11:55 Huntingdon

Saturday 23 November 2019

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

Gravitas Magazine Maiden Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 11:56 | Winning time: 3m 59.20s

Adjourned^t²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Ned Curtis⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| D

10/11

Joined this yard for a £110,000 after making the perfect start to his career when winning a Southwell (2m; good) bumper last October. Made a promising hurdles debut when second at Stratford (2m; soft) last month. Every chance of going one better.

Form: 14-2

Arkyn¹⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| D

8/1

Makes seasonal/hurdles debut after enjoying a productive campaign in bumpers last season. Entitled to figure prominently given what he has showed to date. Top stable among the winners at present, and he is a major contender.

Form: 5315-5

Financial Conduct^t1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann

5/2

Posted a very promising second on hurdles debut at Ludlow (2m5f; good to soft) back in January. Returned to action with another encouraging effort when fifth at Ascot (2m; good to soft). Highly likely to give another good account of himself.

Form: 2-5

Hidden Depths^b¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland

100/1

In trouble from a long way out when tailed off on second hurdles start at Kempton (2m; good) recently. Subsequently has masses to prove off the back of that, and can only be watched until showing vastly more encouragement.

Form: 70

Radjash^t⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Carroll

50/1

14-race maiden on the flat who now starts out over hurdles. Yard in good form, but difficult to see him figuring prominently in this given how little he achieved on the level. Watching brief advised.

Form:

Roar⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: W T Kennedy| T: E De Giles

33/1

Suffered a heavy defeat on hurdles debut at Taunton (2m; good) recently. He will need to have improved by some way to figure in this contest which doesn't look any easier. Another quiet showing expected.

Form: 9

Starsky¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls

7/1

Slightly underwhelming on hurdles debut at Wincanton (2m; good) recently. However, this looks a little less competitive, and he showed enough in bumpers to suggest he can be productive over obstacles. Definite player.

Form: 23-6

Strictly Art¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: D P Quinn| D

50/1

Had first start over hurdles for almost two years when seventh over C&D just 11 days ago. Qualifies for a handicap mark after this, and that looks to be where his future lies. Subsequently opposed for now.

Form: P/7

Northern Princess^h1²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham

14/1

Winless in four starts in National Hunt Flat Races. Now has first start over obstacles. Likely to have a future in this sphere, but she looks more of a handicap project at present.

Form: 206-8

Principia⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: Lee Edwards| T: A West

125/1

0-12 on the flat. Makes hurdles debut. Will need to improve by quite some way to figure here. Last seen finishing down the field on the AW in a low-grade handicap at Kempton (1m4f; standard to slow).

Form:

Aleatoric¹⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: E J Walsh| T: Martin Smith

100/1

Switches to hurdles after failing to make an impact in three starts on the flat. Very unlikely to play a significant role, as others have more pressing claims. Readily opposed for the time being.

Form:

Non-Runners

Pourmorechampagne¹⁵²

Weight: 10-7| Age: 3

T: P R Webber J: J M Quinlan

Forecasts

Adjourned (10/11), Financial Conduct (5/2), Starsky (7/1), Arkyn (8/1), Northern Princess (14/1), Pourmorechampagne (20/1), Roar (33/1), Strictly Art (50/1), Radjash (50/1), Hidden Depths (100/1), Aleatoric (100/1), Principia (125/1)

Plenty in this opening contest are making their debuts over obstacles after achieving very little on the flat, and so they can be ruled out with confidence. Starsky showed promise on his hurdles debut at Wincanton, and it would be disappointing if weren't more competitive this time round. After having a run over obstacles back in May, Arkyn should have improved plenty from that and also be able to feature prominently. However, the vote goes to ADJOURNED whose team are in-form at present, and he can go one better after a highly encouraging hurdles debut when runner-up to a potentially above-average sort.