15:40 Huntingdon

Thursday 6 February 2020

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

Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 6m 28.38s

Cracker Jak⁷³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: R P McLernon| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 106

7/1

Winner over 3m at Newbury last March and scored again over shorter next time out at Exeter in April; not really threatened in three runs this term but mark sliding and possibilities back up in trip after short break.

Form: 211-547

Farm The Rock^t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Katy Price| OR: 106

14/1

Dual winner at 2m7f on good ground at Bangor and Exeter in November 2018; some useful form over fences last spring as well but two runs this term a worry (both soft). Up in distance and better ground may suit.

Form: 342-P00

Peter's Portrait⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 103

9/2

2018 point-to-point winner; making steady if unspectacular progress in six-race hurdles career. Second at Catterick last time over this sort of trip and should go well from an unchanged mark.

Form: F4-3352

Connect Four¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 102

16/1

Lightly-raced sort, doesn't have form in the book to match a few of these but early days yet and should be fitter now; bred to appreciate this sort of trip.

Form: 083-87

Mister Murchan¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| OR: 102| D

9/2

Making progress this winter now stepped up to trips around the 3m mark; duly of the mark at Plumpton last month and 4lb rise in ratings far from prohibitive at a course where he has run well before; contender.

Form: 244421

Miss Mash²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: H D Daly| OR: 98

40/1

2-28 record over timber tells a tale, not the most reliable of jumpers and has something to prove over this sort of trip too; others preferred.

Form: 3-U8469

Whiskey Moon^t⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: M D Grant| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 95

33/1

Point-to-point winner in the distant past, missed 765 days following a wide-margin defeat in 2m novice hurdle here in 2017; well held both starts since return and needs big step forward going up in distance.

Form: 4135-P0

Briery Bunny^h³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 91

33/1

Unconvincing form in five hurdles starts for two trainers; with little impact made in three runs this winter for new yard. Must improve for this longer trip.

Form: 067-0P6

The Composeur⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 91

10/3

A €72,000 purchase, the Mahler gelding hasn't shown too much in three qualifying runs but could be an improver now upped in distance and sent handicapping with yard in good form; check betting.

Form: 21-778

Gustav^p⁸⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 89

100/1

Dual chase winner from 2m1½f-2m5f, both on good to soft (handles it softer). Only seen once since May 2018, when pulled up on his reappearance at Lingfield in November. On a fair mark back over hurdles but clearly with something to prove.

Form: 1331/8-P

Stonebrigg Legend¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 79| BF

9/2

In the money all four starts this season, three times finishing second over hurdles/fences including over C&D; good effort last month at Fakenham over timber but this is tougher on paper.

Form: 5-62223

Eaton Miller³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 75| C

12/1

Winner over fences here in April on good ground; hit and miss since but last month's second behind Ballybreen at Hereford stands up with winner twice winning since. Rated 5lb higher back over hurdles.

Form: 3-BUP52

Forecasts

The Composeur (10/3), Mister Murchan (9/2), Stonebrigg Legend (9/2), Peter's Portrait (9/2), Cracker Jak (7/1), Eaton Miller (12/1), Farm The Rock (14/1), Connect Four (16/1), Briery Bunny (33/1), Whiskey Moon (33/1), Miss Mash (40/1), Gustav (100/1)

A switch to handicaps could bring about improvement in The Composeur, a €72,000 purchase representing the in-form Jonjo O'Neill string. Eaton Miller found only a thriving rival too good over fences last month and can go well despite being rated higher in this code while the consistent Peter's Portrait should give another good account. MISTER MURCHAN has really taken to the task this season upped in distance and, a winner at Plumpton 17 days ago, his 4lb rise is far from prohibitive in this follow-up attempt.