14:30 Huntingdon

Thursday 23 January 2025

All12:1212:4713:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:13

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 25.7s

Staffordshire Knot^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: G Elliott| OR: 143

7/1

Went backwards from his Fairyhouse chasing debut when only sixth of 12 at Naas in December but shaped encouragingly back over hurdles when fifth in 20-runner handicap at Leopardstown (23.4f) 12 days later. Interesting contender.

Form: 22P-265

No Ordinary Joe⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139

14/1

Lightly raced 8-y-o who ended last term in good form, shaping much better than distance beaten suggests when seventh in Martin Pipe at the Festival in March. Weak in the betting and shaped as if needing the run at Newbury on reappearance but it's hard to be confident this step up in trip will suit.

Form: 7/P837-5

Itchy Feet²²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-9| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 138| CD

25/1

Veteran who took advantage of a slipping mark at Market Rasen (23f) in November 2023 but only seventh in this corresponding event 2 months later and offered little on his return at Cheltenham.

Form: 00/P17-8

Champagne Twist³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 131| BF

13/2

Career best when collaring stablemate late in competitive EBF Final handicap at Sandown (19.8f) in March and has had excuses since, not looking over his Cheltenham fall from the way he shaped at Ascot last time. Not dismissed.

Form: 2119-U0

Springtime Promise⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130| C

20/1

Showed useful form when completing hat-trick over hurdles in February. However, has been a little disappointing since and it was disconcerting she bled on her most recent start over fences.

Form: 1119-3P

Shanagh Bob^p1²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 129

10/3

Has been disappointing so far over fences but he looked promising as a novice hurdler, winning 2 of his 3 starts, so can't be taken lightly back in this sphere.

Form: 1/114-55

Zain Nights^p⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 128

5/1

Useful stayer on Flat for Harry & Roger Charlton and much improved over hurdles last spring, completing a handicap hat-trick in a big-field contest at Haydock in May. Returned with a good third at Cheltenham in October and excuses both starts since. Not ruled out for in-form yard.

Form: 11-13P8

Super Survivor^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 125

3/1

Built on his reappearance to win his first race for 2 years in 6-runner handicap hurdle at Doncaster (24.4f, good to soft) 25 days ago. Did well to overcome a steady pace there and of interest again.

Form: 2P82-31

Billy Boi Blue^t⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Slatter⁽³⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 124| C

20/1

Took a step forward on just his second handicap start when bagging 11-runner event at Wetherby in October. However, came in last of 3 on his Doncaster chase debut and ran no sort of race reverted to hurdling at Wincanton last week. Enough to prove.

Form: 12-313P

Malaita⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 115

12/1

Dual chaser winner who produced a rare-below par effort when seventh of 13 in handicap at Cheltenham (20.6f, good to soft) 40 days ago. Tries a longer trip back over hurdles from 2 lb out of the weights.

Form: 11-6327

Forecasts

Super Survivor (3/1), Shanagh Bob (10/3), Zain Nights (5/1), Champagne Twist (13/2), Staffordshire Knot (7/1), Malaita (12/1), No Ordinary Joe (14/1), Billy Boi Blue (20/1), Springtime Promise (20/1), Itchy Feet (25/1)

SUPER SURVIVOR was value for extra over the result in overcoming an unsuitably steady pace at Doncaster 25 days ago, so a 3 lb rise in the weights doesn't look enough to prevent him from following up. Shanagh Bob has made a disappointing start to his chasing career, but he looked a useful prospect when winning his first 2 starts over hurdles, so can't be taken lightly reverting to this sphere, with Staffordshire Knot completing the shortlist after a promising run at Leopardstown last time.