15:30 Huntingdon

Sunday 3 November 2019

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:05

Fairfax Saddles Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 20.0s

The Happy Chappy^b,t²⁰¹

17/2

Hasn't raced over hurdles for two-and-a-half years and remains on same mark. Has won a couple of chases in the interim but not seen since pulling up on final start last term in the Devon National.

Form: 47623P-

Costante Via^t²⁴⁴

5/1

Placed in all three starts last season when trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. Makes debut for new handler following wind surgery and eight-month absence. Chance if op has had the desired effect.

Form: 645/322-

Silent Encore^p,t¹⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: B I Case| OR: 95

4/1

16-race maiden who went close on penultimate start last term in staying handicap hurdle but was poor third there off 2lb higher mark time after. Not seen since and may well be better for this first run back.

Form: 74PP-23

Robyndzone^p,t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 94

11/4

Eight races without success although has shown some ability. Stopped very quickly though at Southwell last month on seasonal return and needs to do much better here to trouble the judge. Yard continues in great form.

Form: 068-224

Mr Love^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 91

2/1

Ran 13 times for Lucy Wadham without managing to win. Joined current yard in August and has run twice since then, finishing fourth last time over 2m4f . Yet to convince he stays this trip in a truly run race.

Form: U476-04

Simply Lucky^p,t³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: M E Sowersby| OR: 80

18/1

Won over nearly 3m at Uttoxeter in June and solid second back there in penultimate start in September. Probably unsuited by soft ground at Hexham last time and has a chance here if rain stays away.

Form: 165725

Ring Minella^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: J E Moore| T: P Henderson| OR: 77| D

33/1

Failed to finish on all three starts this year, most recently pulling up when well behind at Worcester last month. 2lb out of the handicap and is hard to enthuse over.

Form: 164FP-P

Okmyway^p⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: L Treadwell| T: H J Evans| OR: 67

66/1

12lb out of the handicap so starting at a considerable disadvantage. Has run poorly most starts and was well beaten at Warwick in Septemeber on most recent start. Very difficult to recommend.

Form: 50P-PU8

Non-Runners

Dr Time¹⁵

Weight: 11-3| Age: 7

T: T Symonds J: Benjamin Poste

Mid Day Gun¹⁹²

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

Mr Love (2/1), Robyndzone (11/4), Silent Encore (4/1), Dr Time (9/2), Costante Via (5/1), The Happy Chappy (17/2), Mid Day Gun (12/1), Simply Lucky (18/1), Ring Minella (33/1), Okmyway (66/1)

They all have questions to answer in this staying handicap hurdle but if the wind operation has done the trick it wouldn't surprise to see CONSTANTE VIA go very close on his first start for Jonjo O'Neill. Mr Love hails from a top yard but is difficult to win with and is not yet proven over this trip, and while Dr Time's fitness is pretty much guaranteed he is a bit of a plodder and could be found out in the closing stages once again. Mid Day Gun is not without hope, and with his yard in great form Robyndzone cannot be ruled out of the equation.