A couple of winners on Saturday, including Farhan in the November Handicap, meant a decent enough weekend for the service.
Its a low-key start to the week but the quality does improve each day in the lead up to Cheltenham’s three-day November meeting which starts on Friday. There are jump cards this afternoon at Lingfield, Hereford, Huntingdon. Plus, a teatime all-weather fixture at Newcastle.
Tuesday best race is the Class 3 Michaelmas Handicap Hurdle (1:30) at Huntingdon. Sadly, the 2m contest has only attracted six runners.
Huntingdon
1:30 – Michaelmas Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 2m
Despite the small field it looks a competitive contest with three of the six declared runners are previous C&D winners. It’s those three that interest me most.
Takeit Easy showed he has returned to action in good form when winning a handicap hurdle Wetherby last month. Up just 2lb for that success and Jack Andrews takes off a handy 5lb which negates the weight rise. He goes well on a sound surface and looks to have a favourites chance.
Onemorefortheroad has also returned to action in winning form. Making it 3 wins from 6 runs over hurdles when winning at Stratford 12-days ago. The 6-year-old is only 1lb higher here and is aonther who goes well on quick ground.
Ajero a winner over C&D, off 1lb lower, in March. Off for seven months the 6-year-old shaped like he was need of the run when pulling up in a listed handicap hurdle won by Soaring Glory at Ascot 10-days ago. Takes a drop-in class here and he could easily bounce back to winning ways.
Verdict: There doesn’t seem to be much in the way of pace in the race. It seems likely that Cabot Cliffs will make the running with Ajero better positioned than Takeit Easy. At the prices, I’m just going with Ajero but there’s not much between him at Takeit Easy.
Ajero – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John