14:35 Huntingdon

Thursday 25 January 2024

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

Full Circle Series At Punchestown Festival Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 5m 18.88s

Raymond Tusk²⁰²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 112

14/1

Still capable of useful form on the Flat last year but has yet to achieve any better than fair form over hurdles, albeit after only 4 attempts. Has his first outing since July here.

Form: 624/4-

Mot A Mot^p,t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 111

10/1

Made winning start for this yard at Newbury (19f) in April 2022 but lightly raced since, including well beaten in 2 handicap hurdles this winter. Can only watch at present.

Form: 561/P-57

Iontach Cheval⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: David Noonan| T: A Ralph| OR: 109

28/1

Bumper/hurdle winner who recorded a career best when making a successful reappearance in handicap company at Warwick (2m, soft) in November 2022. Respectable third on his Sandown reappearance but needs to shrug off a poor run at Doncaster last month.

Form: 34/18-39

Haas Boy³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: H Cobden| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 109| C

7/1

Would have made a winning handicap debut at Ludlow last winter but for falling at the last (9 lengths clear at time) but hasn't reproduced that since, finishing a well-held fifth back at Ludlow last month. Harry Cobden takes the ride but others have less to prove.

Form: 4526-85

Sister Michael^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 108

8/1

Southwell maiden hurdle winner in May 2022. Returned from 13 months off to finish a creditable 5 lengths second of 8 in handicap hurdle there last month. Thereabouts if in similar form.

Form: 2/1422-2

Zestful Hope¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 107

16/1

Won a pair of Hereford handicap hurdles last season. Well below that level this term (including fences) but he did run a bit better when fifth of 15 in Wincanton handicap hurdle latest. Needs to build on that now.

Form: 2-76595

Sun Joy^p1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 107

13/2

French Flat winner. Fairly useful form when runner-up 3 times over hurdles there but not at the same level for current yard, although it's possible very testing ground hasn't suited when well held in handicaps last twice. Should get a sounder surface here. Cheekpieces he wore in France also back on.

Form: 42-2266

Blue Shark⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: James Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 106| CD

25/1

Highly progressive last season, including a C&D win, but his run of good form has come to a shuddering halt, beating only one home in his last 4 outings.

Form: 4-1687P

Tregele⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 106

6/1

Third in a pair of 2m hurdles 7 months apart, latterly at Taunton 6 weeks ago. Very much unexposed making his handicap debut so is one to consider.

Form: 54-33

Rascal⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 105

6/1

Too free when well held sole outing in bumpers but has fared better over hurdles, building on his Warwick debut third in May when winning 2m Doncaster maiden 6 months later. Open to further progress now making a quick switch to handicaps.

Form: 6-31

Kilfilum Woods^p⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: P R Webber| OR: 104

16/1

Fair maiden who shaped as if better for the run after 5 months off when eighth of 14 in handicap hurdle at Warwick (21f, heavy) in November. Eased 2 lb but will need to jump better.

Form: 46-82F8

Eagle Of The Glen^p1⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 103| C

33/1

Improved when landing a Hexham junior novice on final start of last season and picked up where he left off with a winning reappearance in 2m course novice. Needs to shrug off a couple of disappointing efforts in handicaps since. Steps up in trip with cheekpieces also added.

Form: 331-108

Mistral Nell³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 103

11/1

Got off the mark over hurdles in 14-runner handicap at Catterick (19f, good to soft) 37 days ago, digging deep. Can go well again despite taking a 7 lb rise.

Form: 32-PP21

Jack Sprat³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 102| C

7/1

Off the mark when landing a 7-runner handicap here (19.5f, good to soft) in November and dispelled a lesser effort when runner-up at Uttoxeter just before Christmas. Not discounted. Engaged 4.20 Chepstow Wednesday.

Form: 32-5152

Kapamazov⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H J Evans| OR: 100

80/1

Point runner-up who offered some encouragement when making the frame both starts over hurdles last season. However, well held on Carlisle handicap debut/reappearance in October. Has left Samuel Drinkwater.

Form: 244-0

Non-Runners

Gms Prince³⁰

Weight: 11-1| Age: 9

T: Sarah Hollinshead J: R T Dunne

Lifetime Legend¹³

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: N B King J: Non Runner

Eric Carmen⁴¹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 8

T: G Hanmer J: James Davies

Forecasts

Tregele (6/1), Rascal (6/1), Sun Joy (13/2), Haas Boy (7/1), Jack Sprat (7/1), Sister Michael (8/1), Mot A Mot (10/1), Mistral Nell (11/1), Raymond Tusk (14/1), Zestful Hope (16/1), Kilfilum Woods (16/1), Lifetime Legend (16/1), Gms Prince (20/1), Blue Shark (25/1), Iontach Cheval (28/1), Eagle Of The Glen (33/1), Eric Carmen (66/1), Kapamazov (80/1)

Top of the list are unexposed pair TREGELE and Rascal, with a narrow preference for the former, whose stable was back among the winners at the weekend. Sister Michael and Mistral Nell are also on the shortlist.