16:20 Huntingdon

Monday 28 May 2018

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Bet & Watch At 188bet.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 4m 58.1s

Gran Maestro^b⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 112

6/1

Won over 2m at Wetherby in January and again ran well at that trip last time out. Runs off same mark and should be thereabouts although has plenty of weight to overcome.

Form: 07216-3

Purple 'n Gold^b¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 108

12/1

Winner of 11 career races, three over hurdles from 28 attempts. Doesn't appear the force of old and dropped a further 2lb following a moderate effort recently after his winter break. Top yard respected but this won't be easy for him.

Form: 5704U-5

Agincourt Reef^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 108| D

14/1

Last win over timber came at Wetherby in December 2016 off a mark of 116. 8lb lower now and rider claims a further 7lb and wasn't disgraced last time out, so not without a chance by any means.

Form: 65469-5

The Groovy Hoovy³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Conor Shoemark| T: O Sherwood| OR: 108WS

14/1

Fair debut when second in Worcester bumper last June but hasn't really built on that yet in four starts over hurdles, Returns following wind surgery so may improve and market would be well worth a check.

Form: 29547-

Samson The Man^h⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: Noel Williams| OR: 107

10/1

Narrowly beaten in Southwell bumper on debut a year ago but has basically been disappointing since then. Eased 4lb following poor handicap debut latest and others make far more appeal.

Form: 765556-

Scented Lily²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 106

9/1

Beaten a length by Norse LIght at Market Rasen in March and still there with a chance when falling at the last at Ludlow three weeks ago. Has claims if recovered from that spill.

Form: 77752-F

Towering^b¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: C R Dore| OR: 105| D

20/1

Two wins in soft ground at this trip last season but has run badly on his last three starts, pulling up quickly on his latest run at Ludlow two weeks ago.

Form: 56177-P

Norse Light^t,v¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 104| C| D

8/1

Length victor over Scented Lily at Market Rasen in March and lost out by just a neck off 4lb higher mark there earlier this month. Further 4lb rise makes life tough but won't be too far away once again.

Form: 23714-2

Echo Express³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 103

7/1

Won Doncaster bumper on debut 15 months ago then failed by only a nose to win on hurdles debut at Kelso in October. Has disappointed on last two starts in testing ground so improvement not ruled out on the expected better surface here.

Form: 1/2367-

Occasionally Yours³⁴

Age: 14| Weight: 11-5| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁷⁾| T: A Blackmore| OR: 102| CD

20/1

Admirable 14-year-old who won twice last season including over C&D. Dropped in the weights following three poor runs since February but a revival not out of the question under his amateur lady rider.

Form: 511880-

Salix¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 105

4/1

French 1m4f Flat winner who struggled in three novice hurdles here but better on handicap bow last time when close fourth at Towcester. Only a 4-year-old, runs off same mark and steps up in trip, so has prospects.

Form: 464-4

Brave Helios^t²⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: R T Phillips| OR: 99

25/1

Stays up to three miles but hasn't won for nearly three years. Ran poorly last three starts in 2017 and returns now following seven-month absence. Hard to get too excited about him.

Form: 7/22658-

Boughtbeforelunch²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: P R Webber| OR: 97

8/1

Second in Warwick bumper on debut last term but mainly disappointing in four runs since then. Not disgraced in midfield on handicap bow last time but much more needed to figure in the finish.

Form: 2/000-7

Non-Runners

Best Practice³²²

Weight: 11-11| Age: 7

T: J & A O'Neill J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Salix (4/1), Best Practice (4/1), Gran Maestro (6/1), Echo Express (7/1), Boughtbeforelunch (8/1), Norse Light (8/1), Scented Lily (9/1), Samson The Man (10/1), Purple 'n Gold (12/1), Agincourt Reef (14/1), The Groovy Hoovy (14/1), Towering (20/1), Occasionally Yours (20/1), Brave Helios (25/1)

SALIX is the choice in a tricky contest. Ben Pauling's youngster showed improved form in his first handicap last time and seems to be getting the hang off things. Echo Express rates a danger now encountering a sound surface, while top weight Gran Maestro has been in fair form and another good display is anticipated. Scented Lily and Norse Light are closely matched on recent running, while Agincourt Reef and Best Practice are others with the potential to improve.