Uttoxeter Racing Betting Tips

Uttoxeter hosts its Premier meeting on Saturday, when connections of thorough stayers take aim at the Midlands Grand National.

That feature chase is supplemented by a quality staying handicap hurdle (14:25) and a novice handicap chase (15:35).

There are seven races in all at Uttoxeter on Saturday and we have selected our best bets.

13:50 - Handicap Hurdle (2m4f)

WELLINGTON ARCH can benefit from stepping up in trip and could potentially have been let in lightly off an opening mark of 120. He displayed plenty of promise in his bumpers, running into the likes of Regent’s Stroll and Sixmilebridge, and has won two of his four starts over hurdles. His best performance came in defeat to Fingle Bridge, a subsequent Listed scorer who is well regarded and his Racing Post Rating of 128 achieved for that suggests he should be up to winning now entering handicaps.

Selection: Wellington Arch

14:25 - Handicap Hurdle (2m7½f)

JOYEUX MACHIN produced an eyecatching effort at Wetherby last month and delivered a performance that suggested he might be one to have on your side next time when second to Altobelli at Ascot last time. A three-mile hurdle winner when trained by Paul Nolan, he made up plenty of ground after the last two hurdles and was doing all his best work at the finish having been outpaced three out, suggesting he is sure to relish stepping up in trip. That was a massive step up on his previous effort, which came in a lower class under a 7lb claimer, and he may prefer returning to a left-handed track too.

Selection: Joyeux Machin

15:00 - Midlands Grand National (4m2f)

IRON BRIDGE has been earmarked for one of these Nationals since his novice days and everything looks to be in his favour here. The nine-year-old handles most ground, but the feeling has been that he was better on a sounder surface, so it’s to his credit that he’s finished second in a Welsh National and a Grand National Trial in heavy ground. His jumping can let him down and there has been a suspicion that he’s holding something back for himself, so the addition of first-time blinkers looks like a good move. He’s on a good mark if putting his best foot forward and is very interesting with Richie McLernon, who is a master at getting the best out of quirky horses, in the saddle.

Selection: Iron Bridge

15:35 - Novice Handicap Chase (3m)

Having taken a huge step forward since switching to chasing, WALK ON QUEST is seeking a five-timer, having stayed on strongly to land a 2m5½f handicap chase at Kelso two weeks ago. He has improved with stepping up in distance and looks sure to relish the extra emphasis on stamina here. He’s only 4lb higher and this lightly raced six-year-old has untapped staying potential.

Selection: Walk On Quest

16:10 - Novice Hurdle (2m4f)

This looks like a useful novice event and a few can have cases made for them, but Irish raider LIEUTENANT MAYNE holds the strongest credentials. A comfortable winner of the bumper on this card last year, the six-year-old couldn’t have won easier on his hurdling at Naas in November, but failed to give his running at Carlisle the following month. He’s much better than he showed that day and has been freshened up since, so he’s likely to bounce back.

Selection: Lieutenant Mayne

16:45 - Handicap Chase (2m4f)

Front-runner ZERO TOLERANCE sets a good pace that tends to get horses out of their comfort zones and there’s every chance he’ll get an uncontested lead. He was second at Newton Abbot in May, form that looks solid given the third has won three times since, and he again found one too good at Chepstow in November. He seems to find three miles a stretch, which looked apparent with a tired mistake last time, but this track is likely to suit and he could be hard to catch now dropping in distance.

Selection: Zero Tolerance

17:20 - Mares’ National Hunt Flat Race (2m)

There is not a lot of form on offer and Gidge is interesting as a half-sister to the useful Crambo, but there was plenty of market confidence behind ROCK SENSATION on her bumper debut over course and distance in December and she can build on that here. The ground had turned heavy by the time the race was run and she could only manage seventh, weakening in part for pulling too hard, but the ground wouldn’t have helped. She chased home a useful prospect, who has since won a bumper for Willie Mullins, in her sole point and can prove a different proposition now.

Selection: Rock Sensation

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation