Features / Timeform / 22 March 2010 / Leave a comment

Timeform share their Perspective views on Uttoxeter's gruelling seasonal highlight...

"Synchronised proved himself smart in gaining his third win from four starts this season, much his most valuable too, looking one to keep on side in 2010/11, when races such as the Welsh National are likely to be on the agenda"

A typically competitive renewal on paper, though it was a gruelling test in the event, to the point that no more than a handful still held a realistic chance a circuit out and only three were able to complete; saying that, the winner and third are both novices, the former improving further as he got the better of one who'd gone with uncharacteristic enthusiasm.

Synchronised proved himself smart in gaining his third win from four starts this season, much his most valuable too, looking one to keep on side in 2010/11, when races such as the Welsh National are likely to be on the agenda. He took a while to get motivated but jumped better than previously over fences and relished the extreme test, joining the leader three out and showing a willing attitude to shade the battle. He remains unproven away from the mud, withdrawn from the NH Chase at Cheltenham earlier in the week due to the ground, but is very much on an upward curve and may have better still in him just ten races into his career.

L'Aventure isn't so good as in her prime, but that's reflected in her mark and there's clearly life in her yet, finishing in the frame for the fourth time in this contest (has contested five renewals), going with much more zest that usual as she went from the front, jumping soundly and digging deep once tackled by the progressive winner; her stable deserves plenty of credit for the way she's been handled.

Giles Cross shaped a fair bit better than the distance beaten suggests in his first handicap over fences, jumping well close to the pace and still very much in touch with the front two until the straight, showing plenty of stamina just to complete in his own time given how many proven stayers failed to do so.

Ballydub is potentially well handicapped on his hurdles form, but with good reason, his jumping of fences having proved his undoing so often this season, crashing out as early as the second with blinkers applied here.

Miko de Beauchene has been more out than in since joining this yard, for all he's potentially well in on a couple of recent showings, once more having everything in his favour but already struggling when hitting the eighteenth.

Kornati Kid's mark remains too high, though it's questionable whether he's in much form anyway, none too fluent on occasions here but receiving remainders from a worryingly early stage nevertheless.

Le Beau Bai's poor effort is a concern given he's been running consistently well in more competitive heats.

Iris de Balme did nothing to dispel the notion that he's no longer capable of the form that catapulted him to notoriety in late-2007/8, never going with all that much enthusiasm in rear.

Fortification's sudden run of poor form could be a blessing in disguise long-term, his mark too high as things stand.

Badgerlaw is largely consistent in Ireland, and this is probably best forgiven with that considered, never best positioned to challenge.

Inoma James's British mark looks on the high side, and he never looked like getting involved, a mistake at the thirteenth finishing him off.

Gypsy George has seemingly grown accustomed to the blinkers, looking firmly back to his lethargic ways.

Mark The Book's failing for stamina doesn't hold much water given he's prone to folding at the best of times.

Oscar Park remains capable of backing up Southwell, though his jumping is becoming an increasing concern going on these last two runs.

Lorum Leader can probably be excused this, in touch until putting in a couple of sloppy jumps at the twelfth and fourteenth.

Sherwoods Folly's good spells generally don't last, and worryingly tame as this run was it comes as little surprise.

Morgan Be offered more promise of a return to form in cheekpieces, back to the mark which saw him finish second in last season's Eider, still travelling comfortably a circuit out but unable to land a blow so far back was he.

Sent in loose-leaf parts throughout the season, Timeform Perspective builds up into an in-depth account of the racing year.