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15:05 Uttoxeter
It’s good to see a strong turnout for this £25,000 contest, which takes centre stage at Uttoxeter on Sunday. Gavin Cromwell sends over Ulster National third Peaches And Cream(9/4) who has to give weight away to all his rivals. The improving sort has found a new level of form since stepping up in trip, highlighted by a cosy success in a valuable handicap at Punchestown in April. The son of Salutino hasn’t been seen since and the handicapper gave him fifteen pounds for that win, which will make life tougher.
Ollie Greenall’s Go On Chez comes here chasing an incredible six-timer, which goes back to June last season. He started the winning thread off 78 and now races off a mark of 115. He’ll need to continue his progression to feature but is only six so it’s very much a possibility carrying a lovely racing weight.
David Pipe obviously holds El Paso Wood in high regard as he pitched the French import straight into the Beecher Chase on stable debut. It’s taken him time to find his feet on British soil but did land the Somerset National in January before finishing fourth in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter. He’s been disappointing in the interim but has shown a resurgence of form lately with a brace of runner-up placings, which gives him every chance.
Others of note include Ruthless Article), the mount of Brian Hughes and the consistent Cheltenam De Vaige.
PEACHES AND CREAM (WIN)
16:05 Pontefract
The feature Pomfret Listed Stakes draws a classy field of seven to Pontefract on Sunday. Modern News heads the field on ratings. Charlie Appleby’s charge was seventh in the Lincoln in March before winning a listed race with ease and going down narrowly in a Group 3 event at Epsom. He’s the class act in the race and will be difficult to beat.
Astro King hasn’t won a race since March 2021 but he’s run some big races in defeat including a close-up fourth in the Royal Hunt Cup when last seen. The smaller field size might bring about further improvement from Sir Michal Stoute’s inmate but he’ll need to if he’s to trouble Modern News. Owen Burrows is operating at an incredible 44% strike rate at present and his Alflaila receives the three-year-old allowance, which makes him interesting. The Dark Angel colt finished midfield in the Jersey Stakes before finishing runner-up in the Listed Henry Cecil Stakes. He’s a consistent sort but may struggle to beat his more experienced rivals.
MODERN NEWS (WIN)
written by Peter Keogh