13:47 Huntingdon

Monday 26 December 2022

All12:0512:4013:1513:4714:2214:5715:32

Stop Alconbury Brook Flooding Challenge Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:48 | Winning time: 5m 11.4s

Yellowstone Park¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R Patrick| T: A M Hales| OR: 111| D

14/1

Winless following 5 attempts between the flags but showed improved form to get off the mark on handicap debut at Leicester (20.5f, soft) 19 days ago, suited by the step back up in trip. Open to further improvement so he's one for the shortlist.

Form: 334-751

Northern Poet⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 110| D

9/1

Bumper winner who opened his hurdles account back from an 18-month absence in a 12-runner novice hurdle (20/1) at Plumpton (20.5f, good to soft) 6 weeks ago. On a fair mark back in handicap company.

Form: 92632/1

Poker Master²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: P J McBride| OR: 109| CD

4/1

Completed hat-trick (including twice at this course over 2m) in handicaps earlier this year and continues to go from strength to strength, notching a pair of C&D victories in recent weeks. Up another 4 lb but remains of serious interest.

Form: 1113-11

Moveit Like Minnie^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 106

11/4

Dual-bumper winner who improved on last year's hurdles exploits when making a winning return at Taunton (19f) last month, hanging left but well on top finish. That unlikely to prove his limit and considered.

Form: 22246-1

Hardy Boy⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: K Brogan| T: B Pauling| OR: 106| CD

13/2

Signed off last term with a brace of handicap wins, including over C&D. Held back by mistakes both starts this term so percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 5211-70

Seelotmorebusiness⁴⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 105| BF

11/1

Bumper/maiden hurdle winner in 2020 who looked set to make a winning return following a breathing operation before departing 2 out at Newton Abbot (21.6f, good to soft) 14 months ago. This his yard's first runner and clearly on a workable mark, so he's fancied to go close.

Form: 115PP/F-

Ewood Park³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 105

28/1

Lightly-raced maiden who probably needed the run after 23 months off when well held in Southwell handicap 34 days ago. This will reveal more.

Form: 4U63/4

Pearly Island²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Eddie Edge⁽¹⁰⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 105

16/1

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 (latest outing over C&D easily ignored with saddle having slipped).

Form: 623-8P7

Oscarsman⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 104| D

33/1

Won Plumpton maiden hurdle in December 2019 and stepped up on reappearance when third there (20.5f, good to soft) 6 weeks ago. More required to feature here.

Form: 1PP6/53

Urban Grit^p1⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy| OR: 103

33/1

Fairly useful form when placed in bumpers. Left previous hurdling form behind when runner-up at Market Rasen in March but disappointed following a breathing operation on return at Uttoxeter (19.9f, good to soft) last month. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 36472-8

Legal Rights^b³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 103

14/1

Three-time winner last season but it's looked hard work this time around. Blinkers on here which may help.

Form: 512-P54

Godot²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 103

17/2

Fair bumper performer who ran to a similar level as on hurdling debut kept to 2m when third in novice at Sandown earlier this month. Upped in trip for this handicap debut and worth a second look in the market.

Form: 37P-33

Pumpkin's Pride³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: A King| OR: 102

28/1

Signs of ability in maiden/novice company but ran no sort of race sent handicapping after 4 months off at Newton Abbot in May. Got no further than the first on return last month but clearly needs more from this sort of mark.

Form: 7653-PU

Izayte²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Max Kendrick| T: N B King| OR: 102

22/1

Fair maiden who has improved with each run over hurdles, catching the eye when fifth on his qualifying run at this track (15.8f, good to soft) just over 3 weeks ago. One to note now moving into handicaps.

Form: F-25745

Forecasts

Moveit Like Minnie (11/4), Poker Master (4/1), Hardy Boy (13/2), Godot (17/2), Northern Poet (9/1), Seelotmorebusiness (11/1), Legal Rights (14/1), Yellowstone Park (14/1), Pearly Island (16/1), Izayte (22/1), Ewood Park (28/1), Pumpkin's Pride (28/1), Urban Grit (33/1), Oscarsman (33/1)

A host in with chances but SEELOTMOREBUSINESS looked set to go close before departing late on at Newton Abbot when last seen 14 months ago. He's selected to give Harry Derham the perfect start to his training career at the expense of Moveit Like Minnie, who showed improved form to get off the mark in impressive fashion at Taunton last month. Yellowstone Park and Izayte complete the shortlist.