Hey Day Baby heads back to Uttoxeter this afternoon in the Class 5 Novices' Handicap Chase (15:40) as she tackles 3m2f for the first time.

Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Hey Day Baby's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).

Raceday LIVE Preview

Hey Day Baby made her chasing debut over three miles at Uttoxeter last time out, unfortunately needing to be pulled up with five fences left to jump due to suffering a bleed during the race. There were no major concerns about her ability to jump the bigger fences during that race, which is fairly unsurprising as she won a three mile point-to-point contest before she switched to rules racing. Fortunately there were no lasting effects from that setback and she's been back out in training at Jackdaws Castle and has been putting in some pleasing work at home with the O'Neill Team. 

Prior to that run, Hey Day Baby finished a promising fourth over a trip of two miles and four furlongs. She led for much of that race, but just struggled for pace over the shorter distance towards the end of the contest, being passed by three strong finishers in the run-in. Following that run, the decision was made to step her back up in trip for her chasing debut, as the belief was that a steadier pace would help her stay on better, which looked to be the case last time out at Uttoxeter.

Talented young apprentice jockey, Benjamin Macey, takes the reins again today, having rode her last time out. Once again, he will be claiming the maximum ten pound allowance onboard our mare today, as he can claim an extra three pounds due to being employed by the O'Neill team full time.

The going at Uttoxeter is set to be soft today following the deluge of rain that hit the midlands earlier in the week, however no more rain is forecast prior to racing so there should be no more changes to the underfoot conditions before post time.

Raceday Message from Jonjo & A J O'Neill



Hey Day Baby's Owners for the Day

As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Hey Day Baby's run at Uttoxeter this afternoon.

Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Uttoxeter Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Hey Day Baby and the O'Neill team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Hey Day Baby.

Today's Class 5 contest is worth £6,150 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,247.81 for their lucky owners.

2nd: £1,494.44 | 3rd: £747.23 | 4th: £373.92 | 5th: £186.35

Trainer and Jockey Statistics

Jonjo & A J O'Neill have had a quiet time of it recently, only sending out eight runners in the last fortnight, with two of those runners finishing in the top three places. Since A J joined the training license, the father-son duo have sent twelve runners to Uttoxeter, returning to the Cotswolds with two winners. As a trainer by himself, Jonjo O'Neill sent 1,161 horses to Uttoxeter, with 165 of those being victorious. 

Benjamin Macey has only had six rides this season, resulting in one winner that came at Warwick. He's had 24 total runs in his career, returning two winners but he's yet to record a win at Uttoxeter despite having had more rides there than anywhere else in his career. All of his runs have been for the Jackdaws Castle team, with six of those, and one win, coming after A J joined the license.

TBC | Verdict



Today's opposition

• TBC
  
  
• TBC
  
  
• TBC

   15:40 UTTOXETER – LATEST BETTING HERE   

We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 15:40 to watch Hey Day Baby's chase debut for the club live on the Coral Sports app.