13:00 Huntingdon

Thursday 6 February 2020

All13:0013:3114:0114:3115:0515:4016:12

Betway Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 3m 58.17s

Bard Of Brittany^p¹⁰^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 97| D

5/2

Much-improved in first-time cheekpieces (retained) when scoring at Plumpton (2m, heavy) 10 days ago; carries 7lb penalty for that win and should remain competitive if headgear has desired effect again.

Form: 6-38241

Zlatan^h⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: E De Giles| OR: 100WS

40/1

Enigmatic four-time Flat winner, yet to show any worthwhile form in four starts over timber; has undergone a wind operation since December defeat at Hereford and plenty improvement required.

Form: F-000

Strictly Art⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: D P Quinn| OR: 99| D

40/1

Four wins on the level to his name, though not since December 2017; yet to really threaten in four hurdles starts but did show some promise in C&D maiden in November at 50-1; may do better in time.

Form: P/750

Ourmullion^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: David Bass| T: F Brennan| OR: 99

50/1

Formerly trained by David Pipe, 1-16 over timber having won a Newton Abbot novice handicap in July (2m1f, good) but mostly toiling since from higher marks and has to find extra now.

Form: 443068

Swilly Sunset^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 97

11/4

Five-time Flat winner, has shown enough in three hurdles run since joining this trainer to suggest a win is looming; runner-up at Doncaster (2m½f, good to soft) 13 days ago and high on any shortlist here.

Form: 4PP432

Sunday At Augusta⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| OR: 91

25/1

Yet to replicate the promise of Tramore bumper second in April 2018 since arriving in Britain; including in a couple of runs this season after having undergone wind surgery. Others preferred.

Form: P870-56

Say The Word³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 99| BF

9/1

Ludlow hurdles debut in November had some promise in it, well held next time in a better race at Cheltenham but last month's Hereford run (2m, heavy; 2-1jf) was a letdown.

Form: 486

Bonjour Steve^p²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 89

150/1

Lacks the Flat form of a few of these and has so far struggled in all six starts over timber. Can be watched again.

Form: 80564-0

Peripherique³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: J M P Eustace| OR: 98

25/1

Another to have shown modest form on that Flat before transferring to hurdles, well held in three qualifying runs in this sphere and need to improve on switch to handicaps.

Form: 507

Chinwag³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 87

5/2

Stepped up a fair bit on efforts in novice company when fifth at Wincanton (1m7f; soft) in a better race. Been dropped 1lb for that effort, but drops slightly in grade and has place claims at the least on just his second handicap start.

Form: 0005

Midnight Jitterbug²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽³⁾| T: M R Bosley| OR: 84

12/1

16-race maiden, has placed a few times over hurdles but overall form not convincing. Handicap mark is sliding all the while and has come in for market support since joining this trainer.

Form: P33-0F5

Forecasts

Chinwag (5/2), Bard Of Brittany (5/2), Swilly Sunset (11/4), Say The Word (9/1), Midnight Jitterbug (12/1), Peripherique (25/1), Sunday At Augusta (25/1), Zlatan (40/1), Strictly Art (40/1), Ourmullion (50/1), Bonjour Steve (150/1)

Bard Of Brittany was much-improved in this headgear when scoring in the mud at Plumpton recently. He should be fine on this slightly better ground but is perhaps going to need more under his penalty. SWILLY SUNSET was a multiple winner on the level and his recent Doncaster second was another strong hint that his turn isn't far away over hurdles. He had daylight in second spot and can take this under Kielan Woods. Say The Word needs to put a poor run behind but joins Chinwag in having place claims should he do so.