18:20 Huntingdon

Tuesday 24 April 2018

All16:3517:1017:4518:2018:5519:3020:00

188Bet Up To 75 Cash Bonus Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:20 | Winning time: 6m 15.8s

Lough Salt²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: R C Guest| OR: 116

17/2

Tends to save his best form for Wetherby and again ran well there last time (2m5½f, soft). Step back up in trip looks a good move as a result and dropped 1lb. Hard to discount despite top weight.

Form: F0-1652

Innisfree Lad²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: David Dennis| OR: 115| BF

12/1

Has improved of late but rise in the weights seemed to take its toll last time at Wincanton. Races off same mark today and handicapper probably has him in his grip for now.

Form: 951323

Reckless Behavior¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 114

15/2

Well backed and won bravely at Market Rasen (2m4½f, heavy) 13 days ago. Up 5lbs for that win and had a tough race that day but hard to discount another brave effort.

Form: 322461

One Forty Seven^v1¹²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 113

16/1

Point-to-point winner who remains a maiden over hurdles. Pulled up when stepped up in trip last time and hard to enthuse over todays longer trip again despite slipping mark and visor going on.

Form: DP3-05P

Hoke Colburn⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 112

16/1

Winner at Southwell (2m4½f, good) before a poor effort over C&D (soft) last time. Hard to believe the 4lb rise was the reason and maybe a return to this better ground will help.

Form: 835-P16

Coeur Pensif^p1⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 112

12/1

Opening mark looked tough on what he had achieved so far over hurdles. Handicapper has cut him some slack and the cheek pieces go on to try and get some improvement.

Form: 2-4F357

Dreamsoftheatre^p,t⁸⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Conor Shoemark| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 111| CD

33/1

Capable performer on his day over fences and hurdles. Won over C&D in October off a 6lb lower mark. Two runs since on soft ground can probably be ignored and back here on a better surface could be a player for yard that won this last year.

Form: 6-42150

Amberjam^p⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 111| CD

11/1

Just lasted home when scoring by a short-head over C&D on his penultimate start in February. Beaten 28L latest, so plenty of further improvement is required.

Form: 2P2215

Thisonetime⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J Martin⁽⁷⁾| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 110

20/1

Struggled over fences and hurdles of late. Switch to this yard not seeming to bring about any improvement latest. Down another 2lb but not convinced that is enough for him to play a big part.

Form: 2434P4

Scooby¹²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 110

10/1

Seems to be best at about this trip and was a touch unlucky off this mark at Fakenham (2m7½f, soft) just before Christmas. Could be a player if fit and ready to go after a four month break. Rider takes off a handy 7lb.

Form: 31P-533

Milord^p²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 110

20/1

Been a little disappointing of late. Small hint last time that his turn may not be too far away having led beaten 11L. Steps up markedly in trip and mark continues to fall. Now 7lb below last winning mark.

Form: 745677

Frozen Flame⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 109

12/1

Three runs in maiden hurdles have not been completely without promise. Steps up in trip today for handicap debut and any market confidence should be noted for shrewd yard that won this last year.

Form: 2-645

Sackett¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: N B King| OR: 108

7/1

Improved of late after good win at Hereford (well backed) he ran well in a better race next time when finishing second to Lord County. Nudged up another 2lbs but hard to say that he won't improve again.

Form: PP3212

Tzar De L'Elfe²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe| OR: 106

25/1

Finished strongly up the hill to win at Sandown (2m4f, soft) off a 3lb lower mark two starts ago. Disappointed next time at Warwick (3m2f, soft). Hard to know what to make of that and not discounted just yet.

Form: 3F3814

Ballintara⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs D Grissell| OR: 106

33/1

Beaten a long way in all three novice hurdles. Makes handicap debut today and moves markedly up in trip. Opening mark not overly friendly but market moves would be significant all the same.

Form: F37-049

Occasionally Yours¹⁸

Age: 14| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Alex Ferguson⁽⁷⁾| T: A Blackmore| OR: 105| C

66/1

Veteran perfomer who won twice in November. Found life tough after a short break at Huntingdon (2m, soft) before a similar performance at Fontwell (2m5½f, soft). Needs to do better to be considered.

Form: 551188

Arthur's Reuben^p,t⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 88

6/1

Best run so far came here (2m4½f, soft) in February. This is a tougher race than that and hard to enthuse.

Form: 9068P4

Non-Runners

Argent Knight⁴¹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 8

T: C N Kellett J: M D Grant

Forecasts

Arthur's Reuben (6/1), Sackett (7/1), Reckless Behavior (15/2), Lough Salt (17/2), Scooby (10/1), Amberjam (11/1), Coeur Pensif (12/1), Frozen Flame (12/1), Innisfree Lad (12/1), One Forty Seven (16/1), Hoke Colburn (16/1), Milord (20/1), Thisonetime (20/1), Tzar De L'Elfe (25/1), Ballintara (33/1), Dreamsoftheatre (33/1), Argent Knight (50/1), Occasionally Yours (66/1)

A very competitve renewal and plenty come here with chances. Reckless Behaviour is hard to discount given his battling qualities and should go well again. Scooby is interesting if fit after a break with his rider taking off 7lbs. Last years winning trainer Jonjo O'Neill has two live chances with both Dreamsoftheatre and FROZEN FLAME. Preference is for the latter who moves in to handicap company off fair mark with the step up in trip expected to suit.