Racing
Huntingdon betting tips: All eyes on Cheltenham hopeful Goshen
The in-form Steven Dowler went so close in last Saturday’s Sandown preview, landing places in each of the first five legs, including four winners, before finally falling at the final fence. He’s back this week to tackle the Boosted £7,000 Place 6 at Huntingdon, where an epic clash between Goshen and Lord Lamington looks to be the highlight. If you agree with his selections then join his Syndicate.
12.25 – Handicap Chase
Only six runners in the opener. However, this handicap chase has a lot of quality runners crossing swords.
Kim Bailey has gone quiet recently, not managing as many winners as he would have liked. That could change here with the exciting IMPERIAL AURA who has yet to finish out of the frame in all starts. He was very solid over hurdles, winning twice and placing third in a grade three at Chepstow on deep enough ground.
I loved the way he jumped on chase debut in a three-runner event at Fakenham and he took the step up in class very well in a novice chase at Cheltenham last time over 3m1f, when second behind a 149 rated winner off level weights. I was very impressed with his run in defeat and today’s drop down in trip and class will massively suit.
Imperial Aura doesn’t face anything the calibre of the winner today and this track will suit his positive style of running which will make him a very hard horse to beat under Davis Bass, who in my opinion is the best jockey around on front-runners.
I also really like the chances of the Philip Hobbs trained WESTEND STORY. It wasn’t nice to see him take a fall last time at Newbury as he was in the process of running very well. However, this 9-year-old was a winner off this rating over hurdles and his first two runs over fences were encouraging, most notably when fourth on chase debut over this trip behind three top-class horses in Defi Du Seuil, Topofthegame and Black Op.
Westend Story was right there until the finish which is the best form on offer. His last two runs have been over 2m6f, so the return to 2m3f today will be a huge factor and we can expect Richard Johnson to ride him positively just like he did at Exeter. It is also worth noting that this is Philip Hobbs’ only runner on today’s card. Hobbs’ stable are in red hot form with two doubles already this week.
Selections: IMPERIAL AURA, WESTEND STORY
13.00 – Novices’ Hurdle
Now onto a competitive-looking novices hurdle and, although he fell at the first hurdle on his hurdles debut at Ascot last time, I really like the Nicky Henderson trained ALLART. He’s only run once in bumpers and was third in a hot event which, has worked out well with the runner-up Edwardstone and the fourth horse Imperial Alcazar both winning since, the latter victorious in a listed event at Cheltenham which has since been reverted back to original placings.
Allart was unfortunate to fall last time out in a warmer event because he was second off a strong second favourite behind the 140 rated Ecco, which tells me the promising six-year-old Allart could well take higher rankings for connections representing powerful owners. I am sure he will have learnt plenty from that fall on debut and it would be a major shock if Allart can’t go close to making amends here.
Looking at the bigger priced runners, I would not dismiss STIMULATING SONG for a small stable. He showed good form in bumpers, placing second twice, and running well to finish a respectable fifth of 15 in a class 2 on heavy ground at Cheltenham. I liked the way he galloped on strongly up the hill because he was given far too much to do and was the fastest horse at the finish.
Connections started him out in a warm class 2 event on hurdles debut and he finished a fair fourth. The first three home have all either won or run well on defeat since and this 5-year-old ran above expectations again when a solid sixth of 14 at Newbury last time. The first three home from that race all look above average, so that is another strong piece of form.
Stimulating Song drops down two grades for today’s event with Jamie Moore retained on board and I can see him running a very big race.
Selections: ALLART, STIMULATING SONG
13.35 Huntingdon – Handicap Chase
This is probably the trickiest race on today’s card with most of the runners finding it hard to win of late.
Benjamin Poste is a retained rider for JR Cornwall having mainly ridden Torrent Des Mottes but he’s sided with eight-year-old CLONDAW RIGGER who was pulled up on deep enough ground last time but is only 1lb above his last winning mark. This quirky sort ran a blinder two starts ago to finish third off this mark following his seasonal debut run at Cheltenham in a better race and we know he stays well and has a winning habit. I think he has a chance of winning this let alone finishing in the frame on ground that will suit.
