14:00 Huntingdon

Thursday 10 May 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:4517:15

Smarkets Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:02 | Winning time: 3m 50.80s

Hattaab¹⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: T R George| OR: 111

12/1

Hit the frame in two of his three starts in bumpers, but has not quite translated that promise to hurdles. Stiff enough mark on handicap debut.

Form: 2/25687-

Bardd³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 109| BF| D

7/2

Bumper and AW Flat winner who hits the frame on a regular basis over hurdles, but sometimes flatters to deceive. Possibilities off this career-low mark on ground which should suit.

Form: 222/343-

Blazon²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 109| BF| D

7/2

Has shown ability over hurdles on more than one occasion, but was pulled up at an early stage at Ludlow on Tuesday when his saddle slipped. Started favourite there and interesting he is brought out again so soon.

Form: 50244-P

Working Class¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁷⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 110

20/1

Definite promise over timber, but can take a keen hold and needs to learn to settle. Beaten when unseating after the last over C&D last time, but has the talent to get involved on his first run in a handicap.

Form: 3B5U-

Cap St Vincent³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 106

11/1

Two runs for this stable since leaving Paul Nicholls and the latest was probably his best effort. Another who may improve now he is handicapping.

Form: 0/943-

Friary Gold¹⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price| OR: 105

20/1

Irish import who has been well beaten on two starts since joining this stable. Plenty to prove in handicap company for the first time.

Form: 3/26569-

Cosmic King^h²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 105| BF

7/2

Formerly trained by Richard Phillips, he was having his first run for this stable after a long absence when fourth of 14 in a Southwell handicap over 2m4f last month. May be suited by this drop in trip and should strip fitter.

Form: 7756/74-

Way Out West^h,t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 104

8/1

Bumper winner who has failed to hit the frame in four starts over timber, the latest in a handicap for the first time. Needs more off 3lb lower.

Form: 105986-

St Patrick's Day^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 104

25/1

Signs of talent in maiden/novice company over hurdles. Handicap debut, but probably best watched until showing a little more.

Form: 3F45-

First Up^p1,t⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: W T Kennedy| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 107

66/1

Runner-up in a Market Rasen juvenile hurdle in December, his only placing in four starts over timber. Down the field on the Flat last time and has questions to answer in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 5625-

Free Bounty^t¹¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 100| D

50/1

Unplaced in six starts over hurdles, three of them in handicap company. Tailed off on the Flat at Southwell when last seen in January and is hard to make a case for.

Form: 5/55947-

Candyman Can^h¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: L Hurley| OR: 98

20/1

Out of the frame in five starts over timber, but did show a little more over C&D last time. Others boast stronger profiles.

Form: 954/P4-

Figeac^b1,t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 99

18/1

Unplaced in four runs over hurdles, latterly in a Taunton handicap. Down 1lb and needs to take a big step forward fitted with blinkers for the first time.

Form: 86936-

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

Hello Bertie¹⁶⁷

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: Ruth Jefferson J: B S Hughes

Mountain Path¹⁷⁰

Weight: 11-9| Age: 5

T: J & A O'Neill J: N P Madden

Forecasts

Cosmic King (7/2), Blazon (7/2), Bardd (7/2), Hello Bertie (4/1), Way Out West (8/1), Mountain Path (10/1), Cap St Vincent (11/1), Hattaab (12/1), Figeac (18/1), Working Class (20/1), Friary Gold (20/1), Candyman Can (20/1), St Patrick's Day (25/1), Free Bounty (50/1), First Up (66/1)

There is little doubt that Bardd is talented enough to win this off this rating, but he cannot seem to get his head in front over hurdles and that might be the case again given there are one or two rivals who might have more resolution and may have got in this off competitive marks. Blazon, Working Class and Cosmic King fall into that category, but the selection is HELLO BERTIE, who hails from an in-form yard and is making his handicap debut following wind surgery. Mountain Path is another to consider.