13:20 Huntingdon

Thursday 23 January 2025

All12:1212:4713:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:13

Pertemps Network Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 4m 15.4s

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Selected odds by:

Koenigsstern²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 110

6/1

Dual winning pointer who confirmed the promise of his opening pair of runner-up efforts in this sphere when winning 6-runner handicap chase at Fontwell (17.7f) 4 weeks ago, value for extra given he was idling. Big shout again up 6 lb.

Form: 336-221

Tommy Cullen^h⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: M Crawley| OR: 107

11/4

Fair winner at 19f over hurdles. 9/2 and hooded for 1st time, first run since leaving Charlie Longsdon when very good second of 9 in handicap chase at Doncaster (16.4f, good to soft) 40 days ago.

Form: 75/742-2

Doc McCoy²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 106| C

14/1

Impressive winner on sole start in points and successful start to hurdle career here (19.6f) on return last season. Struggled under a penalty next 2 starts, however, and he's offered little both chase tries so far this winter.

Form: 2/146-52

Wise Guy³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 105| D

9/2

Improver in handicaps over hurdles last season, winning slow-ground handicaps at Lingfield and Carlisle. Better than bare form figures would suggest in 3 runs this term (set stiff task latest) and he's one to monitor in the betting now making his chasing bow.

Form: 213-840

Lucky Lugger^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 105

11/2

Finished runner-up on first 2 starts over fences in November and, returned to Chepstow, in process of running well when falling 3 out over 2m 27 days ago. Has a race in him from this sort of mark.

Form: 3P-223F

Flamelco^h,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 103| BF| D

11/1

Gained a first win over fences for his new yard in 9-runner handicap chase at Catterick (15.6f) last month but simply not on a going day when well-beaten last of 3 back at that venue 22 days ago. Needs to shrug that off.

Form: 5-F6213

Kayce Dutton²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: C J Todd| T: C & A Pogson| OR: 103

10/3

Hurdles winner for Margaret Mullins in Ireland and posted easily his best effort for present connections when second of 7 in handicap chase (10/1) at this course (19.9f, soft) 21 days ago. Fact he gave trouble at the start needs monitoring, but it remains early days with him.

Form: 6/14-652

Time To Dazzle²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: James Best| T: S-J Davies| OR: 95

66/1

Modest winner at 19f over hurdles who readily surpassed previous efforts in this discipline (following a wind op) when runner-up at Ludlow (2m) in December. Pulled his way to front and had chance ended by a mistake 3 out at Leicester since. Percentage call to look elsewhere.

Form: 1P-6P25

Iskar D'airy⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 91| D

33/1

French bumper winner who was well placed when opening his account in maiden hurdle at Plumpton (15.9f) in 2023. Easy to back after 20 months off, offered little making debut in this sphere when pulled up at Lingfield (2m) last month, but this should reveal more.

Form: P6241/P

Solid Fuel¹⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Conor Ring| T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy| OR: 76| D

100/1

Clearly fitter for his reappearance run when springing a surprise from out of the weights at Worcester (16.5f) in June. Seemed to find conditions too testing when pulled up at Uttoxeter a month later but he's again 8 lb "wrong" at the weights back from 6 months off.

Form: 7P0-71P

Forecasts

Tommy Cullen (11/4), Kayce Dutton (10/3), Wise Guy (9/2), Lucky Lugger (11/2), Koenigsstern (6/1), Flamelco (11/1), Doc McCoy (14/1), Iskar D'airy (33/1), Time To Dazzle (66/1), Solid Fuel (100/1)

TOMMY CULLEN ran a cracker starting out for a new yard after a year off when chasing home a subsequent winner at Doncaster and, given 6 weeks to get over those exertions, he's fancied to make another bold bid from a 2 lb higher mark. Fontwell winner Koenigsstern has made a really sound start over the larger obstacles and he's an obvious threat. Lucky Lugger also makes some appeal.