November 20 / 15.08 Uttoxeter

15.08

Soft

Happy 70th Birthday Viv Chell Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4683.56
  • 2m 3f 207y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Happy 70th Birthday Viv Chell Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.10

Form: /5911-

Last run: 260 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
All the better for a tongue-tie when going back-to-back in soft-ground handicaps at Warwick and Newbury; there's substance to the latter form in particular and a 9lb rise is not the end of the world.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

19

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Punctuation

10st 12lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Nicky Henderson

Respectable strike-rate (Flat/hurdles) during his spell with Fergal O'Brien; encouraging placed effort at Kempton (2m5f; second run for new yard) most recently; won a race of this nature at Aintree (2m, soft; off 2lb lower) two years ago.

33/1

3rd

4

22nd Feb 2025

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 3

13:15 Kempton

Punctuation

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

towards rear, headway after 3 out

5/1

4th

2

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 2

15:50 Doncaster

Punctuation

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

in rear

7/2

10/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 23-417

Last run: 123 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Tailed off on his chase debut when running his final race for Henry de Bromhead but he won a Wexford maiden hurdle the time before and his new trainer can no doubt add to those honours; may have to drop a few pounds in the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

15:05 Ludlow

Kings Keeper

11st 6lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Runs off a mark fully 10lb lower than when winning over hurdles at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) in January 2023; however, he's been a long way below that level this season over fences and the first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces) need to prompt major improvement.

13/2

4th

2

9th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 4

14:52 Hereford

Kings Keeper

11st 5lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Hurdle winner of 5lb higher in early 2023; entitled to have needed the run when well-held fifth on return to chasing in November but dropped away very tamely in straight at Chepstow in January and comes here with some questions to answer.

9/2

0

1

24th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

15:45 Chepstow

Kings Keeper

12st 2lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

held up in rear, outpaced 4 out

7/1

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 1-3222

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Only 1-17 but that success came in a good 4yo handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good) and he's continued to hold his own; on the downside, he's nudging up the weights and might prefer good ground rather than soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

30th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:10 Warwick

Krypton Gold

11st 8lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Just a respectable third in tactical race at Fontwell (2m3f, soft) this month but today's forecast better ground ought to be in his favour and he's now back on the same mark as when second in good-quality 4yo handicap at Chepstow (2m, good) in the autumn; might be the answer.

9/4

3rd

4

8th Mar 2023

Good

2m 3f 49y

Class 3

15:10 Fontwell

Krypton Gold

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

towards rear

10/1

11th

7

(12)

1st Feb 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Krypton Gold

9st 7lb

J: Mollie Phillips

T: Stuart Edmunds

Modest maiden on the Flat when trained in Ireland but he has since developed into a fair hurdler and returns to this discipline at a realistic level; one to take seriously.

5/2

Form: 232-

Last run: 248 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Similar sort of form in his three qualifying runs from 2m3f to 2m5f; doesn't look thrown in off this mark but wind surgery might have benefited him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

5th May 2023

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Cheltenham

Camdonian

11st 12lb

J: Mr Christopher Furness

T: Jack Teal

Definite ability for Dan Skelton before finishing held in a couple of Class 4 handicaps; no knocking the start he's made in points but he didn't exactly take Red Opium to the cleaners last time and is not overly convincing on his first run over regulation fences.

10/1

6th

4

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

14:00 Newcastle

Camdonian

11st 8lb

J: David England

T: Dan Skelton

Showed a fair level of ability on all three starts last year and not far off best on handicap/seasonal debut last month (first run since having wind tweaked); that form has been franked and he may well be capable of better.

5/1

Form: 2/2P-4

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced since winning his first two starts in 2020; left Nicky Henderson for £11,000 this May and he started off for this yard with a heavy defeat at Sedgefield (2m4f handicap); wears first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

10th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:50 Warwick

Heross Du Seuil

11st 8lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Ryan Potter

in touch with leaders

12/1

Form: 22P54- C

Last run: 265 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Two below-par efforts before a partial revival when cheekpieces were enlisted at Carlisle on latest outing; on a tempting mark but a longer distance wouldn't have gone amiss.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

30th Dec 2022

Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

12:30 Haydock

Happy Hollow

11st 9lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Ran with credit only once from five starts in the last 12 months; brought down early on latest, though, so has not had much of a chance to show what he can do this season; conditions suit and he's down to what should be a dangerous mark.

