Good Ground Greats at Uttoxeter
Right then, settle in with your pint because Uttoxeter is serving up a proper feast today. Eight races on good ground - and by God, that's music to my ears after all the slop we've been trudging through lately. The Staffordshire track is in grand nick, and with two £50k mares' series finals on the menu, there's serious prize money up for grabs.
The going being good is absolutely crucial today. None of this soft, holding nonsense that sorts the wheat from the chaff - today's about pure class and stamina. The Uttoxeter racecard reads like a who's who of jump racing talent, and I've got my eye on several that'll relish these conditions.
Feature Race Focus: The Mares' Chase Final
The big dance kicks off at 3pm with the Sporting Agenda Challenger Series Mares' Chase Final - a proper championship affair over three miles and change. Eleven fillies going to war for £50k, and there's some serious talent in here.
**Party Vibes** tops the weights on 125 for Henry Daly, and David Bass takes the reins. This eight-year-old has been knocking on the door all season, and the good ground will suit her down to the ground. She's got the class edge here, no question.
But hold your horses before backing the jolly. **Ede'iffs Rock** caught my eye immediately - she's got course form with that 'C' marking, and Mr Darren Andrews knows this track like the back of his hand. At 122, she's well handicapped, and amateur riders can work wonders when the pressure's off.
The Skelton machine rolls in with **Theonewedreamof**, and you ignore Dan's runners at your peril. Harry Skelton aboard, good ground to work with, and she's been progressive all season. That's a combination that's burned plenty of bookmakers this year.
Mares' Hurdle Final: Quality Throughout
Half an hour later, the mares are at it again in the KTDA series final over two and a half miles. **Siog Geal** heads the market on 127 for Fergal O'Brien, with young Fern O'Brien doing the steering. This one's been flying under the radar, but 127 doesn't lie - she's got serious ability.
**Rockola Vogue** for the Killahena-McPherson partnership brings solid form to the table, and David Bass gets a second bite of the cherry today. At 126, she's right there on ratings, and Bass has been riding with real confidence lately.
The value play here might be **Rula Bula** - she's got both course and distance form (marked C,D), and Jonjo O'Neill Jr. knows how to get a tune out of her. The O'Neill yard has been ticking over nicely, and 121 looks workable in this company.
Early Card Standouts
The day kicks off with a maiden hurdle where **Testing Patience** stands out like a sore thumb. Rated 117 in a maiden? That's either a gift or a trap, and with the Moore team behind him, I'm leaning towards gift. The good ground will suit his style, and he should have too much class for these.
In the John Sillett Memorial at 2:30, **J J Moon** brings serious form to the table for Emma Lavelle. Ben Jones takes the ride, and this seven-year-old has been knocking on the door in better company than this. The three-mile-plus trip is right in his wheelhouse.
Don't sleep on **Thank You Ma'am** though - Miss Olive Nicholls claiming 7lb makes her very interesting off 124, and the Georgina Nicholls team knows how to place their horses. That claim could be crucial in a tight finish.
Late Card Value Hunters
The Saumur Cup at 5:02 looks a cracking puzzle. **Move With The Beat** has distance form and brings Isabelle Ryder's claim into play. Jamie Snowden's been having a decent season, and this one could outrun her odds.
Tom Bellamy gets the leg up on **Roger Rarebit** for Tom Lacey, and he's got both course and distance form. That's gold dust at a track like Uttoxeter where experience counts for plenty.
The bumper to close proceedings is anyone's guess - sixteen runners with no form figures makes it a lottery. **Nevada Samba** for Alan King with Tom Bellamy aboard catches the eye purely on connections, but in bumpers, sometimes it's better to watch and learn.
Tom's Verdict: Best Bets and Ones to Watch
Right, here's where I'm putting my money where my mouth is. **Testing Patience** in the opener looks a banker if ever I've seen one - that rating in a maiden is screaming at us. In the big mares' chase, **Ede'iffs Rock** with the course form and amateur advantage could spring a surprise at decent odds.
**J J Moon** in the 3m1f handicap hurdle looks solid each-way value, while **Rula Bula** in the mares' hurdle final brings course and distance form that's worth its weight in gold.
The good ground is the key today - no excuses, no hard luck stories. It's pure class and stamina that'll win out, and that's exactly how jump racing should be. Get yourself down to Uttoxeter or settle in for a cracking afternoon's sport. Sláinte!
