14:15 Huntingdon

Thursday 21 February 2019

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

MansionBet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 1.1s

Glorious Boru⁸⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 102

33/1

Point-to-point winner at the 12th attempt on yielding-to-soft ground in Ireland. No show in three novice hurdles and the handicapper has shown him little mercy.

Form: 5-12688

Loud As Lions³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: James Davies| T: T Symonds| OR: 101

11/1

Best run in novice company came on a sound surface. Backed ahead of handicap debut at Ffos Las when the soft ground may have been a factor in the margin of defeat. Conditions forecast to be favourable here.

Form: 48-3F50

Monk's View³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 100

10/1

May have been flattered by his Wincanton fourth in a slowly run affair as his limitations were cruelly exposed last time.

Form: 080-647

Druid's Folly⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: C Fryer| OR: 98| D

14/1

Has been in poor form this winter but claims on last summer's efforts with faster conditions to his liking here.

Form: 2-25386

Hear The Chimes⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S A Harris| OR: 98| C

12/1

Scored at Sedgefield on his first run back from wind surgery but his revised mark proved his undoing next time.

Form: 6-48914

Galactic Power^b1³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Dickin| OR: 98| BF| C| D

13/2

First-time aids inspired a better performance three outings ago but he has looked a hard ride since. Change of headgear may help here, but conditions may be quicker than ideal.

Form: 787246

Age Of Wisdom^p³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 96

9/1

Class 3 winner on the Flat last summer who has not adapted to hurdling. Could be a different story now handicapping in this grade and one to check in the market.

Form: 7-0U7

Zante^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 93

16/1

Made errors when runner-up at Plumpton on penultimate start and a bad blunder on his last start preceded a hasty retreat.

Form: 79-6727

Patience Tony^t⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Aiden Blakemore⁽⁷⁾| T: L Egerton| OR: 90WS

50/1

Kept busy in December when flattering to finish second at Musselburgh prior to disappointing runs on consecutive days. Wind surgery needs to have dramatic effect.

Form: 6352P7

Ermyn's Emerald²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 90| BF

9/2

17-race maiden produced two good runs for this rider last month. Failed to take advantage of an attractive mark last time and 6lb rise kicks in now.

Form: 7-8FF22

Realms Of Fire³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 89

13/2

Winners in the pedigree but few signs so far he can uphold the family tradition. Aimed low on handicap debut and only a market move could ignite interest.

Form: 6-7808

Gamekeeper Bill^p³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Garner| T: A Bailey| OR: 88

20/1

12-race maiden showed fair form in handicap hurdles in the autumn including when 3L second over C&D on good ground in October. Pulled up in first time cheekpieces at Lingfield (good-to-soft) last time out.

Form: 7U264P

Blue Rhythm^b1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: A Ralph| OR: 88

12/1

Claims on his Southwell third in May over 3m. Not in the same form since so bit to prove in first-time blinkers and down in trip.

Form: F-P3066

Western Morning^t,v⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 87

6/1

Proved a different horse on chase debut last week and escapes a penalty here. Previous hurdling form does suggest some caution is needed in assessing his chances.

Form: 35-P451

Keynote⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Armson| OR: 92

50/1

Yet to get competitive in five attempts over hurdles. Mark has been dropped 8lb for this handicap debut and, given a Flat rating of 46, probably has further to fall.

Form: 9B454

Indian Reel^b⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: C R Dore| OR: 74

40/1

Losing sequence is mounting up and the gelding needs to prove he's not just on a slippery slope. Unable to threaten in six starts for this yard and others preferred.

Form: 06F670

Non-Runners

Blazing Glen²⁷

Weight: 10-3| Age: 11

T: A E Jessop J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

Ermyn's Emerald (9/2), Western Morning (6/1), Galactic Power (13/2), Realms Of Fire (13/2), Age Of Wisdom (9/1), Monk's View (10/1), Loud As Lions (11/1), Hear The Chimes (12/1), Blue Rhythm (12/1), Druid's Folly (14/1), Zante (16/1), Gamekeeper Bill (20/1), Glorious Boru (33/1), Indian Reel (40/1), Keynote (50/1), Patience Tony (50/1), Blazing Glen (66/1)

Western Morning sets a poser as he is undoubtedly well-handicapped on the basis of his win over fences. However, with connections confirming he is a different proposition over the bigger obstacles, he is worth opposing here. Loud As Lions was supported for his handicap debut when conditions were softer than ideal and he may be a stronger proposition now, but preference is for AGE OF WISDOM. The winner of a Class 3 Flat handicap over 2m should be better suited to this trip and makes his hurdles handicap bow in modest grade off an attractive mark with his stable in form.