Racecards
13:40 Huntingdon
Freebets.co.uk Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 3m 2f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
- Form 1-34634
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey Alex Merriam
held up in last, headway after 9th, soon pushed along, stayed on under pressure flat
Mr Mackay
60- Form 420-7P3
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
led until 3rd, pressed leader, ridden after 9th, every chance 3 out, stayed on flat
- Form 31-0353
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer R Rowe
- Jockey L P Aspell
in rear, niggled along and detached from main group after 7th, headway on inside 2 out, not reached leaders
- Form 1064-01
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up in touch, led narrowly after 9th, ridden after 3 out, strongly pressed when left with advantage 2 out, all out
- Form 339471
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 102
held up in touch, jumped slowly 4th, mistake 9th, soon lost place, stayed on from last, no threat
- Form 65125U
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer M Keighley
- Jockey Jimmy Derham
held up towards rear, headway after 9th, no impression approaching 2 out
Paddy's Tern
16- Form 50-0643
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer K C Bailey
- Jockey J M Maguire
with leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed narrowly after 9th, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 4325P/1
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer Miss C Dyson
- Jockey Mr J Mahot
prominent, ridden and weakened after 9th, tailed off
- Form 7/2939-4
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Michael Murphy
held up towards rear, headway 9th, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged and going best when blundered badly 2 out, jumped right last, soon edged left, ran on
Verdict
Opus Cafe is one of three last time out winners in the field for the opener on the card having scored at Sedgefield in November and he has to be respected but has gone up 12lbs for that win so he faces no easy task and a better bet looks to be SONA SASTA, who gets the vote with Dawn at Sea rated the best of the remainder. The selection put up an improved performance for David Pipe when landing a contest at Ffos Las last month in good fashion and a 10lb rise for that success seems perfectly fair so he can follow up. Neil King's I've Been Framed is less exposed than most of these and was highly tried behind The Minack last month so may do better now switched to a handicap for the first time. Ian Williams has his string in good order at present so Immense has to be respected but he needs to improve on recent starts to trouble the judge, while Hareem got no further than the second before unseating his rider when behind the selection last time. Dawn at Sea escapes a penalty for his win in a conditional jockeys' contest last week and has solid claims racing off the same mark today but this race may come too soon for him and preference is for Sona Sasta.
Formwatch
I've Been Framed (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, headway to chase leaders before 7th, went 2nd 3 out until driven and dropped to 3rd and mistake 2 out, weakened, 4th of 12, 28l behind The Minack (11-8) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Jan.
Mr Mackay 25-1 (11-12) Made most, ridden 2 out, headed last, kept on under pressure flat, 3rd of 18, 3/4l behind King Stanley (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Alteranthela (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up in rear in tight bunch, no chance after 6th, went poor 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 7, 35l behind Chamirey (11-4) at Fontwell 3m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Sona Sasta (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, driven out, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan beating Hopeful Start (11-7) by 4l, 16 ran.
Dawn At Sea 12-1 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 8th,ridden 2 out, went 2nd last, hampered and cut off against rails after last, switched right and ran on to lead near finish, won at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs beating French Ties (10-12) by hd, 15 ran.
Hareem (IRE) 18-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, blundered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Sona Sasta (10-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan, 16 ran.
Paddy's Tern 6-1 (11-11) In touch, chased leader 3 out to next, soon one pace, 3rd and beaten when blundered last, 3rd of 14, 11l behind French Ties (10-11) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Opus Cafe (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway 17th, rider dropped whip 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead towards finish, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) sft in Nov beating El Tuco (11-2) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Immense (IRE) 17-2 (10-11) Chased leader, ridden after 6th, beaten 2 out, hampered last, 4th of 13, 21l behind Prince Geeno (11-9) at Warwick 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.