15:15 Huntingdon

Friday 26 January 2018

All13:0013:3514:0514:4015:1515:5016:20

Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 6m 41.7s

Taquin Du Seuil³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 155

9/1

Grade 1 winner over fences as a novice and placed over 2m5f in a competitive Grade 3 handicap hurdle at last years Cheltenham Festival. Drops in grade having contested a Grade 1 at Ascot last time out.

Form: 5424-38

Our Kaempfer^t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 138WS

16/1

Successful four times in a 22 race career to date but has become disappointing in recent starts and hopes appear to rest with a recent wind operation having a positive effect today.

Form: U1PP-P7

Protek Des Flos³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137

11/8

Returned to form when successful under a conditional jockey over an extended 2m5f at Wincanton (heavy) a month ago. Hails from a leading stable and is one for the shortlist despite a 5lb rise in the weights.

Form: 2/440-P1

Arthur's Gift²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Humphries⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 136

6/1

Completing a hat-trick when winning on soft ground over 3m at Cheltenham last month and put in a fair effort off this mark when fourth there subsequently. One to note in this contest.

Form: 421114

The Mighty Don³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford| OR: 132| BF

4/1

Put a couple of disappointing efforts behind him when finishing runner-up on good-to-soft ground over an extended 2m5f at Ascot last time out. Stamina to prove off a 5lb higher mark today.

Form: 219-782

Taj Badalandabad^t1,v²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 130| CD

9/1

Four time winner over hurdles but failed to trouble the judge in two starts since returning from a length absence and probably best watched with a visor returning and tongue tie fitted for the first time today.

Form: 141/9-7P

Easter Day²⁴⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Conor Shoemark| T: O Sherwood| OR: 128| C

33/1

In fair form for Henry Spiller when last in action back in the spring including when finishing 5L third over 3m1f at Warwick (good) in May. Making his first stable debut and first racecourse appearance in seven months today.

Form: 94/453-3

Salmanazar⁶⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: A King| OR: 126

16/1

Finished runner-up to Taj Badalandabad at Ascot (good-to-soft) in April 2016. Absent since and market likely to provide the best guide as to expectations on his return from a long absence.

Form: 3514P2/

Forecasts

Protek Des Flos (11/8), The Mighty Don (4/1), Arthur's Gift (6/1), Taj Badalandabad (9/1), Taquin Du Seuil (9/1), Our Kaempfer (16/1), Salmanazar (16/1), Easter Day (33/1)

PROTEK DES FLOS was returning to form when winning at Wincanton last time out and he can register his second victory of the season stepping up in trip today. The selection represents the in form Nicky Henderson (11/31) stable and he is taken to see off his rivals today with Taquin Du Seuil, dropping in grade today capable of finishing runner-up under his big weight while Arthur's Gift can take third as he bids for a fourth win of the season.