14:00 Huntingdon

Sunday 5 March 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Six Nations Rugby At 188Bet Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 4m 8.70s

Absolutely Frankie⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: M R Bosley

250/1

Never in it on debut at Warwick as a tailed off 66/1 chance and will need significant improvement to be good enough to win this on his second start.

Form: 08

Azzuri^t⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134

4/11

With a rating of 139 there can't be many better hurdlers than him who remain maidens, but he does keep finding one or two too good, as was the case when a beaten favourite when dropped in class at Wetherby last time. A further drop here leaves this race there for the taking.

Form: 23/2122-

Cosmic King^h⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ian Popham| T: R T Phillips

20/1

Runner-up in one of his three bumpers (good to soft) and showed a bit of promise on his Ludlow hurdles debut. Can build on that today, though may still not pick up any prize money.

Form: 0/27756-

Jodies Jem²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: M Banks

12/1

86-rated Flat performer for William Jarvis, with four wins at 7f and 1m. Raced keenly on his hurdles debut at Newbury when beaten 23L by High Bridge. Should be able to improve a fair bit for that run and could be dangerous if translating his Flat ability to this sphere.

Form: 764-

Land League¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Joshua Moore| T: S Edmunds

8/1

Took him nine attempt to break his maiden in point-to-points and then built on his hurdling debut when racing at Towcester last time, finishing 14L adrift of the winner, though clear of the rest. Appears best on softer ground.

Form: 331623

Militarian⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin

11/2

Point-to-point winner over 2m4f but has shown little in a bumper and two maiden hurdles, including when stepped up to a trip that should have suited better than today's last time out. Has a bit to prove.

Form: 31-97

Nicolosio²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P E Cowley

33/1

Won a couple of Listed races on the Flat in France when the ground was soft and heavy and was also runner-up in a German Group Two (1m3f, good) in 2015. Was off the track for well over a year before his hurdling debut at Sandown last month, which he was entitled to need. Interesting if the market speaks for him in this.

Form: /-

Petrucci⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Garry Lavery⁽⁷⁾| T: D Shaw

80/1

Won a Chelmsford maiden over 1m2f for Sir Michael Stoute, but beaten a long way on all eight starts both on the Flat and over hurdles since joining current yard and impossible to recommend.

Form: /8575-

Salopien¹⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill

50/1

€64,000 purchase who showed nothing in either a bumper or on his hurdling debut in the autumn. Returns after a break with his yard in much better form and should at the very least begin to get the hang of the game today. Market check advised.

Form: 0

Premier Currency^t¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Dave Crosse| T: M Murphy

100/1

Dual handicap winner over a mile on the Flat when with Richard Hannon, though been on the slide for some time in that discipline. Tailed off on his hurdles debut at Kempton in January and plenty to prove.

Form:

Hint Of Grey¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: L P Aspell| T: D E Cantillon

10/1

Minor Lingfield handicap winner last year (1m2f) and rated just 57 in the sphere. Not completely disgraced on either hurdles run so far, but should get a handicap mark after this and likely to show more thereafter.

Form: 562112-

Non-Runners

Unblinking⁸³

Weight: 10-10| Age: 4

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: Hugh Nugent

Forecasts

Azzuri (4/11), Militarian (11/2), Land League (8/1), Hint Of Grey (10/1), Jodies Jem (12/1), Unblinking (16/1), Cosmic King (20/1), Nicolosio (33/1), Salopien (50/1), Petrucci (80/1), Premier Currency (100/1), Absolutely Frankie (250/1)

Dan Skelton looks to have found an opportunity for AZZURI to get off the mark, having pitched him in against much better opposition so far and there seems no reason to oppose him. Nicolosio is a quality Flat performer who could prove dangerous if the penny drops over hurdles this time, while both Jodie's Jem and Cosmic King can go well. Keep an eye on the market with regard to expectations for some other interesting contenders.