Carlisle

Shallow River

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Tailed off on his stable and seasonal debut at Newton Abbot in October but may have needed the run and a good case can be made on last winter's form, including a win at Exeter (2m7f, heavy) in February; chance.

8/1

Non-runners

Shallow River

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.00
Straight Forecast £20.09
Trifecta £46.60

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Blue Shark

SPOTLIGHT:

Mothill

Daily Mail:

Shallow River

POSTDATA:

Captain Tom Cat

TOPSPEED:

Mcgowan's Pass

The Times:

Blue Shark

Daily Mirror:

Blue Shark

The Star:

Blue Shark

Daily Record:

Blue Shark

The Sun:

Shallow River

RP RATINGS:

Mothill

Telegraph:

Mothill

The Guardian:

Captain Tom Cat

D Express:

Mcgowan's Pass