Uttoxeter, Saturday 16 May 2026: Tips and Selections

Uttoxeter, Saturday 16 May 2026: Tips and Selections

A seven-race card at Uttoxeter on good ground gives us a mixed bag of handicap hurdles, novice chases, and novice hurdles. The going suits horses with a genuine action, and with Olly Murphy firing at a healthy clip over the past fortnight, his runners demand close inspection. There is no shortage of angles here, from course winners returning to familiar territory to lightly raced improvers stepping up in trip. Here are the selections.

5:50 — Carlsberg Novices’ Hurdle (2m4f)

Selection: Beau Quali — 5/4 (Boyle Sports, Betfred)

This is not a race for heroes looking for value, but Beau Quali is the standout on form and the price is fair enough for a confident win single. Christian Williams has him in excellent nick, returning 1 win from 15 over the past fortnight which admittedly does not set the world alight statistically, but Beau Quali himself is clearly thriving. He broke his hurdling duck at Chepstow 22 days ago, posting an RPR of 122 on good ground, and this 2m4f trip is ideal for a horse who showed real class winning over fences for Dan Skelton.

Manalishi, the 2/1 shot from the Richard Phillips yard, is interesting on the back of a promising runner-up effort at Market Rasen, but the trainer has drawn a blank in four runners over the past two weeks, and Beau Quali’s form is a class above. Chicker carries potential after two bumper wins but has since had wind surgery and was well held at Cheltenham and Aintree. Too much to ask on hurdling debut.

Beau Quali is the clear form pick and should take this confidently.

6:50 — Eaton Hall Shooting Ground Handicap Hurdle (2m7½f)

Selection: Geezer Rockstar Each-Way — 5/2 (Boyle Sports, Betfred)

An 8-runner handicap hurdle over two miles and seven and a half furlongs with good ground throughout. Harry Fry’s operation has been in sharp form, going 2 from 4 over the past 14 days, and Geezer Rockstar looks the most interesting runner on the card at this meeting.

The Wincanton win last month over 2m5f was solid, the trainer noted specifically that the horse runs better at this time of year, and stepping back up to this sort of trip is a positive. He is lightly raced, the RPR of 140 suggests there is raw ability here, and good ground is clearly no issue. At 5/2, he is solid each-way value in a field that looks quite open.

Secret Trix is the obvious danger at 5/2 (same price). Sean Bowen takes the ride, Olly Murphy has him in form with sound placed efforts at Haydock, and the C&D form is a genuine plus. However, the wind op factor and his form string of 89723 suggests he needs things to go right. He gets the vote as the one to beat rather than the bet.

Super Survivor at 12/1 is intriguing. Six wins from 13, two of them last season in decent company, and the Spotlight is right that his last run was below par. The weight in the past however was carried on softer ground than today, and at the distance, today’s conditions are marginally less ideal. Worth keeping onside in an each-way context but Geezer Rockstar is the one.

7:20 — Chemique Bonded For Victory Cup Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (2m4f)

Selection: Black Hawk Eagle — evens (Boyle Sports, Betfred)

With Stanners Glen a non-runner, this is a four-runner chase and evens about Black Hawk Eagle is a workable price for what looks a straightforward assignment. Kerry Lee’s gelding made it fourth-time lucky over fences at Chepstow in March, and crucially he was still travelling well when falling at Hereford last time out. That fall was bad luck rather than a jumping problem, and on 2m4f good ground he ticks plenty of boxes.

Orderoftheday for Olly Murphy is the clear market rival at 9/4 with Boyle Sports and shorter with Betfred. Murphy is in form, Sean Bowen takes the ride, and the horse has never been pulled up or fallen, but without a public RPR or TS figure on record there is a degree of unknown quantity here. The form string of /1343 shows consistent placed effort but not a winner at this level yet.

Queensbury Boy had a walkover at Hereford on Tuesday, which counts for nothing in terms of race fitness assessment, and That’s Nice was pulled up at Hereford last month after a bad mistake, making her 0 from 4 over fences. Black Hawk Eagle is the most convincing chaser in the race at the price.

Today’s NAP