Keep Batting Birthday Handicap Hurdle

from Uttoxeter Racecard - Saturday 28th January

by Arena Racing Company

RACE CONDITIONS

‘Memories last longer than dreams, enjoy the day all’

FIFTH RACE 2.32

TWO MILES ABOUT FOUR FURLONGS (2M 3F 207YDS) FOR FOUR YRS OLD AND UPWARDS

THE DIEGOS 69TH KEEP BATTING BIRTHDAY HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 2) (GBB RACE)

Total prize fund £18600 œ Owners Prize Money. 1st £7394, 2nd £3696, 3rd £1849, 4th £924, 5th £461, 6th £231. (Penalty Value £9677.58)

Race Stats

LEADING COURSE TRAINER (17-22): D Skelton (80 wins from 322 runners, 25%) runs WEST TO THE BRIDGE TRAINER-IN-FORM (LAST 14 DAYS): D Skelton (9 wins from 21 runners, 43%) runs WEST TO THE BRIDGE LONGEST TRAVELLER: CORRIEBEN REIVER trained by Ewan Whillans, Hawick, 233 miles.

Race Summary

RAHMACKNEE quickened well to score with something in hand at Doncaster in December and, with his subsequent run easily excused, there’s hope for him to resume winning ways. Es Perfecto is a danger despite a lengthy absence and A Different Kind is likely to bounce back following a break.

1-2-3: 1.RATHMACKNEE (IRE) 2.ES PERFECTO (IRE) 3.A DIFFERENT KIND (IRE) colours no horse age st lb

1 FLOUEUR (FR) (28) 0P-P010

8 12-1

B g Legolas (JPN) - Saraska d’Airy (FR) Tabitha Worsley (3)

M Hammond, Moorland Racing & J Menzies Gary Hanmer, Tattenhall

Br Aurelien Hamm Walling & Landscape Gardeners S

TIMEFORMVIEWUseful hurdler Blinkered for 1st time, career best when winning 7-runner minor event hurdle (5/1) at Clonmel (24f, heavy) on penultimate start but disappointing next time and has left Gordon Elliott since New yard try cheekpieces. TFRëëëêê BHA146

2 A DIFFERENT KIND (IRE) (76) 1130-20

6 11-4

B g Doyen (IRE) - Ma Minx (IRE) Theo Gillard (3)

Mr Dene Rowe Donald McCain, Cholmondeley

Br G. Durrheim and Maria Mulcahy Durrheim Proactive Personnel Limited S

TIMEFORMVIEWUseful novice hurdler last season and made an encouraging handicap debut/reappearance when short-head second of 11 at Aintree. Disappointing at Cheltenham since but has had a break since ang goes back up in trip TFRëëëëê BHA135

3 WEST TO THE BRIDGE (IRE) (32) 15-0053

D 10 11-2

B g Flemensﬁrth (USA) - Godlylady (IRE) Bridget Andrews

Mr J. Tierney Dan Skelton, Alcester

Br Mr L. Dunne Ladbrokes, The Air Ambulance Service (Warwickshire & Northamptonshire) S

TIMEFORMVIEWIn the form of his life last season, completing a 4-timer between January and March. Back to form when third at Chepstow a month ago and not a forlorn hope with cheekpieces reﬁtted TFRëëëêê BHA133

4 BALLYBEGG (IRE) (81) PP1PP-P CD

8 10-13

B g Mahler - Rebel Flyer (IRE) Richard Patrick Glass Half Full Kerry Lee, Presteigne

Br Patrick Hennessy Fitzdares Limited S

TIMEFORM VIEWPerked up no end by ﬁrst-time blinkers when making all back over hurdles in a C&D handicap last December but he’s only enhanced his list of non-completions since, again beaten some way out on return at Lingﬁeld in November Visor now the headgear of choice TFRëëêêê BHA130

5 ES PERFECTO (IRE) (678) 3/1F241/-

8 10-12

Ch g Shirocco (GER) - Shadow Dearg (IRE) Tom Bellamy

Mrs Liz Prowting Alan King, Barbury Castle

Br Sean Reilly Prowting Group Ltd S

TIMEFORMVIEW Point winner who has shown fairly useful form over hurdles and got back to winning ways in a novice at Chepstow. Off almost 2 years since, but claims if he’s ready to go TFRëëëëê BHA129

6 GO DANTE (GB) (395) 1/124-

7 10-11

B g Kayf Tara - Whoops A Daisy Fergus Gregory

Mrs Barbara Hester Olly Murphy, Wilmcote

Br N. J. Henderson and Mrs S. A. Aston McCoy Contractors S

TIMEFORMVIEWLookedgoodprospectwithimpressivevictoriesinWincantonbumperandBangornovicehurdlelastyear Absentsinceﬁnishing13lengthsfourthinthe

Grade 1 Challow at Newbury overa year ago. Peak ﬁtness has to be taken on trust but an opening mark in the 120s could underestimate him. TFRëëëêê BHA128

7 RATHMACKNEE (IRE) (14) 32-101P D

7 10-9

B g Jet Away - Let’s Park (IRE) Sean O’Briain (10) Million in Mind Partnership

Nicky Henderson, Lambourn

Br Arctic Tack Stud Goffs UK Ltd S

TIMEFORMVIEWMarkedimprovementfollowingabreathingopwhen33-lengthwinnerofaFakenhammaideninMay.MuchbetterthantheresultonhisCheltenhamreturn and conﬁrmed that when quickening up to lead late on at Doncaster (19.5f). Easy to excuse his latest run in Lanzarote (badly hampered second). TFRëëëëë BHA126

CORRIEBEN REIVER (GB) (30) 1/12/0-3P 9 10-8

Ch g Malinas (GER) - Wild Child Lucy

Craig Nichol

John & Liz Elliot Ewan Whillans, Hawick

Br John & Liz Elliot,I Copeland,A Whillans

Sport Of Kings Classic Racewear S

TIMEFORM VIEW Lightly-raced for his age. Looked useful over hurdles at the beginning of 2021 but very lightly raced since and beaten a long way in 2 chase starts this season Hard to assess at present. TFRëëêêê BHA125

9 DARGIANNINI (IRE) (30) P203P-F D

B g Fame And Glory - You Take Care (IRE)

Mr Andrew Mitchell

8 10-6

Paul O’Brien

Harry Derham, Upper Lambourn

Br Eamonn McGuinness Owzat-Cricket S

TIMEFORMVIEW Dual winning hurdler in 2021 and posted a couple of solid efforts in defeat for Paul Nicholls last term However, pulled up on ﬁnal outing for that stable and fell on chase/stable debut at Doncaster. TFRëëêêê BHA123

2022: HART OF STEEL (IRE) 7 10 12 Theo Gillard 7-1 (Donald McCain) 8 ran DECLARED RUNNERS 9

Visor worn ﬁrst time by No. 4. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn ﬁrst time by No. 1. Tongue Strap worn by No. 1, 3, 9. Sheepskin Cheek Pieces worn by No. 3.

Stewards Note:

A DIFFERENT KIND: Following its run on 13/11/2022 it was reported that the horse stopped quickly.

RATHMACKNEE: Following its run on 14/1/2023 it was reported that the horse was hampered by a faller

Probable S.P’s: 7-2 Rathmacknee (IRE), 4-1 Es Perfecto (IRE), 9-2 A Different Kind (IRE), 8-1 Floueur (FR), 10-1 Go Dante (GB), 12-1 West To The Bridge (IRE), 18-1 Dargiannini (IRE), 22-1 Ballybegg (IRE), 25-1 Corrieben Reiver (GB)