Uttoxeter 15:55
I like the look of this novices' handicap chase, are there are a few runners with good potential in the field.
The Peter Bowen trained Court King is the only runner in the field with a recent run, finishing fourth in a handicap hurdle last month. That should see him strip a lot fitter today and he won two chases in June, where his jumping stood up to the test (if a little left at times). He has won over two and a half and three miles previously, therefore, today's trip should be fine and it would be no surprise to see him go well.
Sir Ivan, trained by Harry Fry, won a beginners' chase last time out at Ffos Las, beating the excellent staying hurdler Cole Harden. His jumping was far from fluent despite winning and he has fallen twice over fences so far, so it is definitely a worry. If Fry has improved his jumping over the summer and he jumps around well, then he will have an excellent chance. However, this is certainly not a given and it would be no surprise to see him take a tumble again.
The Skelton's have been in excellent form recently and have had plenty of winners. They team up with Get On The Yager here today and he is making his chasing debut. He was more than a useful hurdler and was last seen in action in a Grade 1 hurdle at Aintree. Skelton is very adept at getting his horses ready for fences and I fully expect Get On The Yager to take to fences well. If he does then he could prove to be the class apart in this field and win this before going on to better things over the course of the season.
Rock On Oscar has been off the race track for over 500 days and he was last season seen at Warwick in May 2016 where he put in a good round of jumping on his chase debut. Paul Nicholls does have a good record at readying a horse after a break but this is a useful looking field of rivals he takes on today and it would be a superb effort if he was able to take this.
Today's selection
Get On The Yager - 1 point @ 5/1