12:45 Huntingdon

Sunday 4 December 2022

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:2014:5515:25

Fitzdares Salutes Ben Pauling Racing Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:45 | Winning time: 5m 6.34s

Hiconic^t⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 111

40/1

Won 4 juveniles in summer 2020 but has failed to make a significant impact in handicaps on the Flat or over hurdles since returning from an absence. Lot to prove up in trip.

Form: 2P/594P

Rhebus Road^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Bromley⁽³⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 110| C

12/1

Another creditable effort fitted with cheekpieces when fourth of 8 in handicap hurdle at this course (15.8f) 15 days ago. Back up in trip and likely to give it a good go.

Form: 26-1324

Masteroftheheights²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Lily Pinchin| T: M F Harris| OR: 108

22/1

Bumper winner on debut but lightly raced and hasn't really clicked over hurdles, falling early on last month's handicap debut.

Form: 63F4/3F

Pearly Island¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr Eddie Edge⁽¹⁰⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 108

6/1

Left previous efforts behind when runner-up in maiden at Fontwell in February but needs to bounce back in a significant way following a pair of heavy defeats over the autumn.

Form: 3623-8P

Justified¹⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J R Wildman⁽⁵⁾| T: N B King| OR: 106| CD

14/1

C&D winner in June and matched that level when placed next twice from revised mark. Brushed aside at Worcester when last seen in August but likely to bounce back given overall profile.

Form: 2-41325

Poker Master²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Buckley| T: P J McBride| OR: 105| CD

5/2

Completed hat-trick (including twice at this course over 2m) in handicaps earlier this year and picked up where he left off when making winning return over C&D last month. Up 5 lb but remains of serious interest.

Form: P1113-1

Hillfinch¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: S Edmunds| OR: 104| CD

4/1

Showed plenty in bumpers and didn't need to improve to make her second hurdles start a winning one in 9-runner maiden over C&D in February. Below par in handicaps since, though this trip more suitable than last time.

Form: 3213-73

Sermando^p,t²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁸⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 104| CD

11/4

Pulled up on chase debut in June but down in the weights and back on his game with a pair of placed efforts during the autumn. Should be a major player again.

Form: 5P3-P33

Maid On The Moon⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Alexander Thorne| T: A King| OR: 102| C

28/1

Novice winner at the track in March but opening mark no gift and she was the first beaten on reappearance at Bangor in October.

Form: 35F13-9

Non-Runners

Hardy Boy²³

Weight: 11-6| Age: 5

T: B Pauling J: Luca Morgan

Forecasts

Poker Master (5/2), Sermando (11/4), Hillfinch (4/1), Hardy Boy (5/1), Pearly Island (6/1), Rhebus Road (12/1), Justified (14/1), Masteroftheheights (22/1), Maid On The Moon (28/1), Hiconic (40/1)

POKER MASTER can boast an enviable strike rate in handicaps and, still unexposed over this trip, he may well shrug off a 5 lb rise for his reappearance success at this venue. Sermando should be bang there again, with Hillfinch another to consider back over the right sort of distance.