15:05 Huntingdon

Thursday 6 February 2020

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

Betway Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 4m 50.07s

Virgilio^t⁴⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 144| D

33/1

Was in good form over fences when last spotted in 2018; has an absence to defy on return but handicapper has certainly cut him some slack going back over timber.

Form: PF/113P-

Messire Des Obeaux¹⁰³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: A King| OR: 140| D

5/1

Three hurdles wins during the winter of 2016; hasn't been sighted since good third behind Finian's Oscar in Aintree Grade 1 novice in 2017. Betting should prove informative.

Form: 111233/

Settie Hill⁶⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137| D

10/1

Another with a long absence to overcome; he was in winning form at Newton Abbot in the summer of 2018 when last spotted. In very capable hands as he bids to belatedly follow up from this 5lb higher mark (stable jockey rides Colonial Dreams).

Form: 182/1U1-

Colonial Dreams⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137| D

7/1

Ended last season with 2m4f success around Sandown, a third hurdles win. Perhaps too keen on reappearance at Newbury in December; seemingly the preferred choice of Nico de Boinville here and should do better.

Form: 26251-8

Didtheyleaveuoutto⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Gifford| OR: 132WS

5/1

Won his first two starts over hurdles (both 2m, good) last season but then failed to build further in three 2019 starts (all in good races); has undergone wind surgery since and handicapper cuts some slack.

Form: 1159-00

Tea Clipper⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: T Lacey| OR: 130| C

7/4

Unbeaten in a point-to-point and three hurdles, showing further improvement when landing a handicap here in December from Magic Dancer. Up 5lb for that, but remains totally unexposed, and seems sure to go well over new trip.

Form: 1-111

Cervaro Mix⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: G Sheehan| T: O Sherwood| OR: 127| CWS

8/1

Winner over hurdles/fences last spring at 2m/2m3½f on good ground; not at his best in three starts this term but previous course winner could do better having undergone wind operation since; might prefer better surface.

Form: 51-1396

Linger¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 126

100/1

Winner for Joseph O'Brien at Cork in October before joining current connections; handicapper appears to have him in his grasp and remains best watched for the moment.

Form: 1F1U89

Sleep Easy^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 122

25/1

Winner of a Taunton seller in November and has shown some promise in three runs for new trainer, in stronger company than has been the case however and likely does well to get a place.

Form: 401926

Cristal Spirit²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: M Goldstein| T: J R Boyle| OR: 120| D

20/1

Much-improved when opening hurdles account at third time of asking in taking 2m3½f heavy-ground Lingfield maiden last month (form modest); likely going to require another step forward on handicap debut.

Form: 301

Forecasts

Tea Clipper (7/4), Messire Des Obeaux (5/1), Didtheyleaveuoutto (5/1), Colonial Dreams (7/1), Cervaro Mix (8/1), Settie Hill (10/1), Cristal Spirit (20/1), Sleep Easy (25/1), Virgilio (33/1), Linger (100/1)

A field full of proverbial landmines. The top three on the racecard are all returning from absences and had shown solid talent before those breaks. Any money in their favour would be noted, in particular MESSIRE DES OBEAUX, three years absent, given his leading owners have stuck with him. Tea Clipper is a perfect 3-3 since going over timber and a 5lb rise for that latest of those wins here in December is no certainty to halt him, while Nico de Boinville is seemingly forgiving of a poor showing from Colonial Dreams at Newbury in December. A wind operation may assist the talented Didtheyleaveuoutto in a race where small stakes are advised.