16:10 Huntingdon

Thursday 5 October 2017

All13:3014:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:4517:15

32Red Casino Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 38.35s

Sweeping Rock^p³²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-1| J: J E Moore| T: J L Spearing| OR: 101

12/1

In decent nick over the summer months, and was driven right out to score by 5L from a 7lb lower mark at Worcester in June (2m novices handicap good). Kept on the go whilst the ground remains good, but vulnerable off this mark.

Form: 2-71273

Number One London²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 98

5/2

Doesn't win all that often, but posted a decent effort when beaten 1½L by subsequent winner Zamoyski at Southwell last month (2m4f+ good), and ought to prove competitive despite a rising mark.

Form: 0/9P7-52

Ermyn's Emerald¹⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 97

66/1

Nine race maiden who is yet to cut the mustard over hurdles, and has dropped 11lb since being allocated a handicap mark. Back from a break, and that might help, but significant improvement needed.

Form: 69704-P

Tiradia^p⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 96| C

12/1

Two of his four career successes have come at this track (2m), but he has been clobbered by the handicapper with an 8lb rise for his August Market Rasen success (2m2f+ good). Stamina a slight concern.

Form: 58-4731

Sissinghurst^t1¹⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 95

3/1

Not the strongest thus far for Nick Gifford, and a hat-trick of P's suggests some problems. However, tongue tied for the first time on his stable debut, and if some minor physical tweaks have been made, he could well step forward sharply.

Form: 436PPP-

Anton Dolin³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 90| D

8/1

Has endured plenty of racing since his Ludlow success in April (2m good), yet still remains 4lb above his last winning mark. His recent placed efforts are fair, and this isn't the strongest of contests, so holds similar claims of being placed.

Form: 435433

Distant Sound^b¹³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: David Noonan| T: A Wintle| OR: 83

33/1

Not won since May 2016, and a profile of 1 from 29 under rules significantly tempers enthusiasm. However, theoretically on a winning mark and the ground is ideal, so worth a glance on stable debut if support arrives.

Form: 24F30-4

John Biscuit¹¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 81

25/1

Beaten just over 2L when to Tiradia over 2m here in March, and has been dropped 3lb since that run. Dismal when last in action at Uttoxeter in June, but has won fresh in the past, and this trip could suit.

Form: 71535-0

Ujagar³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: S Bowen| T: K Bishop| OR: 78

8/1

His sole hurdles success came in a Taunton seller in April (2m½f good), and that's probably about his level. He generally struggles in better races, and although finishing third at Stratford in August, he was beaten almost 11L by a moderate winner.

Form: 15-0938

Silva Samourai^t1³⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 77

7/1

13 race maiden for previous trainer Susan Corbett, and was moved on cheaply (£2,000) in January. Makes his stable debut (second start in a handicap over hurdles) wearing a first time tongue tie.

Form: 89/P58P-

Forecasts

Number One London (5/2), Sissinghurst (3/1), Silva Samourai (7/1), Anton Dolin (8/1), Ujagar (8/1), Sweeping Rock (12/1), Tiradia (12/1), John Biscuit (25/1), Distant Sound (33/1), Ermyn's Emerald (66/1)

Lots of 'ifs' and 'but's' in a race where the more fancied horses are slowly climbing the weights without necessarily appearing to be overly progressive. Sweeping Rock is an obvious case in point, and whilst he's reliable, he's most certainly vulnerable off top-weight, whilst Market Rasen winner Tiradia needs to fully prove himself over this trip. Number One London looks solid with his latest from franked by Tuesday's Southwell winner Zamoyski, but a real chance is taken on the now Fergal O'Brien trained SISSINGHURST. He is unexposed in handicaps, and the application of a tongue tie suggests some tinkering with his breathing, so hailing from a very shrewd yard, he could prove well placed to step forward markedly on his stable debut in a very winnable contest.