Jennie Candlish is a shrewd trainer, who placed her horses well and ARTHUR’S REUBEN saves his best for this track. His form figures over fences here reads 313364 with his sixth place effort being on reappearance. He won his handicap/chase debut here off this mark and his last four runs here have been off marks 92, 92, 92 and 88. Arthur’s Reuben is back down to his last winning mark and David Noonan is riding ever so well which leaves this seven-year-old with a huge chance of adding another C&D success to his solid record here.
RUNNING WOLF represents the in-form Hales and Woods combination. He ran with fair encouragement when fifth last time off a 2lb higher mark and is now 2lb below his last winning mark when bolting up by seven lengths. Since that success, Running Wolf has placed twice in decent company off 112 and 110 so he’s very well treated nowadays and there’s a good chance he could take advantage of his much reduced mark.
ROBYNDZONE ran really well on chase debut last time to finish third and remains on the same mark 93 this afternoon for Fergal O’Brien with Paddy Brennan taking the ride. He is probably the only runner in the field open to a lot of improvement being only six years old and his mark looks manageable, leaving him with a big chance here.
Selections: CLONDAW RIGGER, ARTHUR’S REUBEN, RUNNING WOLF, ROBYNDZONE
14.10 – Juvenile Hurdle
The feature race of the day is an absolute cracker with two very smart horses taking each other on, trying to enhance there triumph hurdle credentials.
We have the unbeaten GOSHEN, who currently sits third favourite at 8/1 for the triumph hurdle at the Cheltenham festival. Goshen has bolted up in both starts from the front over hurdles so far, not seeing another rival and winning by a combination of 57 lengths. He has done nothing wrong and there is definitely much more improvement to come as the stable hold him in the highest regard. Goshen has the potential to become top-class and he’s a short priced favourite for today’s event so if he is going to have a huge chance in the triumph hurdle then he must win this well or run a blinder to say the least.
Goshen is the most likely winner but he is up against a lovely horse in the shape of the Alan King trained LORD LAMINGTON who has shown stronger form over hurdles than Goshen. Lord Lamington was actually rated higher than him on the flat and I liked the way he travelled and jumped on his hurdles debut before showing a nice turn of foot. Lord Lamington was then pitched into grade two company at Doncaster last time and lost nothing in defeat when second behind a battle-hardened sort, who had his own way of things in front.
This progressive 4-year-old travelled into the race like the best horse that day but could never land a blow on the winner from the back of the last flight. I think today’s race will be run at a hell of a gallop by Goshen and that will suit this strong-traveller who definitely has a chance of beating Goshen if things go to plan including the fact he’s achieved a higher speed figure than the market leader. I do rate this horse a lot and looking at the prices for the triumph, he wouldn’t be out of place at juicy odds regardless of whether he beats Goshen or not today.
Selections: GOSHEN, LORD LAMINGTON
14.45 – Mares’ Maiden Hurdle
A wide-open event and the most solid option looks to be Stuart Edmund’s mare WHO’S THE BOSS who placed on her first two hurdle starts before managing a solid fifth of 13 in a stronger race than this last time out over a furlong further. The return down in trip will suit and she will hard to keep out of the frame with three solid runs under her belt for her in-form stable.
Warren Greatrex is starting to hit form again of late and I like the chances of his mare MISS HONEY RYDER. She looked a mare going places earlier this year, winning two bumpers before running a huge race to finish fourth of 15 in a grade three flat race at Punchestown, which is the best form out of this field as the first three home are all quality mares.
Miss Honey Ryder hasn’t shown her best form over hurdles so far in both starts but if she can translate her bumper form to this company, it would be no surprise to see her run very well especially with the champion jockey Richard Johnson booked to ride.
Selections: WHO’S THE BOSS, MISS HONEY RYDER
15.15 – Mares’ Maiden Hurdle
We conclude the day with another mares event and it is very hard to overlook Rebecca Curtis’ mare JUST A THOUGHT who has been found a winning opportunity to get off the mark over hurdles. She’s a very talented mare who’s form figures below listed level reads 113222322, which is ridiculous form figures for one who has been unfortunate to not win over hurdles as of yet.
Just A Thought even managed to finish fourth in a grade two over hurdles and her two runs this campaign have been good. Richard Johnson has been booked to ride and her class and experience can see her win this and win it very well with first time cheekpieces applied.
Selections: JUST A THOUGHT
