A decent jumps card from Huntingdon today and John Ferguson saddles Camborne (1.10) in the opening Novices' Hurdle. The selection was a 100-rated flat race performer for John Gosden although, one could argue, he wasn't at his best when last seen on the flat back in September 2014. He always had a reputation as being a bit of a thinker but Ferguson has done tremendously well with these well-bred cast-offs from the flat and Camborne gets the vote.
The feature is a £25,000 Handicap Hurdle and it has attracted a competitive field. Lil Rockerfeller should appreciate the step up to 2m 4f but I think better ground would suit and I think Bivouac (2.10) is one for whom the step up in trip on soft ground will lead to improvement
The selection only beat one home at Chepstow on his reappearance but has run well all starts going right-handed and has been dropped 5lbs by the handicapper. He will make a lovely chaser in time but this looks a decent opportunity for the Nicky Henderson yard who had such an excellent weekend.
The Novices' Handicap Chase sees the British debut of winning French hurdler Monyjean (2.40) for Evan Williams and it is interesting that connections are running the 4-year-old over the larger obstacles and in handicap company on his first start in Britain. The selection receives an 8lbs weight-for-age allowance and the step up in trip ought to suit.
Another chase debutant is Spending Time (1.40) who is certainly built to carry weight and can put behind a slightly below par run last time off this mark over timber. I was certainly taken with the manner of his previous success at Stratford and he certainly has the scope to make his mark over fences.
At Sedgefield Distime is one to note if there is market support but he ran poorly, albeit in a hot race, at Wetherby on his first start for Richard Drake. He is a C&D winner from a 6lbs higher mark when with John Quinn but preference is for Grate Fella (2.50) a winner here over timber and who had a pleasing first season over the larger obstacles last term winning twice at Catterick.
This corresponding race was won by non-other than Darna last year and the Kim Bailey-trained runner went on to score at the Cheltenham Festival and is a leading contender for the Paddy Power (25/1 at BetVictor) this weekend.
When the ground is described as heavy at Lingfield you know it is going to be extremely testing and first time out might be the time to catch Flementime (1.00) for Martin Keighley given she has such a good record when fresh. The mare has the scope for fences but cut little ice in her runs over the larger obstacles and it is no surprise to see her revert to timber on her first start since New Year's Day.
There is a handicap hurdle for “flat jockeys” and Mattie Batchelor rides Solstice Star (2.30) for Keighley and the5-year-old escapes a penalty for last week's decisive Chepstow win given it was a conditional jockeys' event; if over those exertions he will be hard to peg back.
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