Racecards
14:40 Huntingdon
Racing UK Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good to Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Winner: £4,554
- 2nd: £1,337
- 3rd: £668
- 4th: £334
Squadron
31- Form 4/97-423
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 4th, went 2nd after 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on well
- Form 643-331
- Age 9
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer Mrs D Grissell
- Jockey A Thornton
led until slowed up and headed 3rd, soon led again, headed 5th, led next, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace
- Form 2110-01
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
mid-division, not fluent 1st, pushed along 3rd, reminders after 4th, headway 6th, disputing last when blundered and unseated rider 9th
- Form 212162
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey D C Costello
led briefly 3rd, led 5th until 6th, tracked leader until after 3 out, 4th and weakening when mistake 2 out
- Form 223132
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 116
- Trainer R Curtis
- Jockey Hadden Frost
held up, not fluent 7th or 9th, weakened approaching 13th, tailed off
- Form 165P-24
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 113
tracked leaders, mistake and reminders 9th, jumped slowly 13th, soon outpaced, weakened after 3 out, jumped left 2 out, tailed off
- Form 42-6030
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, lost place after next, hit 8th, rider without right iron when pulled up soon after
- Form 21P6FP
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
held up in rear, headway 13th, went 3rd approaching 2 out, every chance last, not look keen and no impression on winner when lost 2nd towards finish
- Form 7/021F5
- Age 7
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer Miss C Dyson
- Jockey T J Phelan
Nonrunner
- Form 52220/5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey J M Maguire
Nonrunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Rear Gunner jumped his rivals silly at Kempton last month but will do well to repeat that feat here off a 6lb higher mark. Squadron also looks to be facing a stiff task at the weights as connections still seem to be undecided over his best trip and he was readily outpaced at Taunton last time. Topsham Belle had the weights in her favour when winning a four-runner race at Leicester last time but is open to improvement, while Dunkelly Castle returned from a couple of months off to finish second over 3m2f at Wincanton and is proving most consistent. But we like the look of THE FERBANE MAN, whose only blot came when upped in grade and distance in the Sussex National last month. A solid second over this trip at Ffos Las since, Tim Vaughan's seven-year-old still looks to be on a decent mark.
Formwatch
Squadron 9-2 (10-12) Close up in 5th on inside, pushed along 12th, outpaced 4 out, staying on again when blundered and left 4th 3 out, went 3rd flat, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Shakalakaboomboom (11-1) at Taunton 2m 7f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Rear Gunner (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Made all, clear 10th to 5 out, quickened clear again 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on well, won at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Jan beating Moleskin (11-10) by 6l, 8 ran.
Topsham Belle (IRE) 13-2 (10-6) Raced in 4th, jumped carefully, reminders after 7th, ridden 14th, stayed on approaching last, soon went 2nd, led flat, driven out, won at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Jan beating Teddy's Reflection (11-5) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
The Ferbane Man (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Held up in close touch, headway to chase leading duo approaching 2 out, chased winner 2 out, ridden to challenge last, every chance flat, found no extra and held final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Kaybeew (11-4) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Dunkelly Castle (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up behind in touch, pushed along 14th, headway 4 out, challenged next, every chance when went left last, ridden and kept on flat, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Honourable Arthur (10-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Sandynow (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Prominent, went left and not fluent 1st, led after 8th until next, close 3rd 3 out, went left and no extra 2 out, 4th and well beaten when mistake last, last of 4, 43l behind Topsham Belle (10-6) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) gs in Jan.
Ceepeegee (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden after 5th, behind 8th, 17th of 21, 21l behind Sparrow Hills (10-11) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Marc of Brilliance (USA) 40-1 (11-5) Held up in last trio, ridden and struggling 12th, tailed off and pulled up after 13th, in a race won by Sona Sasta (11-0) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan, 9 ran.
Mud Monkey 5-1 (10-12) Led until not fluent 5th, led next until 7th, hampered 8th, lost place after 13th, soon weakened, went left last 2, 5th of 9, 36l behind Forget It (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
The Old Pretender (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) In touch, hit 3 out, weakened soon after, 5th of 17, 19l behind Habbie Simpson (11-5) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.