20/1

3

3rd Dec 2022

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

12:48 Wetherby

Happy Hollow

11st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Triple bumper winner who won a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter (2m7f, heavy) last February but he's not gone on from that and was well held back at Uttoxeter on his return last month; goes back up in trip off a falling mark but he's now 1-11 in this sphere and others are preferred.

12/1

6th

8

20th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

15:08 Uttoxeter

Happy Hollow

11st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Two below-par efforts before a partial revival when cheekpieces were enlisted at Carlisle on latest outing; on a tempting mark but a longer distance wouldn't have gone amiss.

10/1

10/1

Form: /1215/ CD

Last run: 790 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won two of his four novice hurdles following his first wind operation and now returns from another; has a long absence to overcome but no moaning about his mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

17:50 Southwell

Balagan

11st 5lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Neil King

took keen hold, led, headed but prominent before 10th, pushed along and lost position before 5 out, struggling when not fluent 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

16/1

6

21st May 2023

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:35 Stratford

Balagan

11st 3lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Neil King

Very lightly raced since winning two novice hurdles in summer 2020 and was soundly beaten on chasing debut in February; had another wind op (his third) soon afterwards; current ability very hard to gauge.

16/1

7th

5

11th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

14:10 Uttoxeter

Balagan

11st 8lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Neil King

Dual 2m4f hurdle winner (once here) on good ground in summer 2020; made low-key reappearance on soft ground here in November and not seen since but has slipped to a tempting mark for today's chasing debut; well worth a glance in the betting.

16/1

Form: F1P4-6 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Won a maiden hurdle here last December for Dan Skelton; struggled on final two runs for that yard, and his first run for this one when sixth at Wincanton was underwhelming.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

6th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

17:45 Hexham

Cousu Main

11st 6lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Susan Corbett

Has run well in both starts since joining this stable, the first of them when second to Fenna's Loss over C&D in June; possibly needs a shade more for another win but likelier than some to give it a good shot.

9/1

4th

2

22nd Jul 2023

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

14:05 Market Rasen

Cousu Main

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Susan Corbett

Signed off for Neil Mulholland with some below-par efforts in the spring but gave good account when clear second to Fenna's Lass on stable debut at Hexham (2m4f, good) four weeks ago; still unexposed over this sort of trip; a possible if in similar form again here.

9/1

2nd

3

25th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

15:20 Hexham

Cousu Main

11st 10lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Susan Corbett

travelled strongly, prominent, going easily when went second after 3 out, ridden when challenging approaching last, kept on

10/1

Form: 3164-9 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Added to his French bumper win when landing a Fontwell novice (2m3f, soft) in February but he struggled switched to handicaps in final two runs last season and it was the same again on reappearance; cheekpieces are turned to.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:37 Market Rasen

Has Troke

11st 6lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Alex Hales

Made successful return to hurdles at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) a year ago and finished third over the same C&D in December after ten months off; held at Wetherby (3m1f, good to soft) since, but that was in a better race; respected with conditions likely to be ideal.

20/1

5th

10

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 5y

Class 4

14:37 Warwick

Has Troke

10st 11lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Alex Hales

After two pull-ups over fences he won back hurdling at Lingfield 11 months ago (2m7f, soft; 5lb lower); wasn't far away there last month when giving the impression that race would bring him on; considered.

10/1

Non-runners

Has Troke

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.70
Straight Forecast £15.75
Tricast £45.84
Trifecta £60.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Punctuation

RP Ratings:

Camdonian

TOPSPEED:

Has Troke

POSTDATA:

Krypton Gold

Daily Mirror:

Camdonian

WEST COUNTRY:

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The Times:

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Telegraph:

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Daily Mail:

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D Express:

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The Sun:

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The Star:

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Daily Record:

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