Mozo will be favourite for the opening race on ITV’s coverage of Uttoxeter on Saturday, but Antony Honeyball’s mare has finished legless when tried in similar conditions the last twice, and she is vulnerable to stronger stayers once more. Few fit the bill on that front in truth, but Sahara Haze certainly won’t be stopping, and would be clear favourite in my book.
Behind Time is priced on reputation, or rather on the reputation of his yard, in the novices’ handicap chase, and while he gets plenty of weight from Big River, he’s not shown himself to be leniently treated, and he tended to hang in the finish on his latest start. Harry Fry reaches for cheekpieces, but his charge looks opposable on the impression he’s made over fences so far.
Dan Skelton had a day to remember at Cheltenham on Friday when Mohaayed won the County Hurdle, but many of his horses have been struggling of late, and six of his runners in the last week have failed to finish. Stable form isn’t the only negative for Applesandpierres, and he’s also looked a little reluctant to put it all in on occasion. He’s not thrown in by the handicapper here, and with plenty of promising sorts in opposition, he looks ripe to be opposed.
