15:20 Huntingdon

Thursday 9 February 2017

All13:1513:4514:2014:5015:2015:5516:30

188bet.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:22 | Winning time: 5m 15.35s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Johns Luck^b²⁰

Age: 16| Weight: 12-2| J: Harry Reed⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 111

8/1

Has just kept his nose in front when winning at both Ffos Las and Plumpton on his last two starts, going up a total of 8lb for those successes. Not easy to know if the handicapper will have him now, though he swaps a 3lb claimer for a 7lb claimer in the saddle, which won't do any harm and could again take some beating.

Form: 2132-51

Song Saa^t1²⁴

Age: 15| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 107

4/1

A beaten favourite in two of his last four starts since scoring both here and at Chepstow over hurdles last spring. Yard in good form, so not impossible that this one can emerge from the cloud that has hung over his last few runs.

Form: 0-37P11

Trojan Star^p,t³⁹

Age: 15| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 107

11/2

2lb higher than when scoring over C&D in November and went well enough over 2m back here next time. Dropped 1lb since last run at Catterick and now back here and with his yard's runners in great shape, he could be poised to strike again.

Form: 5134P3-

Zigger Zagger¹⁶

Age: 16| Weight: 11-11| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe| OR: 106

22/1

Sole success came in a Fairyhouse bumper four years ago when with Noel Meade. Handicapper giving him more of a chance now and with stable having a recent winner, a market check is advised as a clearer guide to his chance.

Form: 2/3F30-5

Irish Thistle¹³

Age: 18| Weight: 11-11| J: James Banks| T: D L Williams| OR: 106

18/1

12lb lower than when scoring at Sandown (2m 0.5f, soft) in March, though insufficient encouragement since then to enthuse about him in this competitive enough heat.

Form: F3232-4

Meldrum Lad^t¹¹²

Age: 16| Weight: 11-10| J: C O'Farrell| T: S Durack| OR: 105

20/1

First start since joining this yard from Ireland, where he won two hurdles in 2014 on good and good to yiedling. Doesn't appear to have had any favours from the English handicapper and looks best watched this time.

Form: 005111-

Days Ahead^p²¹

Age: 18| Weight: 11-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 105

66/1

5lb below last chasing win at Newton Abbot in 2015, but not seen anything like enough since then to side with him here. Also tends to reserve his best for a sound or fast surface.

Form: 314-P63

Bertenbar^p,t²⁷

Age: 21| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr Jack Andrews⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 104

12/1

Likeable veteran who has won for Henrietta Knight, Tom Symonds and Lawney Hill in the past. Has run well in defeat for current trainer, though needs to drop a few pounds if he is to make it an eighth career success.

Form: 3111-F3

Letter Exit²⁵

Age: 15| Weight: 11-6| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham| OR: 101

8/1

Potential improver given his lightly-raced profile (makes just his second start over fences here), but he is going to need plenty of that to carry off this prize.

Form: 534/P-PF

Banny's Lad¹³

Age: 16| Weight: 11-5| J: Jake Greenall| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 100

33/1

Shown too little in all three chase starts to carry our confidence into this race, while his best form is on a sound surface.

Form: P76125-

Speed Demon^b²⁸

Age: 16| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: R T Phillips| OR: 96

8/1

Gave his supporters a glimmer of hope at Kempton in May last year, but pulled up on his only start since and he is another in here over whom there are more questions than answers.

Form: U8/3PP-2

Running Wolf^t³⁴

Age: 14| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A M Hales| OR: 96

15/2

Up 2lb for finishing runner-up at Leicester (2m 6.5f, good) last time and although that may not look great, he is one of the more consistent runners in this field. Good jockey booking too, so likely to be thereabouts.

Form: 444243-

Easter In Paris^h¹⁵

Age: 16| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson| OR: 90

8/1

Runner-up at Plumpton last time, the closest she has come to breaking her duck in 12 rules races. Another reasonably consistent performer and races from same mark this time, so with yard among the winners she could go close.

Form: 3P-72PF

Forecasts

Song Saa (4/1), Trojan Star (11/2), Running Wolf (15/2), Johns Luck (8/1), Speed Demon (8/1), Letter Exit (8/1), Easter In Paris (8/1), Bertenbar (12/1), Irish Thistle (18/1), Meldrum Lad (20/1), Zigger Zagger (22/1), Banny's Lad (33/1), Days Ahead (66/1)

A moderate affair and with Paul Henderson among the winners it might be the day to catch EASTER IN PARIS. This is only her second start for the trainer and she showed some encouraging signs first time around, while she remains on the same mark today. Running Wolf looks likely to be in the contest for prize money, while both Johns Luck and Trojan Star can be in the shake-up. 1. Easter In Paris 2. Trojan Star 3. Johns Luck