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14:30 Huntingdon

Betfred Macer Gifford Memorial Handicap Chase (Class C)

  • 10 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 4f 110y
  • Going: Good to Soft, Good in places
  • Surface: Turf
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 15.90s
  • 10 Ran
1
Silk - Royal Blue, Emerald Green hollow box and sleeves
  • Form 32U/0P-P
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-12
  • Official Rating 129

held up. in touch, went 3rd at 10th, every chance, left in lead 3 out, jumped left last, ridden out

2
Silk - Royal blue, black seams, quartered cap
25/1
  • Form 500-319
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-10
  • Official Rating 127

in rear, jumped slowly 10th, never dangerous

3
Silk - Pink, Grey hoop and sleeves, Grey cap, Pink diamonds
  • Form 22/315-P
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-8
  • Official Rating 125

close up, jumped slowly, lost place 8th, headway approaching 2 out, soon one pace

4
Silk - Red and White (quartered), Black and White halved sleeves, Black cap, White star
  • Form 421256
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-7
  • Official Rating 124

led until headed 4 out, soon weakened

5
Silk - Yellow, Royal Blue braces, Royal Blue sleeves, Yellow stars and stars on cap
13/8
  • Form 4112F-F
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 121

close up, joined leader 8th, led 4 out, blundered, unseated rider next

6
Silk - Yellow, Dark Green star, hooped sleeves, quartered cap
7/1
  • Form 2F4-4P5
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 121

held up, in rear, headway 11th, mistake 3 out, lost place, ridden, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on flat

7
Silk - Emerald Green, Red Cross of Lorraine, sleeves and cap
16/1
  • Form 44713-F
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 121

held up, in touch, every chance, left 2nd 3 out, weakened approaching last, blundered

8
Silk - Yellow, Maroon sleeves, Maroon cap, Yellow star
22/1
  • Form 1212-PP
  • Age 8
  • Weight 10-13
  • Official Rating 116

in rear, behind, pulled up last

9
Silk - EMERALD GREEN & ORANGE hooped, WHITE cap
  • Form 221331/
  • Age 9
  • Weight 10-11
  • Official Rating 114

held up, mid-division, headway after 9th, ridden 3 out, no impression

10
Silk - White and Red stripes, Black and White halved sleeves, Black cap
11/2
  • Form 1484P-1
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-9
  • Official Rating 112

chased leader to 8th, weakened 10th, behind, pulled up before 2 out

In depth

Verdict

Big Rob, Icy Prospect and Pietro Vannucci take the eye in this decent handicap chase, and Big Rob is nominated to add to his winning tally. Jonjo O'Neill saddles Pietro Vannucci and the nine-year-old is set to need the run after an absence of 21 months but he was a four time winner in Ireland, and with the champion jockey in the saddle he can go well. Icy Prospect won well at Uttoxeter first time out and the form has been given a boost. Twice a winner over hurdles at the start of last season, he clearly comes to hand quickly and commands respect. A winner at Newbury and Wetherby last season, Brendan Powell's Big Rob looked an exciting prospect but he hasn't won since. He was made favourite for his seasonal bow at Cheltenham last month but fell when placed in fourth. He came on for his first run of last season, and is very highly regarded by his trainer, Big Rob is taken to resume winning ways.

Formwatch

Dark'n Sharp (GER) 33-1 (11-10) Mid-division, no extra from 5 out, pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by No Half Session (10-0) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 sft in Apr, 21 ran.

Nawamees (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, reminders 5th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, 36l behind Crathorne (10-2) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gf in Oct.

You're Special (USA) 6-1 (11-0) Always behind, mistake 6th, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Whispered Secret (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Oct, 10 ran.

Figaro du Rocher (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 8th, soon struggling, 6th of 12, 34l behind Magic Sky (11-2) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gf in Sept.

Big Rob (IRE) 11-4fav (10-13) In touch, 4th and struggling when fell 2 out in race won by Whispered Secret (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gd in Oct, 10 ran.

Marked Man (IRE) 40-1 (10-3) Behind until ridden, kept on from 3 out, never near leaders, 5th of 16, 18l behind Tango Royal (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f lst hcp chs (A) gd in Jul.

Key Phil (FR) 11-2 (11-1) Prominent, 5th and weakening when fell 2 out in race won by Gatorade (10-5) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Apr, 10 ran.

Powder Creek (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, lost place 4 out, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Mister Arjay (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft in Oct, 11 ran.

Pietro Vannucci (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Always close up, 2nd when slight mistake 4 out, led after 3 out, ridden and strongly pressed 2 out, stayed on well from last, all out, won at Naas 2m beg chs sft in Feb '04 beating Atlantic Rhapsody (11-9) by 3/4l, 18 ran.

Icy Prospect (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) In touch, led after 12th, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Oct beating Strong Magic (10-9) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.