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15:25 Huntingdon

Betchronicle.com Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle (Class 2)

  • 11 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 4f 110y
  • Going: Good
  • Surface: Turf
  • £20,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 4m 55.10s
  • Off Time: 15:26:09
  • 11 Ran
1
Silk - Royal Blue, White epaulets, checked sleeves
  • Form 295-11P
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-11
  • Official Rating 140

tracked leaders, challenging when hit 3 out, soon ridden, hung left under pressure after last, kept on well

2
Silk - Emerald green, orange hoops, white cap
  • Form 5116-12
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-7
  • Official Rating 124

always behind, tailed off

3
Silk - Pink, black diamond and armlets, quartered cap
  • Form 3-21111
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-7
  • Official Rating 132

held up in touch, outpaced after 3 out, effort approaching last, stayed on strongly

4
Silk - Black and Beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, Beige cap
33/1
  • Form 1-31
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-3

in touch, under pressure 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up next

5
Silk - Yellow, large Dark Green spots, Dark Green cap
7/4
  • Form 111212
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-3
  • Official Rating 138

held up in last, headway 4 out, under pressure approaching 2 out, hard ridden to lead after last, stayed on under pressure

6
Silk - LIGHT BLUE, DARK BLUE diamond and diamond on cap

Junior

26
8/1
  • Form 2256-0
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-3
  • Official Rating 129

soon mid-division, headway before 3 out, soon chasing leaders, not fluent next, stayed on strongly under pressure

7
Silk - EMERALD GREEN & ORANGE HOOPED, Emerald Green cap, white star
  • Form 4
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-3

behind, under pressure 3 out, eased before next

8
Silk - YELLOW, ROYAL BLUE sleeves, YELLOW cap, ROYAL BLUE star

Matuhi

24 D
16/1
  • Form 21
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-3

in touch, led approaching 6th, blundered 2 out, soon headed, weakened flat

9
Silk - DARK BLUE, YELLOW cap

Ogee

13
20/1
  • Form 642
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-3
  • Official Rating 121

mid-division, weakened 3 out

10
Silk - WHITE, LIGHT BLUE spots, LIGHT BLUE cap
  • Form 22/51
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-3

tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, soon lost place, headway 6th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, no impression after

11
Silk - Dark Blue and Emerald Green (quartered), Dark Blue sleeves and quartered cap
200/1
  • Form 0651/00
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-3

led, keen early, headed after 6th, weakened quickly, soon tailed off

In depth

Verdict

Hold Em can win a fascinating renewal of this contest with Middleton Dene respected and Matuhi one that could go well at a price. The selection showed a decent level of form in bumpers before winning his hurdling bow at Hereford and running second to Aigle D'Or at Cheltenham. There should be more to come from him and he can make the most of the weight that he receives. Lightning Strike and Crocodiles Rock both have to bounce back from below par displays as well as having to carry penalties. As does Middleton Dene who has gone from strength to strength and whose form is working out well but he lacks a recent run whilst Checkerboard and Theatre Dance are both stepping up in grade. That comment also applies to Matuhi but he ran a good second to Numide on his hurdling bow which arguably makes him of more interest but all three are respected. Hold Em has the form in the book though and is favoured by the weights and is consequently awarded our vote.

Formwatch

Lightning Strike (GER) 3-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out and pulled up at the last in race won by Souffleur (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl Grd 1 (1) sft in Dec, 9 ran.

Crocodiles Rock (IRE) 2-5fav (12-2) Held up, headway 7th, led after 2 out, headed flat, not run on, 2nd of 16, 1l behind Pettifour (11-6) at Hereford 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.

Middleton Dene (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Held up, headway 6th, challenged next, led before last, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (3) gs in Oct beating Ashwell (11-6) by 2l, 7 ran.

Checkerboard (IRE) 5-6fav (10-12) Prominent, led after 4 out, hit 2 out, soon ridden, driven out flat, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Dec beating The Gleaner (10-12) by 2l, 7 ran.

Hold Em (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) In touch, took closer order 6th, ridden to challenge approaching last, kept on under strong pressure, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Aigle D'or (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan.

Junior 10-1 (11-5) Chased leaders until 3 out, weakened before next, 10th of 11, well behind Aigle D'or (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan.

Kingscape (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 5th, went 4th 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 4th of 18, 7l behind Group Captain (11-0) at Newbury 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.

Matuhi 15-8fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway 8th, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Jan beating Fal Agh Bagh (10-12) by 4l, 16 ran.

Ogee 11-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden in close 3rd approaching 2 out, held when left 2nd last, 2nd of 13, 7l behind King Jack (11-4) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) sft.

Theatre Dance (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Prominent, headway 6th, led 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon ridden, kept on well from last, won at Fontwell 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) sft beating Supreme Ruler (11-9) by 3l, 12 ran.

Tickers Way 80-1 (10-13) With leader, blundered 6th when weakening, tailed off, 16th of 18, well behind Runthatpastmeagain (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 3f mdn hdl (5) gs.