After a hectic Saturday of racing action, the pace eases somewhat on Sunday with just two meetings taking place in Britain.We take a look here at the races at Uttoxeter and pick out three horses for you to consider…
Uttoxeter Racing Tips – Sunday 30 July, 2023
Jumps fans were starved of action on Saturday, but can look forward to a six-race offering at Uttoxeter on Sunday and we’ve picked out a trio to follow at the Midlands circuit.
Amongst them is an improving chaser for Dan Skelton bidding to notch his second success over the larger obstacles.
Quid Pro Quo – Uttoxeter 2.35
Race two on the card at Uttoxeter is a Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase over just shy of 2m5f and it presents a decent opportunity for Dan Skelton’s QUID PRO QUO (3/1) to land the second chasing success of his career thus far.
A dual winner over timber last year, both on good ground, he flattered to deceive in the spring when going chasing, with two non-completions and a tailed-off effort to start.
Faith wasn’t lost, however, and he justified favouritism to win at Southwell (2m4½f, good to soft) in April, beating seven rivals in very ready fashion after a good round of jumping.
He was runner-up next time at Warwick and has again filled the silver-medallist spot over this C&D in one run since. That came in a stronger race than this one in May and he was only rated 1lb lower.
With that in mind, and with Fergus Gillard claiming 3lb now, he is fancied to make the most of the weight he gets from last-time-out heavy-ground C&D scorer A Different Kind.
Donald McCain’s charge won that race 19 days ago quite nicely, but this looks tougher on paper.
Hell Red – Uttoxeter 3.10
The Elite Handicap Chase is one of the features at Uttoxeter on Sunday afternoon and it features a field of five runners going for the £13k top prize.
Four of the five are ten-year-olds, with top-weight Ruthless Article liable to head the betting for Rebecca Curtis and champion jockey Brian Hughes after once more finishing second in the Summer Cup over C&D four weeks ago.
His jumping let him down at times that day and preference here is for HELL RED (8/1) for the champion trainer Paul Nicholls.
He enjoyed a prolific summer jumps campaign last time around, winning four time over fences, and scored again on his seasonal comeback at Fontwell (2m5½f, good) in April.
He’s been well held in two hurdles starts since that, but is evidently a better operator over fences, so they aren’t sticks with which to beat him.
His Newton Abbot win last summer illustrates the ability to see this trip out and Harry Cobden arrives into this Sunday card boasting a 30 per cent recent strike-rate as he continues to fire in the winners in what has been a busier summer than normal for the Ditcheat stable jockey.
Willaston – Uttoxeter 3.45
The likes of Jet Of Magic, Aramax and Butler’s Brief are all last-time-out winners, while Polish is respected after a couple of near misses at Worcester, but it may be worth siding instead with WILLASTON (7/2) for this Vulcan Refractories Handicap Hurdle over just shy of three-miles.
He has shown improved form since arriving from Ireland and now has three hurdles wins in six attempts for trainer Mark Walford.
He was second on his return from a break at Bangor in March and then defied odds of 33/1 to win at Cheltenham in April.
He followed that up by landing a valuable three-mile plus Haydock contest in May, beating the Nicky Henderson-trained Bold Endeavour into second spot in both races.
Given a break since, that progressive spring form bodes well and there might still be more in his locker.
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