Racecards
17:05 Huntingdon
Huntingdon Racecourse Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 14 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,500 added
- Form 431-9
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
chased leader, hit 5th, ridden 3 out, every chance 2 out, weakened last
- Form U32-912
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer John Harris
- Jockey R Johnson
held up towards rear, some headway 3 out, never dangerous
- Form 8PP35-4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
chased leaders, challenged 2 out, soon led, went right and not fluent last, stayed on well
- Form 010361
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer Mrs C J Ikin
- Jockey Peter Toole
mid-division on outside, headway 4th, ridden after next, weakened 3 out
- Form 335/60F-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J J Lambe
- Jockey R Thornton
in touch, not fluent 3 out, weakened before next
- Form 1300/77-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Norma Twomey
- Jockey M D Grant
held up in last pair, raced keenly, always behind
- Form 1-15337
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Mrs R Carr
- Jockey M Bradburne
held up in last pair, not fluent 3rd, always in rear
- Form 2U268-5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer I W McInnes
- Jockey C I Gillies
mid-division, pushed along after 3rd, behind 5th, pulled up before last
- Form 90/29P-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer B Leavy
- Jockey Danny Cook
mid-division, keen early, headway when not fluent 5th, strong challenge 2 out, edged right between last 2, stayed on same pace flat
- Form 0-8F589
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd last, stayed on same pace
- Form R59-632
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer J L Spearing
- Jockey H Oliver
chased leaders, pushed along 4th, weakened next
- Form 424U6/0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
prominent, hit 5th, soon driven, weakened 3 out
- Form 24-P869
- Age 11
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer C T Pogson
- Jockey A Pogson
led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed between last 2, weakened flat
Esteem
13- Form 20/5932
- Age 6
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
held up in mid-division, hit 2nd, not fluent next, headway after 3 out, modest 6th 2 out, no impression
- Form 6935F0-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Michael Murphy
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
This looks wide open, with a big field, with marginal preference for MASSAMS LANE, but we'll include Esteem and Weather Front on the shortlist. Carole Ikin's gelding likes fast ground, and was a comfortable winner last time out after previously finding soft ground not to his liking. He's never been the consistent sort, but a repeat effort should see him involved. Expect him to be ridden prominently. Esteem has been showing gradual improvement, but remains a maiden over hurdles, but further progress can be expected and he gains weight from all his rivals. Weather Front may prefer a little juice in the ground, and so far this year hasn't been able to reproduce the form shown last, when winning convincingly at Cartmel and Exeter. Cash For Honours hasn't been seen since April, and a first time tongue strap may help. First time blinkers for Grand Bay, who's having his first run for Jonjo O'Neill after showing little in Ireland may help too, and any support should be noted. However, we'll side with current form and Massams Lane.
Formwatch
Yossi (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Chased leader, left in lead briefly 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 11, well behind Olivino (9-11) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Liberty Seeker (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, good headway approaching 2 out, led approaching last, caught close home, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Stumped (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 1f sell (4) gd.
Weather Front 11-2 (11-9) Held up in touch, headway approaching 5th, went 2nd briefly 3 out, weakened under pressure soon after, tailed off, 4th of 7, 33l behind Corum (12-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Massams Lane 28-1 (11-0) In touch, whent 2nd 4 out, led 3 out, ridden when left clear 2 out, blundered last, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf beating Apache Dawn (11-6) by 9l, 17 ran.
King's Jester (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up, hit 7th, chased leaders from next, ridden 4 out, weakening when fell 2 out, in a race won by Go Silver Bullet (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Dec, 7 ran.
Magic Rush 14-1 (11-7) Held up behind, headway after 5th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, well behind Nortonthorpe Lad (10-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jul '08.
Newgate (UAE) 14-1 (10-9) Held up, headway after 3 out on outer, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 7th of 9, 26l behind Dirar (11-4) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jul.
Fuel Cell (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, struggling next, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 35l behind Rajeh (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Tora Petcha (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Always prominent, not fluent 3rd, led 3 out, ridden out, won at Stratford 2m sell hdl (5) gd in Jul beating Feeling (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Dark Energy 11-1 (11-4) Held up, promising headway on outside after 3 out, stopped to a walk and soon virtually pulled up, 9th of 12, 29l behind Olivino (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jul.
High Standard (NZ) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, led 6th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Baguenaud (10-12) at Southwell 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Grand Bay (USA) 16-1 (11-8) Towards rear for most, never a factor, 11th of 20, 35l behind Lough Ferrib (11-3) at Cork 2m 2f hcp hdl 80-95 gd.
Kingscourt Lad (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Always behind, 9th of 12, well behind Sabre Hongrois (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Esteem 13-2 (11-8) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on one pace flat, went 2nd near finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Golden Square (11-1) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf.
Cash For Honours 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 11th of 15, 46l behind Ruby Crown (10-11) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.