13:41 Huntingdon

Thursday 20 February 2020

All13:4114:1114:4115:1115:4116:1116:41

Betway Novices' Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 13:43 | Winning time: 4m 11.45s

Shall We Go Now^t⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| D

13/8

Returning from well over 18 months off the track when making a winning hurdling debut in a maiden event over an extended 2m at Taunton 9soft) last month. Penalised for that success and is one for the shortlist in this contest.

Form: 3602/1

Call Off The Dogs⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

33/1

Best effort in three starts over hurdles came when finishing 24L third in a five runner maiden contest over an extended 2m4f at Plumpton (heavy) in December. Drop in trip looks likely to suit and he is interesting on his return from a break.

Form: 9-73

Del Duque

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: David England| T: O Murphy

7/1

Unraced Fame And Glory gelding purchased for €20,000 as a three-year-old at the sales in June 2018. Half-brother to dual winner Red Rouble among others and he is worth a check in the market on racecourse debut.

Form:

Northern Poet⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford| BF| D

5/1

Winner of an AW bumper on debut at Lingfield in November and has run well under a penalty in two bumpers over the same C&D subsequently. Interesting contender on first start over hurdles.

Form: 124

Rock On Rocco²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: T R George

9/2

Returning from a break when finishing 8½L third in a novice hurdle over an extended 2m at Doncaster (good-to-soft) last month. Winner has registered a victory subsequently and he is a leading contender in this event.

Form: P/33-7P3

Soldier To Follow³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes

20/1

Soft ground Flat winner at Hamilton (1m4f) in September 2018 and held every chance when falling on stable and hurdling debut at Fontwell (heavy) over an extended 2m1f in December. Disappointed at Lingfield (2m, heavy) last time out however.

Form: F5

The Rosary Flyer²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

40/1

Failed to figure in two starts to date most recently when 50L seventh over an extended 1m7f at Wincanton (soft) when making his hurdling debut three weeks ago. Improvement needed if he's to take this race.

Form: 07

Lady Of The Night^t⁶⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

7/2

Placed in a couple of mares bumpers in early 2018 prior to finishing down the field in a 2m1f event at Cheltenham (good) that April. Worth a check in the market on hurdling debut following over 20 months off the track.

Form: 320/

Vicky Cristina¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Holt

250/1

23 race maiden under all codes and was beaten 52L when tenth in a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) on her jumping debut earlier this month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 0

Picture Poet³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: C Gethings| T: H Spiller

100/1

21 race maiden on the Flat and was beaten 4L off a mark of 52 in a 1m4f handicap at Kempton a month ago when last in action in that sphere. Probably best watched on debut over hurdles.

Form:

Meryems Way^p⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: Mrs L C Jewell

250/1

Dual Flat winner at Gowran Park last spring but unseated rider at Lingfield (2m, heavy) on last months hurdles debut and others look more reliable propositions at present.

Form: U

Forecasts

Shall We Go Now (13/8), Lady Of The Night (7/2), Rock On Rocco (9/2), Northern Poet (5/1), Del Duque (7/1), Soldier To Follow (20/1), Call Off The Dogs (33/1), The Rosary Flyer (40/1), Picture Poet (100/1), Vicky Cristina (250/1), Meryems Way (250/1)

ROCK ON ROCCO ran well when third behind a subsequent winner last time out and he can register his first career success by taking division one of the novices' hurdle. The selection can get the better of the penalised Shall We Go Now who was victorious last time out while third place can go to Call Off The Dogs who is likely to appreciate this drop in trip.