Uttoxeter Racing Tips

This juvenile hurdle is most likely going to be a duel between last-time-out winners Burristo and Knotty Ash. The latter won with plenty in hand on hurdles at Market Rasen last month for Dan and Harry Skelton but whether he beat a whole lot is open to debate. He's sure to have his metal tested further by Stratford scorer Burristo now. Fergal O'Brien and Paddy Brennan are once more in flying summer form and the winners keep coming. After finishing second on his hurdles bow, this ex-Richard Hannon inmate went one better in first-time cheekpieces a fortnight ago. There's a bit of substance to that form and he can follow it up.

Kentucky Hardboot sets the standard and has plenty of hurdling experience from his time with Mohamed Moubarak but he might find it tough going to down Butte Montana here. He represents a trainer/jockey combo in red-hot form and he won with lots in hand at Stratford last month, building on his earlier Uttoxeter second after a break, and Paddy Brennan was able to ease him down late on in a five-length defeat of the re-opposing Mordred. The 7lb penalty carried by the son of Presenting may not be enough to turn those placings around.

Martin Keighley has very much found the key to Pinnacle Peak with the fitting of a pair of cheekpieces and he's coming here looking to complete a four-timer after wins at Southwell (twice) and Worcester in the last month. Sean Bowen's mount didn't need to come out of second gear in his most recent success 12 days ago and while the handicapper has taken a cut with a 16lb rise, he meets rivals with lots of questions over them here and should be more than good enough to go in again.

This looks a weak enough race on paper and recent course winner Andapa should prove popular in the betting pool. That was over 2m4f however and, now 5lb higher, she's got to prove her effectiveness at this shorter trip. There isn't a lot of her and perhaps an 11-day turnaround is a worry. Be Thankful produced an improved effort when close third of 12 over C&D four weeks ago and trainer Martin Keighley has his team firing right now. James Best's mount can race from an unchanged mark today and this is a good opportunity for her to improve on that placing at least.