16:50 Huntingdon

Tuesday 16 October 2018

All14:1014:4515:1515:4516:2016:50

racinguk.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:53 | Winning time: 6m 9.2s

Invicta Lake^p¹⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 107| D

40/1

Hasn't won since January 2015 (Grade 3), and amassed a poor completion record over fences in the early part of 2018; dropped 2lb since finishing a distant fifth of six to Brave Eagle at Plumpton (2m4f+) in May; eased in grade.

Form: FU2PU-5

Hepijeu^p,t¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 106| CD

9/4

Unbeaten in two starts for Stuart Edmunds; given a 7lb rise for his 1¼L C&D win earlier this month (Mamoo third); chance he's capable of landing the hat-trick provided conditions don't deteriorate too much.

Form: 25-7P11

Galactic Power¹⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Dickin| OR: 105| C

25/1

Has won at this track previously, but his most recent wins have come in Shropshire at Ludlow (2m5f+ soft); current handicap mark plenty high enough and ended last season with a disappointing effort.

Form: 12413P-

Definitly Grey^p1,t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 104

25/1

Badly out of sorts over fences lately (PUPP5), so reverts to hurdling with cheekpieces added to his usual tongue-tie; 4lb higher than when winning over an extended 2m4f at Southwell (good) in September 2016.

Form: 6PU-PP5

Plantagenet¹⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 103| BF

10/1

Hit a rich vein of form in mid to late 2017 (winning four on the bounce), but the handicapper eventually wrestled back control; pulled up on chasing debut here in May; wouldn't want excessive rain.

Form: U6344-P

Western Storm^t⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: R T Phillips| OR: 103| BF

11/2

Nine-race maiden; inching up the weights after finishing runner up in each of his last two starts (including when ¾L behind Midnight Aurora); likely to race prominently, but could prove vulnerable stamina wise (if conditions deteriorate further).

Form: P4/6522

Mamoo^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryony Frost⁽³⁾| T: N B King| OR: 102

5/1

Newton Abbot (3m2f+) winner in July who appeared to find this trip on the sharp side when finishing in excess of 7L third to Hepijeu over C&D 12 days ago; chance of a reversal on improved terms fairly minimal.

Form: 6-84143

Mauna Kea¹³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Gundry| OR: 94

20/1

12-race maiden; in solid form when last seen in action at Newton Abbot (2m5f+) in June, finishing well from off the pace to get within about 2L of the winner Amour D'Or; couldn't be discounted.

Form: 0004-34

Midnight Aurora²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 94| BF

8/1

Took some time to get her act together for Dan Skelton, but she's headed in the right direction now; 9lb higher than when beating Western Storm by ¾L at Worcester (2m7f, good) in August, but has posted another solid effort since; chance.

Form: 595512

Robin Deuz Pois²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: P R Webber| OR: 93

8/1

Eight-race maiden; finished over 16L fourth to subsequent winner Hepijeu at Uttoxeter (2m7f) last month; has a handy turnaround at the weights today, so fully entitled to go close to reversing that form, especially if sharper for the outing.

Form: 5706-44

Polarbrook^v²³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: D Shaw| OR: 92

33/1

4-50 career; 66/1 and keeping on from off the pace (beaten in excess of 20L) on his first start since December 2017 at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) last month; progress possible, but not good enough.

Form: 45652-4

Indian Reel^p¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: P J Brennan| T: C R Dore| OR: 90

33/1

Had a further 11 starts since his sole win in a 2m novices claiming hurdle (for Fergal O'Brien) at Leicester in January, including when a never competitive 12th of 15 on stable debut (2m3f+) here earlier this month.

Form: 385640

Non-Runners

Perfect Poison³⁴

Weight: 11-10| Age: 10

T: D McCain Jnr J: Theo Gillard

Forecasts

Hepijeu (9/4), Mamoo (5/1), Western Storm (11/2), Midnight Aurora (8/1), Robin Deuz Pois (8/1), Plantagenet (10/1), Perfect Poison (16/1), Mauna Kea (20/1), Galactic Power (25/1), Definitly Grey (25/1), Polarbrook (33/1), Indian Reel (33/1), Invicta Lake (40/1)

The majority of the most relevant form-lines centre around the hat-trick seeking Hepijeu. He is fully respected, and despite a 7lb rise in the weights should come out on top of Mamoo. However, he wouldn't want too much more rain to fall, and is far less certain to confirm the placings with Robin Deuz Pois (from Uttoxeter). Midnight Aurora is on an upward curve for Dan Skelton, and can probably see off old rival Western Storm with that 6yo potentially vulnerable stamina wise late in the race. However, in a tight race, we'll aim a value-based dart at the 12-race maiden MAUNA KEA who shouldn't be hastily dismissed.