17:15 Huntingdon

Thursday 22 February 2018

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

Smarkets Maiden Hurdle

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 5  |   2m 4f 145y  |   Soft  |   8 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 17:15  |   Winning time: 5m 35.40s
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Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
1
Horse silk
Farmer Boy33
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Hawke
50/1
Related to a couple of winning hurdlers and achieved a bit more last time on second start over hurdles. Gets a handicap mark after this and will be of more interest then.
2
Horse silk
Fawsley Spiritb24
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling
5/1
Unable to match the market principals for speed on his Hereford debut, however there were positives to take from it. He is related to horses who wanted 3m and that appears to be where his future will lie.
3
Horse silk
Little Allstart24
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: S Thomas
33/1
Third in a 3m Irish point-to-point in June but 18L behind Fawsley Spirit last month and so has plenty to find.
4
Horse silk
Lough Ryn90
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| BF
25/1
Form of his bumper debut in Ireland worked out well and no surprise to see him go off favourite on first run for top stable. Ran as though something was amiss and a three month absence seems to confirm that. Best watched in the market.
5
Horse silk
Malachite58
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF
3/1
A half-brother to various winners including Midnight Cowboy and Danceintothelight. Has shown some ability in bumpers without setting the turf alight, but this should be more his game and trip. Stable are 17-54 with their hurdlers here since 2013.
6
Horse silk
Rebel Commander79
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-4| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson
7/1
Has progressed with each bumper outing, albeit at a moderate level. Looks the yard's second string judged on jockey bookings and unproven on ground this soft.
7
Horse silk
Voie Dans Voie21
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-4| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR:  122
4/6
Ex-Irish point-to-pointer from the family of Montbazon. Supported to beat a top-class novice last time and this is clearly a lot easier. Stable took the last running of this and have strong claims of doing so again.
9
Horse silk
Touch Of Velvett37
Age: 6|  Weight: 10-11| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson
50/1
Has only shown moderate ability so far and this looks better than any of the previous races she has contested.

Non-Runners

8
Horse silk
Ebonys Encore63
Weight: 10-11|  Age: 6
T: J & A O'Neill  J: Aidan Coleman
NR

Forecasts

Voie Dans Voie (4/6), Malachite (3/1), Fawsley Spirit (5/1), Rebel Commander (7/1), Ebonys Encore (12/1), Lough Ryn (25/1), Little Allstar (33/1), Touch Of Velvett (50/1), Farmer Boy (50/1)

Verdict

Nicky Henderson does well here and is doubly represented by two of his lesser lights Malachite and Rebel Commander. Both may improve now hurdling over this trip, but the vote has to go to VOIE DANS VOIE. Alan King has his team in great shape and his young horse will find this a lot easier having bumped into the useful Dr Des last time. It was a surprise to see him well-backed to beat a 142 rated rival and this is a less demanding task. Fawsley Spirit shaped well on his hurdling debut, whilst Ebonys Encore and Lough Ryn are probably far better than their latest efforts indicate.
  1. Voie Dans Voie
  2. Fawsley Spirit
  3. Malachite

Prize Money

1st: £3,899.002nd: £1,145.003rd: £572.004th: £286.00

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