Two at Uttoxeter on Saturday....

Friday, 13th March 2026

Two at Uttoxeter on Saturday….

In ATC today….

…. I bring you my best picks in Saturday afternoon’s biggest betting heats at Uttoxeter….

I’m on NEO KING in the 3.00 – up at 16s, 14s & 12s….

…. and I’m on DOUGHMORE BAY at 18s & 16s in the 2.25….

That’s the summary….

…. you’ll find all my reasoning below – as per usual….

Oh…. and if you’re looking for the standout place terms on offer – you’ll find them in the Bet Box below….

Read on….

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It’s pretty congested at the top end of the market for the Saturday’s Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter (3.00)….

…. with six of the seventeen runners up this morning at single-figure quotes….

Fair enough – that creates potential value further down the list and the one that I want to be with is NEO KING at the general 16s….

The cheekpieces he’s worn the last twice have worked wonders with him….

…. he won a nice race at Windsor first-time-up in them….

…. and followed up last time with a decent performance in the Grand National Trial at Haydock – where he hit the frame with a late rally….

Both those races were over 3m4f+ and both times he looked like he’d appreciate further still….

That Haydock performance was particularly noteworthy because he was 4lb out of the handicap and running on ground that would have been lively enough for him….

I like the return of Ben Jones in the saddle tomorrow….

…. and I like that the rain came overnight – softening up the ground at the track….

I could make a case for loads of these….

…. but I like Neo King at the price….

…. he’s still lightly-raced….

…. he looks tailor-made for this type of scenario….

…. and I think he still has more to offer of a mark of 120….

I’m sticking with Ben Jones and backing Emma Lavelle’s DOUGHMORE BAY at the general 18s for the Jenningsbet Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter (2.25)….

He wasn’t at the races last time at Haydock – for whatever reason….

…. but the time before that at Windsor – under Ben Jones – he produced a performance behind Nicky Henderson’s Go To War that suggests he’s not so very far away from striking….

Quite a few in tomorrow’s field have already done a fair bit of improving this term and might well be in the grip of the handicapper heading into the spring….

…. Doughmore Bay on the other hand is yet to win at handicap level and likely has his best day ahead of him….

He went up 4lb for that Windsor performance from 128 to 132 but that’s manageable….

…. the horse that finished in third that day is 7lb higher in the rankings now….

…. and if Emma Lavelle’s charge bounces back tomorrow – then he’s a player at a nice price….

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Now, just to recap….

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That’s all for today….

I’ll be back with more next Wednesday….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd