16:15 Huntingdon

Thursday 10 May 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:4517:15

smarkets.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 4m 45.1s

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Selected odds by:

Shining Romeo¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: D P Quinn| OR: 122| C

6/1

Both hurdles win have been achieved at this venue. Raised 5lb after a good second at Kempton last time and is not out of it despite his welter burden. Up in trip.

Form: 558162-

Handsome Dan⁴⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 120

66/1

Veteran who has been struggling in AW Flat races of late. Likes good ground and is not out of it, but it's quite a long time since he won.

Form: 494P/26-

Early Retirement⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 120| D

5/1

Wore cheekpieces for the first time when pulling up at Haydock last time. Better ground should suit, but is 8lb higher than when last successful.

Form: 81/125P-

Barton Knoll¹⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: J Mackie| OR: 117| D

9/1

Confirmed previous promise with novice hurdle win at Wetherby in October. Collided with rail and unseated rider on handicap debut at Doncaster in December, so that run is best forgotten. Has been given time to get over that mishap.

Form: 92/215U-

Midnight Chill^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: James Davies| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 117

9/1

Quite lightly raced and is 0-5 over hurdles, but ran well at this venue when second of 15 in January. Decent chance if able to replicate that run.

Form: 8/402P3-

Royal Ruby^h⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 115

9/1

Bumper winner who has threatened to score over hurdles once or twice, but was disappointing at this venue last time. Seems to like good ground and step up in trip should suit.

Form: 1/3420-

Blagapar⁶³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 115| BF

7/1

Won a maiden hurdle and a handicap in 2016. Has been off the track for a long time, but his trainer is a master at bringing horses back to win after an absence so he is much respected off a fair mark.

Form: FP2114/

Master Work⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 115

25/1

Landed a novice hurdle on good ground in October, but has not been able to kick on faced with softer surfaces. Return to this better going should help, as should a reduced handicap mark.

Form: 1450-

Balgemmois²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: A Stronge| OR: 114

8/1

Won a Leicester handicap off 5lb lower in December. Unproven on a sound surface and may be better at 2m.

Form: 3/91458-

Master Of Finance^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 111

10/1

Only one win in 15 starts over hurdles, but ran well to be third at Fontwell on latest start. Runs off the same mark, but others hold more appealing claims.

Form: 386533-

Kiwayu^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 110| D

66/1

Only win came in September, 2016, although to be fair he has been lightly raced since and presumably has had his problems, Beaten a long way on first run after wind surgery at Doncaster in January.

Form: P213/P0-

Bomber's Moon^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 110

22/1

Has failed to land a real blow in three starts over hurdles. Represents a leading stable, however, and may do better now he is handicapping.

Form: 20/6639-

Black Buble¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: A W Carroll| OR: 108| D

8/1

Seemed to show vastly-improved form when bolting up at Bangor last time. Handicapper has raised him 12lb, but he is entitled to respect in his bid to follow up.

Form: 73/UP31-

Make Me A Fortune^p¹¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: J McGrath| T: S Gollings| OR: 107| D

66/1

More letters than numbers next to his name on recent starts. Needs to show much more, but handicap mark is falling.

Form: 33F/8PP-

Non-Runners

Le Capricieux¹⁴

Weight: 10-13| Age: 7

T: G & J Moore J: Harry Teal

Forecasts

Early Retirement (5/1), Shining Romeo (6/1), Blagapar (7/1), Black Buble (8/1), Balgemmois (8/1), Barton Knoll (9/1), Royal Ruby (9/1), Midnight Chill (9/1), Master Of Finance (10/1), Le Capricieux (10/1), Bomber's Moon (22/1), Master Work (25/1), Make Me A Fortune (66/1), Handsome Dan (66/1), Kiwayu (66/1)

Royal Ruby goes on the short list up in trip on good ground, but a chance is taken with BLAGAPAR, who was progressive when last seen the best part of two years ago and is likely to have been primed for this return to action by his skilful trainer. A host of dangers are headed by Black Buble, Le Capricieux, Barton Knoll, Midnight Chill , Shining Romeo and Master Work.