13:05 Huntingdon

Saturday 23 November 2019

All11:5512:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

DRC Blinds Lady Riders' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:07 | Winning time: 3m 57.1s

Chelsea Flyer⁴⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 121

25/1

Not been seen since falling in August 2018 at Stratford (2m6f; good) on chasing debut. Now makes seasonal/stable debut, and is respected but may need this both physically and mentally after such a long time off.

Form: 650/35F-

Haafapiece³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Miss Gina Andrews⁽³⁾| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 120| D

8/1

Given a month off since finishing second to the in-form Trapper Peak at Fakenham (2m4f; good) on seasonal reappearance. Drops back in trip to 2m, and is 10lb above last winning mark. Will need the rain to stay away.

Form: 4-54232

Ashutor²⁴⁵

5/1

Endured a slightly frustrating time of things for this yard last season. Now makes handicap/seasonal debut, and it would be a surprise were he not capable of going close. Main rivals have fitness edge over him though.

Form: 22F3-

Don Juan Du Gouet³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Alice Stevens⁽⁷⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 115| D

7/2

Things have clicked over hurdles recently, and he has been given a break after notching a pair of victories within four days last month. 13lb higher than for the first of those wins, but he has to go close in his bid for the hat-trick.

Form: 588-911

Illustrissime^h¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Lucy Alexander| T: M Walford| OR: 114| D

18/1

Bit disappointing at Musselburgh (2m; soft) when last seen. Balance of his hurdles form overall would leave him with a bit to find on handicap debut. Difficult to enthuse over, and he needs to step up to feature.

Form: 1234

Furiously Fast³²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss Jodie Hughes⁽⁷⁾| T: D Burchell| OR: 114| D

20/1

Makes return from 322-day break, and was last seen running terribly at Kempton (1m4f; standard to slow) in January. However, he evidently has ability, as shown when fifth over C&D in a hot handicap back in December.

Form: 2121/55-

Thaqaffa³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Lucy K Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 113

18/1

Never finished out of the placings in any of his runs over hurdles, prior to posting a well-below par effort at Ludlow (2m; good) last month. That run can be forgiven, as he had previously finished runner-up over C&D on return to hurdles.

Form: 23328

Lightly Squeeze¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Miss A B O'Connor⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 112| BF

7/4

Has shown plenty of promise without winning over hurdles in six starts. Well-supported again (sent off 2/1f) when runner-up at Warwick (2m; good to soft) on seasonal return. 3lb rise looks more than fair, and he should be bang there again.

Form: 444/43-2

Solstalla^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: D Weston| OR: 99| D

16/1

Solid efforts posted at Taunton (2m/2m3f; good) the last twice. 4lb below last winning mark, but there are a whole host of potential improvers up against her here which slightly tempers enthusiasm. Receives weight from all eight of her rivals.

Form: 7-53733

Forecasts

Lightly Squeeze (7/4), Don Juan Du Gouet (7/2), Ashutor (5/1), Haafapiece (8/1), Solstalla (16/1), Thaqaffa (18/1), Illustrissime (18/1), Furiously Fast (20/1), Chelsea Flyer (25/1)

An open-looking handicap which can go the way of the hat-trick seeking DON JUAN DU GOUET who justified favouritism in ready fashion last month. He has since been given a short break, and can make light of this 6lb higher mark at the chief expense of some lightly raced rivals. Lightly Squeeze is one of those, who is beginning to prove expensive to follow. However, he should again be bang there after a respectable reappearance effort when second at Warwick. Things didn't go to plan for Ashutor in what was his first season in Britain last year, but now he has had the summer to strengthen up, he should enjoy a productive season in handicaps and can finish in the placings.