13:00 Huntingdon

Monday 31 May 2021

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:20

Huntingdon Annual Badge Holders Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:02 | Winning time: 3m 52.12s

Can't Say No

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: David England| T: O Murphy

20/1

£20,000 Fame And Glory gelding. From a good yard so needs keeping an eye on in the betting on debut.

Form:

Confab¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: M Goldstein| T: George Baker

200/1

Modest maiden on the Flat. Well held both starts over hurdles this month. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 66

Megamegawhitething^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

66/1

Failed to threaten both starts between the flags and well-held fifth on both runs over hurdles. Likely she's more one for handicaps.

Form: 35/5-5

Normandy Blue¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: L McJannet

250/1

Poor maiden on Flat and well held sole start over hurdles back in October.

Form: 7-

Raihaan¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore

66/1

Fair maiden on Flat in France in 2019 but well held sole run for Ed Dunlop at end of that year and suffered similar fate setting out for this yard recently. Best watched on hurdle debut.

Form:

Robin's Dream⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 131| BF

1/2

Has run to a pretty useful level when runner-up on both completed starts over hurdles. Faces quicker ground conditions here than previously but he sets a good standard.

Form: 52F2-

Art Man³⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

13/2

Fair maiden on the Flat in France last year. Joined a good stable ahead of this hurdle debut and very interesting to see how he goes in the market.

Form:

Astroman¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: Harry Eustace

6/1

Fair winner on the Flat (stays 1½m) and ran to a similar level at second attempt over hurdles when 7 lengths second in Bangor maiden 16 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up again.

Form: 5-2

Global Protektor

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

15/2

Blue Bresil gelding. Dam (h115), 17f-19f hurdle winner, half-sister to fairly useful chaser (stays 2½m) Cybalko. Newcomer from a leading stable. Betting should help guide to expectations.

Form:

Sammeo¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

100/1

Has hinted at ability in a bumper and 2 maiden hurdles but looks more one for handicaps after this.

Form: 6-77

Libbdan²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Reed| T: N P Mulholland

200/1

Modest in bumpers and distant fourth on completed start over hurdles this spring. Likely outsider.

Form: 28/4-P

Mini Crest²³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy

25/1

Much better effort over hurdles when runner-up at Chepstow in October, albeit beaten 23 lengths. First outing for 7 months.

Form: 53362-

Legendary Grace¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford

33/1

Just modest form in bumpers and well-held sixth on Wincanton hurdle debut 19 days ago. Unlikely to be of real interest this side of handicaps.

Form: 22R50-6

Forecasts

Robin's Dream (1/2), Astroman (6/1), Art Man (13/2), Global Protektor (15/2), Can't Say No (20/1), Mini Crest (25/1), Legendary Grace (33/1), Megamegawhitething (66/1), Raihaan (66/1), Sammeo (100/1), Libbdan (200/1), Confab (200/1), Normandy Blue (250/1)

It's hard to see past ROBIN'S DREAM who sets the bar pretty high for a race like this. Astroman translated his fair Flat ability to hurdles when second at Bangor recently and could be the one to follow the selection home unless the betting speaks strongly in the favour of hurdle newcomers from good yards Art Man and/or Global Protektor.