News

Nothing funny about Coco at Uttoxeter

Written by Press Association | Jun 28, 2025 12:27:26 PM

Coco Mademoiselle can continue her excellent run of form for Dan and Harry Skelton with victory in the bet365 Summer Cup at Uttoxeter on Sunday.

A bumper winner and useful hurdler, the seven-year-old has taken her game to another level over the larger obstacles, particularly since being stepped up to 4800m and beyond.

The Doyen mare looked set to open her chasing account at Cheltenham in April until unseating her rider three fences from home and she has made no mistake in two subsequent outings, impressing at Perth in April before bolting up at this track the following month.

Coco Mademoiselle has to contend with a 10lb rise in the weights for her hat-trick bid, but she should nevertheless prove hard to beat.

It could be another profitable afternoon for the Skeltons, with Queensworthy of obvious interest in the Never Ordinary At bet365 Novices' Hurdle.

A well held second on her sole appearance in the Irish point-to-point field, the five-year-old justified odds-on favouritism on her first start under rules in a Southwell bumper and never really looked in any danger when following up on her hurdling debut at Market Rasen.

She has more on her plate this weekend, with another dual winner in Laravie in opposition, but in receipt of 4lb Queensworthy gets the vote.

There is also some valuable jumping fare on offer at Cartmel, with Gavin Cromwell's Irish raider Come On The Lads fancied to go close in the £42,000 Oakmere Homes Handicap Hurdle.

Still lightly raced over obstacles after just seven starts, the five-year-old heads to Cumbria off the back of his best two efforts to date.

He finished third behind Batman Girac in a competitive handicap at Killarney and then filled the runner-up spot behind red-hot favourite Fairbanks in a maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe a month ago.

Reverting to handicap company under the talented 3lb claimer Conor Stone-Walsh, it would be a big surprise if he is not heavily involved in the finish.

The £42,000 Oakmere Homes Handicap Chase is expected to stay a little closer to home, with Charlie Uberalles out to make it back-to-back wins for local trainer Dianne Sayer.

The nine-year-old struggled in Grade Three events at Kempton and Aintree earlier in the year but routed the opposition here last month and a 6lb rise looks more than fair.

Ollie Sangster's Yellow Card is rated the best bet on the Flat at Ffos Las.

The three-year-old offered little in his first couple of novice outings, but fared better when fourth at the third attempt and entered the handicap arena with what looked a workable mark of 65.

He was narrowly denied on his reappearance and handicap debut at Bath and went on to win his next two starts at Wolverhampton and Salisbury, looking particularly well treated on the latter occasion having been stepped up to 2400m.

An extended 2000m around Chester's tight turns looked a little on the sharp side for him when bidding to complete his hat-trick in late May and running over 2800m in Wales, he can get back on the winning trail.

It is Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby day at the Curragh and while Lambourn will be all the rage to follow up his Epsom triumph, at the prices it may be worth taking a chance on Ralph Beckett's Pride Of Arras, who failed to fire in the premier Classic but is perhaps better judged on his impressive Dante success. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

CARTMEL: Race 1 - 15.10 Green Bonnet, Race 2 - 15.40 Go Go Chicago, Race 3 - 16.15 Gone In Sixty, Race 4 - 16.50 Come On The Lads, Race 5 - 17.30 Charlie Uberalles, Race 6 - 18.05 Defence Witness, Race 7 - 18.40 Jolyjump.

CURRAGH: Race 1 - 14.15 Iron Fist, Race 2 - 14.50 Love Billy Boy, Race 3 - 15.25 Seattle, Race 4 - 15.55 Alakazi, Race 5 - 16.30 Thunderbear, Race 6 - 17.10 Pride Of Arras, Race 7 - 17.50 Harbour Wind, Race 8 - 18.20 Orchidaceae, Race 9 - 18.55 Too Bossy For Us.

FFOS LAS: Race 1 - 15.20 Tenzi, Race 2 - 15.50 Camzara, Race 3 - 16.25 Song Brocade, Race 4 - 17.00 Yellow Card, Race 5 - 17.40 Princess Amber, Race 6 - 18.15 Johnjay, Race 7 - 18.50 Echo Of Glory.

UTTOXETER: Race 1 - 14.30 Secret Trix, Race 2 - 15.00 COCO MADEMOISELLE (NAP), Race 3 - 15.32 Queensworthy, Race 4 - 16.05 Hecouldbetheone, Race 5 - 16.40 Don Virginia, Race 6 - 17.20 No Risk With Lou, Race 7 - 17.57 Maghlaak.