13:35 Huntingdon

Tuesday 22 December 2020

All12:0512:3513:0513:3514:0514:3515:0515:35

Fitzdares Thanks Lily O'Shea This Christmas Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:36 | Winning time: 5m 22.1s

Adjourned^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 109

16/1

Won a bumper on debut for James Bethell but has generally been disappointing since. However did take a step back in the right direction when fourth at Leicester last month and he may build on that.

Form: 4/2F4-P4

Zhiguli²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 109

5/2

Has shown ability in maiden/novice events, and shaped as if this mark could well be in his grasp when third on his handicap bow at Lingfield 3 weeks ago. Has plenty of physical scope and may improve.

Form: U69-673

Bells Of Peterboro³⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 107| D

25/1

Confirmed previous encouragement when scoring in a handicap at Market Rasen 12 months ago but may prove tough to defy a rise back from an 12-month absence.

Form: 0/73U21-

Project Mars^p⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 106| CD

8/1

Steadily progressive hurdler who has been successful on both previous outings over C&D, including last time, and he's fancied to be in the mix again up 4 lb here.

Form: 213-331

Malachys Girl³⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 105

9/1

Point winner who has shown plenty to work on in a bumper/over hurdles. Unable to get competitive from stiff opening mark in February (kicked before start) so is worth another chance for her new yard.

Form: 1544/50-

Dragonfruit⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ross Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 105

4/1

Got off the mark sent chasing (and handicapping) after 7 weeks off at Carlisle 9 days ago. Step up in trip looks sure to suit and he's high on the shortlist switched back over timber.

Form: P-48451

Espion De Saflo⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: David Noonan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 104

40/1

Progressive over hurdles in France but hasn't fared so well for current yard, taking a strong hold both starts this season. Drops in class.

Form: 4FP3-88

Severus Alexander^t,v1¹¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: C Hobson| OR: 104

125/1

Well beaten in handicap hurdles on final 2 outings for Gavin Cromwell in Ireland and remains to be seen if a change of yard makes any difference. Visored first time with tongue tie refitted.

Form: 044-P0P

Great Hall³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: M Quinn| OR: 103| C

13/2

Course winner who arrives on the back of a creditable fourth here but is vulnerable to better handicapped rivals.

Form: 552-444

Shanroe Tic Tec^b³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 102| C

10/1

Course winner who arrives on the back of his best effort for some time, second of 11 in handicap at Market Rasen (16.6f, good, 7/2) last month. Harsh 4 lb rise for that but he seems on the way back.

Form: 49-8052

Frisco Bay^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 102

9/1

Well-bred ex-pointer who left previous hurdling efforts behind when runner-up at Bangor on seasonal/handicap debut after wind op. Went backwards from that at Chepstow a month later. Each-way claims.

Form: 6097-27

Lady Sally²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: A Ralph| OR: 102

20/1

Point winner who stepped up plenty on her reappearance run after another 7 weeks off when third at Leicester just over 3 weeks ago. Mark eases a touch further and she's worth keeping an eye on.

Form: 1085-93

Counteract⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 84

33/1

Minor promise only in 5 starts including on return at Fontwell and makes handicap debut with little appeal.

Form: 5066-0

Non-Runners

Classic Tune²¹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 10

T: Miss C Dyson J: Charlie Hammond

Ermyn's Emerald²²

Weight: 10-3| Age: 8

T: P Phelan J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Zhiguli (5/2), Dragonfruit (4/1), Great Hall (13/2), Project Mars (8/1), Classic Tune (8/1), Frisco Bay (9/1), Malachys Girl (9/1), Shanroe Tic Tec (10/1), Adjourned (16/1), Ermyn's Emerald (16/1), Lady Sally (20/1), Bells Of Peterboro (25/1), Counteract (33/1), Espion De Saflo (40/1), Severus Alexander (125/1)

DRAGONFRUIT made a winning chasing/handicap debut at Carlisle 9 days ago, presented with the sort of test he's bred to relish. This step up in trip looks sure to suit and he's taken to follow up quickly switched back over timber. Project Mars goes really well round here and he's an obvious danger having scored over C&D 6 weeks ago, ahead of Zhiguli and Shanroe Tic Tec.