16:00 Huntingdon

Thursday 11 May 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:05

Nigel Hellewell Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 4m 39.9s

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Selected odds by:

Give Me A Cuddle^t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 112| C

8/1

Course bumper winner who bagged second success in this sphere from this mark at Doncaster (19.4f) in January. Mixed bag subsequently but better signs when fifth at Kempton (21f) 10 days ago, having made effort earlier than ideal. Yard amongst the winners.

Form: 61940-5

Issar D'Airy³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 109| C| D

4/1

Improved model switched to handicaps, overcoming a couple of untidy jumps when doubling his tally over extended 20f here 31 days ago, running on. 6 lb higher now but he may not of reached his limit yet.

Form: 7P12P1-

Surtitle⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 108

14/1

Newbury novice winner (16.3f) early last year who failed to kick on as expected in handicaps during light campaign last term. Did have heavy ground as a plausible excuse when last of 4 at Market Rasen (18.6f) in March and the handicapper has relinquished his grip.

Form: 213/534-

Heros³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 107

17/2

Bumper/hurdles winner in France in 2021. Runner-up in brace of handicaps for current yard this year before a below-par effort at Ludlow (21.2f) 38 days ago. Needs to resume his progress.

Form: P75225-

Great Ocean^p,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 106

8/1

Sole Rules success came over hurdles at Wincanton last January for Philip Hobbs. However, better signs of late for present yard, third back at that venue on penultimate run prior to a good second at Taunton (16.5f) 2 weeks ago. Should go well again in this groove.

Form: 44UU32-

Swapped¹²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 104WS

9/4

Fairly useful winner in bumpers who displayed signs of promise in trio of novice hurdles last season, no threat from some way out but considerately handled when midfield at Plumpton latterly. In leading hands and highly likely there's more to come now handicapping/following wind op. Interesting.

Form: 120/266-

Phoenix Aquilus^p1²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Durack| OR: 104

33/1

Fairly useful staying handicapper on Flat, successful twice in 2022. Ran poorly back over hurdles here (20.6f) in January but comes here fit from a respectable spin on the level at Bath (14f) 3 weeks ago. Could well have more to offer at this sort of trip back over timber.

Form: 262/30P-

Boreen Boy^t⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 103

18/1

Off the mark over hurdles in a Uttoxeter maiden (15.7f)12 months ago and he's run to a similar level on 2 of his 3 starts since, fifth in a 7-runner novice here (15.8f) in March. Entitled to hold more chance back in handicaps. Back up in trip.

Form: 85/1295-

Reams Of Love²²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 100

100/1

Fair performer on the Flat who opened his account over hurdles in 2m maiden at Stratford (2m) last June. Not so good thereafter, albeit yet to be asked for effort when falling 2 out back at that venue in October. Absent since.

Form: 7/5136F-

Denable¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: A Carson| OR: 100

17/2

Dual winner (at up to 2m) last summer who comes here in good form, second in 13-runner Kempton handicap (21f) at the start of the month, fourth jumping last and staying on. Each-way claims again from same mark.

Form: 12473-2

Saturday Song³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 100

12/1

Placed on the first of his 2 starts in bumpers for Gary Brown and stepped up on his hurdling debut form after 19 months off when second in Uttoxeter maiden (15.7f) in January. Not in same form either start since in handicaps but it does remain early days at least.

Form: 383/249-

Non-Runners

William Of York²⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: D Skelton J: Tristan Durrell

Forecasts

Swapped (9/4), Issar D'Airy (4/1), William Of York (9/2), Give Me A Cuddle (8/1), Great Ocean (8/1), Heros (17/2), Denable (17/2), Saturday Song (12/1), Surtitle (14/1), Boreen Boy (18/1), Phoenix Aquilus (33/1), Reams Of Love (100/1)

A fairly useful winner in bumpers, SWAPPED didn't go without promise in a trio of novice hurdles last campaign and, with progress anticipated now handicapping for his powerful stable, he could well be worth chancing to come out on top following wind surgery. Great Ocean comes here on the back of solid placed efforts and is feared, with the hat-trick seeking William of York and Issar d'Airy others fancied to feature.