Fairfax Saddles Sponsors Huntingdon Trainer Championship Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:47 | Winning time: 3m 44.6s

Sage Advice²¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Luke Scott⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 110| D

8/1

Now 17 lb lower in the weights compared to when sixth of 22 in the Fred Winter at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival. Would clearly be a big threat if reproducing that level of form but he needs to bounce back in a major way having offered little last season.

Form: 36/5966-

Geometrical^t¹²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: K Brogan| T: T Lawes| OR: 110

10/1

Useful on Flat for Jim Bolger and made a winning start in this sphere at Doncaster in February. Has failed to fire on each of his last 3 starts, though, and the additon of a tongue strap (retained here) did little to help arrest the slide at Southwell last time.

Form: 13PP-3

Phoenix Aquilus¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Aidan Coleman| T: S Durack| OR: 109| D

16/5

Close second in 2m Southwell maiden on latest start in this sphere last November. Multiple winner on the Flat since and won't be found wanting fitness-wise here, so he's well worth considering on this handicap hurdle debut off what looks a workable mark.

Form: 26/2-

No Recollection⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 106| D

4/1

Fairly useful Flat performer who took well to hurdles during the summer, building on promising debut second at Uttoxeter when seeing off dual subsequent winner Al Zaraqaan in 2m Worcester maiden. Open to improvement on handicap bow in this sphere.

Form: 31

Fanfan Du Seuil¹⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Hammond| T: N Kent| OR: 101

3/1

Positive start to last season when runner-up in this very race off an 11 lb higher mark. Below par thereafter and losing run stretches back to November 2018 but he's dangerous to discount on debut for new yard all the same.

Form: 0/236P-5

Leopolds Rock^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 94| D

9/2

Reached a fair level on the Flat over the winter and has scored twice over hurdles under Brian Hughes this year. He's not the most hearty of battlers, though, and his lack of resolution was in evidence when third off this mark last time.

Form: 213213

Ashton Court³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁷⁾| T: Simon Earle| OR: 92

14/1

Longstanding maiden who showed little spark on first 2 starts for present connections last year. Conversely, there were positives to glean from his effort at Stratford (16.3f) last month when returning from 13 months off, and he's lurking on a potentially handy mark.

Form: 5268/P-6

Forecasts

Fanfan Du Seuil (3/1), Phoenix Aquilus (16/5), No Recollection (4/1), Leopolds Rock (9/2), Sage Advice (8/1), Geometrical (10/1), Ashton Court (14/1)

NO RECOLLECTION was below par on the Flat last time but the form of his success in a Worcester maiden hurdle in July is strong. He bring obvious potential to the table now pitched into a handicap in this sphere off what looks a potentially very fair opening mark. Sage Advice has fallen a long way in the weights but has plenty to prove following a poor campaign last season. Bigger threats may be posed by Fanfan du Seuil, who was second in this race 12 months ago, and Ashton Court.