Hi all,
There are a couple of decent handicaps today at Huntingdon and Hereford this afternoon.
Huntingdon
1:45 – Michaelmas Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 2m
Rowland Ward has only had three starts over hurdles. A faller, two out when still in contention, on his hurdling debut at Warwick. He put that mishap behind him to win a juvenile hurdle at Kempton (soft) over Christmas. Stepped up to Grade 2 company. albeit a weak one, at Cheltenham a month later. Got badly hampered when making his effort on the inside after two out and that was race over. Won on good ground when trained on the flat by Ralph Beckett so underfoot conditions should be fine. First run since January but worth another chance now going handicapping for the first time. Yard among the winners and have a good record at the track.
1pt win Rowland Ward – 7/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Hereford
2:07 – Just the seven go to post for this 2m 5f handicap chase (Class3). Town Parks has won over C&D in the past and the 9-year-old made a pleasing return to action when 2nd of 11 at Stratford 12-days ago. Looks competitive off a mark of 127 but maybe he will need softer going to exploit it.
Highest Sun is another who may prefer a bit softer ground than he gets here. The 6-year-old has scope for more improvement over fences and I think a mark of 136 will be workable this season. Colin Tizzard’s runners have been needing their first run of the season but I could see this one going close here.
1pt win – Highest Sun – 9/2 @ Bet365
Cheers
John