Uttoxeter Saturday Preview - 20/03/21

The first race of the day at Uttoxeter on Saturday is the is the three mile Handicap Hurdle and Huntsmans Jog for trainer Fergal O'Brien has a huge chance.

The seven year old has been largely consistent this term running four times and although struggling slightly of late, has still managed to be in and around the frame.

The gelding made his seasonal debut at Lingfield in October finishing a close second in a staying event and off the back of that got off the mark for the first time this season at Exeter.

He then went to Ascot in December where the heavy ground did not play to his strengths and saw him back in fourth and last time out he was again only fifth in tricky conditions at Warwick.

Getting back to better ground will be a huge positive and on his early season form is a player.

With no bet in the second race on the card we move onto another Handicap Hurdle over 2m4f and Nickolson for Olly Murphy has been waiting for better ground and he should get it on Saturday.

The seven year old is thought of very highly at his yard and having had to run in wet conditions this season, he has not shown his best efforts.

He is very lightly raced for his age only being seen six times, making his debut at Ayr back in February 2019 and getting off the mark in good style.

He then stepped over hurdles for the first time in his career at Wincanton on good ground and dominated a big field.

He ended last season with a nice second at Warwick behind Hooligan, who has gone on to be a nice horse and he also finished ahead of The Cob, who has since landed a Grade Two.

This term Nickolson has been seen three times, finishing second behind the smart Ribble Valley on seasonal debut, before heading to Sandown and hating the heavy ground in a Listed Handicap.

Last time out he was seen in a jumpers bumper at Newcastle where he finished way down in the field but it looks as though that was used for fitness ahead of this event.

Could go well at a big price.

The racecourses big race of the day is the Midland Grand National that every year always sees some superb stayers land the event and this year we have two strong picks.

The first is the Jonjo O'Neill trained Time To Get Up, who was taken out of the Kim Muir at Cheltenham to run in this race which says a lot.

The eight yer old is lightly raced for his age and this season has shown over staying trips just how smart he can be and if handling the extra distance will also enjoy the conditions.

He made his seasonal debut at Aintree in November when finishing third behind Canelo in a Limited Handicap Chase and next time out he went to Wetherby and could only manage fourth over 2m4f.

It was obvious he needed a step up in trip and last time out he went to Wincanton over 3m1f and was a wide margin winner of the Dick Hunt Trophy.

He is very unexposed and that should play to his strengths in this race, getting back to good ground.

At a bigger price in the race is the proven stayer for Venetia Williams Achille who has been superb on his two runs this season and in his last four has not finished outside the top two.

Having had some time off the track the 11 year old went to Warwick in January for the Grade Three Handicap Chase over 3m5f and was a close second behind the smart Notachance.

Last time out he went to Haydock for the Grand National Trial over 3m4f and the further he went the better he became, taking Lord Du Mesnil all the way to the line, just being beaten in a photo-finish.

He is a proven stayer that will handle the ground and at 9/1 is a big each way player.

The penultimate selection of the afternoon comes in the Novices' Hurdle over 2m4f and the horse that takes the eye is the expensive Interconnected.

The seven year old was bought for £620,000 back in 2019 off the back of finishing second on his hurdles debut behind Emitom.

Having been bought, he was moved from Nicky Henderson to Dan Skelton and made his debut at Huntingdon back in February when a good second in a Novices' Hurdle.

He will have come on for that run and now it is time for him to start living up to his price tag, with this being a superb chance to break his duck.

The final selection of the afternoon comes in the 2m4f Handicap Chase and Dulhallow Lad for trainer Alan Johns is the big form pick.

The nine year old is the top weight in the event but for what he has done on his last three runs he seems to still be on a very feasible mark.

The gelding needed his seasonal debut at Ascot in October, but being fitter for the run saw him a good second at Bangor next time out.

He then came to Uttoxeter over course and distance and landed a decent Handicap Chase by seven lengths and was given a 7lb rise.

He took that in his stride last time out when a good second at Fakenham and getting his perfect ground conditions can see him go well again.