14:55 Huntingdon

Thursday 22 February 2018

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Smarkets Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 4m 13.70s

Free Stone Hill^t¹⁰⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 117| D

9/1

Fairly treated on the pick of his hurdling form which has been gained on better ground than is likely this afternoon. Returns from a three month break after an unsuccessful stint over fences.

Form: 2352F3

Sir Egbert^h¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: T Lacey| OR: 115

4/1

Dam was a Listed winner over 2m5f and his future probably lies over further once he has learnt to settle. Has shown enough to be considered a contender and yard are respected enough to make a market move look significant.

Form: 39-363U

Walsingham Grange^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 115| D

11/4

Recently made all to score at Bangor when only needing to run to his usual consistent level. Needs to find more this time off a 7lb higher mark, but still likely to be thereabouts in a modest looking contest.

Form: 56-7321

Shining Romeo¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: D P Quinn| OR: 111| CD

13/2

His last few runs have been eyecatching and he has slipped to an attractive mark. Often attracts support when a top rider is engaged and sole hurdling win came over C&D, so definitely one to keep an eye on here.

Form: 403558

Royal Beekeeper^p³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: C R Dore| OR: 110| D

33/1

Claimed after winning a poor race at Ludlow and his limitations have been exposed on both starts since.

Form: 415138

Catcher On The Go^t1²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 107| D

28/1

All three career win have come at Ffos Las including one on the Flat this summer. Less impressive elsewhere and arrives on the back of three poor runs. Tongue-tie fitted and back to his last winning mark, but probably has to much to prove.

Form: 0/51540

Wenceslaus²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 106

40/1

Has shown bits and pieces of form to suggest he can win a race as bad as this. Mark continues to fall and he would be of interest if attracting support.

Form: 84U306

Marmont^h¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 103| CD

10/3

The fitting of a hood made a massive difference over C&D last time and a 6lb rise seems fair enough. Up in class but facing plenty of horses with questions to answer plus the champion jockey is on board now

Form: 283351

Dyliev^h²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 103

16/1

Multiple winner on soft ground on the Flat in France who has produced a couple of good runs over hurdles. Hard to argue she is well-handicapped based on what she has done this winter, but her Flat form indicates she could be better than that.

Form: 655

Charlie Chaplin²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: James Nixon⁽⁷⁾| T: R Eddery| OR: 108

25/1

Maiden on the Flat and only modest form in four hurdles starts so far. Best effort came on ground significantly quicker than is forecast today.

Form: 6306

Forecasts

Walsingham Grange (11/4), Marmont (10/3), Sir Egbert (4/1), Shining Romeo (13/2), Free Stone Hill (9/1), Dyliev (16/1), Charlie Chaplin (25/1), Catcher On The Go (28/1), Royal Beekeeper (33/1), Wenceslaus (40/1)

Marmont and Walsingham Grange have been found an easy race as they bid to follow up their recent victories. Sir Egbert and Wenceslaus have shown enough to suggest they have the ability to win a race such as this. Both represent yards who are not afraid to have a tilt at the ring so a market check is advised. Another potential springer is SHINING ROMEO. The six-year-old has been held up a long way off the pace in his recent runs and has failed to get in a telling blow. He has dropped to an attractive mark and the jockey booking looks a sign of intent.