Racing
Huntingdon tips: Mister Coffey out to prove his Cheltenham credentials
The in-form Steven Dowler came so close on Tuesday, with his Pick 6 Syndicate missing out by just a single leg! Can he go one better at Huntingdon? He reckons that Mister Coffey could prove himself on a par with highly-rated stablemate Shishkin. Agree with his selections? Then join his Syndicate before it fills.
12.50 – Novices’ Hurdle
This is a cracking race to start the card, which will give us more clues on the Supreme Novices Hurdle market.
Although Shishkin was an impressive winner when slamming Shakem Up’arry last time, I am very surprised to see him favourite for the Supreme already as MISTER COFFEY beat the same rival easily, despite looking green, and is still a 25/1 chance for the same race, which looks very appealing.
I think MISTER COFFEY is just as good as his stablemate Shiskin on a line through the runner-up they’ve beaten the last twice and this son of Authorized has loads more improvement to come. This promising 5yo been found a good opportunity to get another win and more experience under his belt before heading to Cheltenham next month with a lively chance.
Selections: MISTER COFFEY
13.25 – Handicap Hurdle
Now onto a weak handicap hurdle and CONNECT FOUR looked in need of his return to action last time out and will strip fitter today. He was a good third two runs ago behind two horses now rated 130+ and his opening mark here of 105 looks attractive with James Bowen booked to ride and the Tom George stable going really well. I think he is a huge player against this moderate field.
I think SEA STORY has a chance of hitting the frame at least. He likes soft to heavy ground and has run well on both starts this season against higher rated rivals. The step back up distance looks a good move and David Bass is back on board, who is riding as well as anybody this season. The in-form TWYCROSS WARRIOR went close to winning at Warwick last time and is only 3LB higher here with the return to a longer trip promising to suit.
State Vision has shown promise on all starts under rules for Charlie Longsdon. He has taken on some very good opposition over hurdles to date without being disgraced and although he only finished midfield on handicap debut last time, he travelled well into the race and is 2LB lower today with reasons to believe he can improve on that effort here.
Selections: CONNECT FOUR, SEA STORY, TWYCROSS WARRIOR
14.00 – Handicap Hurdle
Another ultra competitive handicap hurdle to digest on today’s card. The most solid option looks to be TWENTY TWENTY for Gary and Joshua Moore. He’s a really consistent handicapper and his best form has been over over 2m3f+ with form figures reading 3-3-3-2-2. TWENTY TWENTY ran well to finish second behind an above average sort last time (LIGHTLY SQUEEZE) and another solid performance looks likely with the stable on a great run of form.
EXCITATIONS has steadily improved with each start having finished a fair fifth on hurdles debut behind Redford Road and Shan Blue, who have both run in graded races since. He was unfortunate to fall last time out when booked for second behind the smart Dundrum Wood and bounced back to finish a good third last time out over this trip on soft ground despite being hampered late on. The runner-up Strong Glance has since bolted up off 121 so an opening mark of 117 for EXCITATIONS looks more than fair with all three runs over hurdles working out well and I’m pretty confident of a big run under Charlie Deutsch.
KATAHDIN has a good chance too for the Tizzard and Power combination. He’s shown solid form over hurdles, finishing thereabouts behind horses such as King Roland, Emitom and a few good other ones. KATAHDIN is a strong traveller, who handles soft ground and an opening mark of 113 up in trip makes him a huge danger to the others with this race looking easier than the races he has been contesting.
Selections: TWENTY TWENTY, EXCITATIONS, KATAHDIN
14.35 – Pertemps Handicap Hurdle
Today’s card gets tougher with another big handicap on the card but this one looks more classier with all the runners trying to qualify for the main event at Cheltenham.
I really like ANYTIME WILL DO for the Skelton team. He won his first three starts for connections and although beaten on his next couple of runs, he caught my eye last time when 5th of 18 in a class 2 handicap at Newbury when stepped up to three miles. He was held-up at the rear and despite racing keenly, this promising 6yo glided through the field before making a mistake two out and then hung left soon after. However, I liked how ANYTIME WILL DO stayed on strongly to be nearest the finish and for me, I thought he would have won without those costly errors. It was his first run over three miles and he seemed to love it and remains on the same mark for this event and I’m quietly confident he will go close to winning this with plenty more improvement to come.
LABEL DES OBEAUX hasn’t run for a long time but he’s gone well fresh more than once in the past. He’s a very good horse, who ran in grade one company as a novice and, is rated 150 over fences including the fact he is 14LB below his last winning mark. He was sixth in the Scottish National two runs ago off 147 and his sole run last season was when a fair sixth of 14 in another qualifier for the pertemps at Newbury over hurdles and he wasn’t beaten far considering he was hampered. That was a fair effort off a mark 141 and he’s surprisingly 7LB lower today, which makes him extremely well treated to run a very big race.
Richard Hobson’s yard are having winners left, right and centre and WHO’S MY JOCKEY ran well at Cheltenham last time on stable debut off 2LB higher on his return having travelled well before fitness told late on. He is only 3LB above his last winning mark over hurdles and is a real solid horse, who always runs his races in these kind of handicaps. There should be more to come from him on his second run for the yard and he can go well under Aidan Coleman.
TAJ BADALANDABAD is lightly raced in recent years and won this very race two years ago off 1LB higher by six lengths. He goes well in big field handicaps and has placed twice at Cheltenham off a mark 138. I think he ran well enough last time considering he was hampered late on and should go well at nice odds here being well treated for David Pipe and Tom Scudamore.
Selections: ANYTIME WILL DO, LABEL DES OBEAUX, WHO’S MY JOCKEY, TAJ BADALANDABAD
15.35 – Mares’ Listed Chase
We move move onto a cracking listed mares’ chase and I’m really excited to see MAIRE BANRIGH step up in trip as she bids to remain unbeaten over fences. All her opposition ran stinkers last time out whereas this improving 8-year-old has dominated every race from the front on her last five starts including her three wins over fences, where she’s jumped her rivals silly to win nicely each time. Her defeat of Thomas Darby looks even better now and although all of her wins over been over 2 miles, I think she will improve now going up in distance as she hasn’t been stopping at the backend of her races in fact, she has been going away each time and won by 13 lengths last time out. I really like MAIRE BANRIGH and she should prove hard to catch as she bids to make it 4-4 wins over fences.
Selections: MAIRE BANRIGH
15.35 – Handicap Chase
Not a race that excites me but top-weight STEAM LADY is interesting. She was a good third last time out following wind surgery in a class 2 event and is 1LB lower today in a much weaker event. She saves her best form for three miles on soft ground and with the assistance of Tom Scudamore in the saddle, I would like to think she can run a big race here.
HURRICANE ARCADIO looks a solid enough selection for our ticket. He’s only a six-year-old, completely unexposed and has run to a decent level over fences on all four starts. The way he stayed on strongly last time suggests he’s worth a try over this longer trip and it’s worth noting it is Harry Cobden’s only Mount on the card. He’s up 3LB today but this weak and with a top jockey booked, tells me a big run is expected.
Selections: STEAM LADY, HURRICANE ARCADIO
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