2.45pm Uttoxeter Tips & Betting Preview 26/11/2017

IN SUMMARY: ICE COOL CHAMPS (15/8) looks the one to be with here, a lightly raced progressive type, he should relish the step up to this trip on ground that he handles well. Beast Of Burden looks the main danger, dropped a long way in the weights since his best, he starts out for Dan Skelton here. Kris Spin is a fragile sort but he is still a little way short of his peak mark, so the rise for winning a similar contest at Ayr last time shouldn’t stop him running another solid race.

1 VIRTUEL D’OUDON – Looked a rapid improver in the early days of 2015 but has been seen just once since the February of that year when pulled up this February. Off a winnable mark but tough to know how much ability he has retained.

2 EMINENT POET – Bold front runner who relishes deep ground, he was bogged down from his new mark on his return. Enjoyed a successful season last time around and has generally needed a run or two to get himself straight in a season so despite this mark still on the high side, he may get the run of the race.

3 KRIS SPIN – Smart winner at Ayr earlier in the month, he has been a tough horse to keep sound. Has to have deep ground to be seen at this best so will enjoy these conditions. Placed from 140 in his pomp so a rise to 133 for that Ayr win might not be enough to stop him on this occasion.

4 ZEROSHADESOFGREY – Winning form has been few and far between since his smart novice hurdle campaign in 2014/15. This trip on soft ground is very much to his liking, his mark slipping close to a stone since his peak and has a perfect 2/2 record at this track to defend.

5 BEAST OF BURDEN – These are his conditions but is another to have badly lost his way the last couple of years. The handicapper has taken a chance dropping him considerably in the weights since he was last seen, making his debut for Dan Skelton now in a first time hood. Worth watching in the market for clues.

6 LATE SHIPMENT – Progressed rapidly last season when given a dour stamina test on heavy ground. He is another four pounds higher to kick off this campaign, taking on a better class on animal here. Still only six however so there may yet to more progression in the tank, though there needs to be if he is to win this.

7 ICE COOL CHAMPS – Only had four career races, his sole win came on the heaviest ground he has encountered. In front of Zeroshadesofgrey at Wetherby on his return when staying on well over shorter. This looks a more than workable mark now that he steps up to a more suitable trip. Open to plenty more improvement.

8 MALAPIE – Three mile winner on soft ground in March, though at a much lesser level than this. Looked in need of even more of a test of stamina on his Chepstow reappearance but is going to have to up his game considerably if he is to live with the best of these.