13:25 Huntingdon

Thursday 25 January 2024

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

Pertemps Network Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 3m 55.76s

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Selected odds by:

Balhambar^p³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: M L W Bell

33/1

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat (probably stays 2m). Might have been unsuited by very testing conditions when remote sixth on Fontwell hurdle debut on Boxing Day. Cobden takes the ride.

Form: 6

Call To Duty^h1⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle

40/1

Out of a winning hurdler and showed promise on the first of 2 starts in bumpers. Fitted with a hood for hurdle debut back from 3 months off.

Form: 3-0

Can't Resist It^t1⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

13/2

Unplaced sole outing in points but showed fair form in bumpers in Ireland. Bought for €35,000 in October and is bred to have a future over hurdles. Tongue tied first time.

Form: 5-47425

Don Occhetti¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton

125/1

Hinted at ability in a bumper/2 hurdles but looks more one for handicaps.

Form: 846

Havock³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton

66/1

Showed fair form on the first 2 of 3 bumpers outings and similar level when close second on 2m Stratford hurdle debut in November. Well beaten over a longer trip at Ascot since but may fare better back at 2m.

Form: 045-2P

I Am De Chaillac^h1⁴²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: Billy Aprahamian

250/1

Well beaten in a Market Rasen bumper for Alex Hales last winter. Watching brief advised now hurdling for a new stable after 13 months off. Hooded first time.

Form: 8-

Inigo⁵⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: David Noonan| T: G & J Moore

125/1

Fairly useful form in bumpers, winning in France, but hasn't been seen since finishing well beaten in 2 Flat maidens at Goodwood in summer 2022. Best watched unless the betting strongly hints otherwise.

Form: 931/3-

Jour D'Evasion^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 112

5/1

Shaped quite well in a bumper on debut and has made the frame on all 3 starts over hurdles, second of 15 over 2m at Ludlow latest. Likely to be in the shake-up again.

Form: 3342

Kentanddover⁶⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: J & A O'Neill

25/1

Sir Percy gelding who shaped encouragingly when fourth in a Doncaster bumper in March 2022 but hasn't been seen since. Stable's good form provides hope but the betting is perhaps the best guide to expectations.

Form: 4/

Moon Chime³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| D

10/11

Won first 2 bumpers and good third of 12 in Cheltenham listed race in November. Encouraging start to his hurdle career when 3 lengths third of 10 at Kempton on Boxing Day and he's the one to beat here with improvement likely.

Form: 1133

Rumoursareflying⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs P Sly

100/1

Only minor promise in 2 bumpers/hurdles. Unlikely to come into his own until handicapping.

Form: 50-84

Strutter^h³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| BF

10/3

Fair form on second of 2 outings in bumpers and shaped with promise when second of 18 on his 2m Newbury hurdle debut before Christmas. Should progress for his top yard and looks the chief threat to Moon Chime.

Form: 8-42

Walkingoneggshells¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Watson

25/1

Winner of a maiden point last spring. Fourth in his second bumper and ran to a fair level when second of 13 on his recent 2m Taunton hurdle debut. May do better.

Form: 5-P1742

Wee Tony³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

40/1

Half-brother to smart hurdler/chaser Black Op. Showed promise in bumpers a year apart but finished a long way behind the reopposing Moon Chime on Kempton hurdle debut over Christmas.

Form: 4-26

Forecasts

Moon Chime (10/11), Strutter (10/3), Jour D'Evasion (5/1), Can't Resist It (13/2), Kentanddover (25/1), Walkingoneggshells (25/1), Balhambar (33/1), Wee Tony (40/1), Call To Duty (40/1), Havock (66/1), Rumoursareflying (100/1), Inigo (125/1), Don Occhetti (125/1), I Am De Chaillac (250/1)

Good bumper performer MOON CHIME made a promising start to his hurdle career at Kempton over Christmas and is preferred to Nicky Henderson's Newbury runner-up Strutter in what may develop into a straight fight between the pair. The likes of Jour d'Evasion and Walkingoneggshells should get involved in the battle for minor honours.