Sunday 29th June 2025
Sunday Selections
Uttoxeter Summer Cup Day
1.30: bet365 Handicap Hurdle
ROGER POL – 6/1 (Each-Way) (4 places)
A competitive handicap hurdle to start the day here, but it may pay to side with Roger Pol. He won over course and distance earlier this month in a three-runner affair where he was outpaced for stages, however, kept on strongly to eventual win being eased down. He’s up just four pounds for that success and still remains unexposed over this distance. There likely is more to come from him, and he should prove tough to beat here if he’s in the same form. Gavin Sheehan takes the ride again here, and he’s a big player.
2.00: bet365 Summer Cup Handicap Chase
HYMAC – 7/1 (Each-Way) (4 places)
The feature comes up at 2:00, and I’ve had two plays in the race, Harry Fry’s nine-year-old Hymac is the first of said two; he often flatters to deceive; however, I’m still of the belief that he could be better than his current rating of 129. He’s no stranger to competitive handicaps over this distance, and has a string of placed efforts recently to his name, finishing third in a Grade 3 handicap at Cheltenham back in November, before placing in three consecutive Class 2 affairs at Newbury, Doncaster, and most recently Cheltenham again. All of those efforts came off a pound higher mark, and he’ll have his day in a big handicap at some stage.
HANG IN THERE – 7/1 (Each-Way) (4 places)
Last year’s winner for Emma Lavelle carries top-rated and top-weighted here, but he’s an admirable campaigner who bounced back to form at Perth earlier this month when staying on to finish second of seven in a Class 2 handicap. That was an ideal prep run for this particular assignment, and he has to be respected off a three-pound lower mark than last year’s success. He’s eleven now; however, his recent run at Perth showed that plenty of enthusiasm remains in the old boy.
2.32: Never Ordinary At bet365 Novices’ Hurdle
QUEENSWORTHY – 4/5 (Win)
Dan Skelton’s mare looks to hold a big chance here as she looks a potentially useful type and comes into the race in fine form, winning both of her two starts under rules to date, with the most recent success coming on her hurdling debut at Market Rasen earlier this month. She won by four lengths on that occasion, keeping on strongly, giving the impression that a step up in distance shouldn’t be any issue at all. Market rival Laravie is a big threat; however, she may be more effective over further, therefore, the Skelton charge edges it for me.
3.05: bet365 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
GALE MAHLER – 9/4 (Win) (NAP)
This is more competitive action, this time back over fences. Gale Mahler could hold the key for Adrian Keatley and Brian Hughes. She was a decisive six and a half length winner here over two miles a couple of weeks ago, getting the better of a solid yardstick in Anyharminasking in the process. The step back up in trip shouldn’t be an issue, and she looks a progressive sort for the Keatley yard. If she’s in the same form as last time out, a six-pound raise may not be enough to stop her from following up.
3.40: Best Odds Guaranteed At bet365 Handicap Hurdle
SUPREME YEATS – 9/2 (Each-Way)
We’re back over hurdles here, and I like another Skelton runner in Supreme Yeates, who’s currently around a 9/2 chance in the betting. He was sent off favourite for his return to the track at Stratford last month; however, he bumped into the progressive Laravie but still ran well to finish second of fifteen. He should naturally progress coming into his second run here following a break, and has every chance of going well again off a three-pound higher mark.
4.20: bet365 Handicap Chase
FRINGILL DIKE – 7/1 (Each-Way)
It may be worth siding with Jedd O’Keeffe’s Fringil Dike in the penultimate race of the day, he’s a previous course and distance winner and was second behind current market leader Third Time Lucki last time out, and is now much better off at the weights with that rival and you’d expect him to bridge the five and a half length gap. He’s also four pounds below his last winning mark, and that success was a twenty-seven-length one at Newton Abbott last August. He could go well at a decent price here.
4.57: Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap Hurdle
HOWTH – 7/4 (Win) (NB)
The finale is the lowest calibre affair on the card, and the one with the most scope for improvement here is Tom Lacey’s Howth. He was a decent yardstick on the flat, rated as high as the 100s at one stage, and he’s wasted no time in getting off the mark over obstacles, having won his last two starts within maiden company. He’ll contest his first handicap here over hurdles, and is burdened with top-weight; however, there’s a fairly strong case for him being a fair bit better than his rivals here. It would be disappointing should he not post a bold bid.
