The ITV cameras pay a visit to both Huntingdon and Kelso on Sunday. Matty Sutcliffe provides you with his best four bets across the action.
2:05 Kelso – Bruce Farms Scottish Borders National Handicap Chase (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-140) – Pinot Rouge 6/1 generally (10/1 Ladbrokes/Coral) 1pt WIN
The unexposed mare PINOT ROUGE brings strong potential to marathon trips, having looked outpaced over 2m4f on her two starts over fences this season. She jumped a touch poorly on chase debut when a 22L third at Hexham in October, though stayed on well enough to suggest she has an engine. She improved on RPR’s next time out in a competitive listed contest at Carlisle last month, when only weakening after the last.
She drops back in to handicap company in what is effectively a 0-130, and should be much more comfortable in this company. She caught my eye when winning a listed contest at Doncaster in March on just her second start over hurdles, staying on dourly in somewhat treacherous conditions, faring best of those racing in rear with the other two both pulling up. That performance suggested she needs staying trip to unearth her potential, so this four mile chase can bring the best out of stamina laden daughter of Vendangeur.
Her mark looks fine, and they obviously thought highly enough of her to run in the G1 Sefton Novices’ at Aintree, and she was far from disgraced posting an RPR of 124 at 80/1, dead heating with the 135-rated Shanagh Bob for fourth, finishing four lengths behind the 131r Cherie D’Am and only 12 lengths behind Albert Bartlett second The Jukebox Man.
Visually, she looks a strong stayer all day and she can fair well down in this weaker race.
2:25 Huntingdon – Trustatrader You Can Trust Our Traders Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier) (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-130) – Milldam 9/2 1pt WIN
Unless the unexposed Kikijo can prove she is chucked in off her mark of 124 and cope with a 430-day layoff, then this looks to be between the top two in the market, who are both seeking a hat trick.
MILLDAM gets the nod, who will be better suited by the forecast rain over the weekend and could be well treated off a mark of 126 judged on his last two performances. His form fresh reads 3302151, with the only two below par efforts coming first time up for Jamie Snowden when midfield in the 2022 Boodles, and then over 2m5f when presumably the trip was too far.
He has form figures of 111 when in this header combination over two miles, and given he was a comfortable C&D winner on his only course start, he can continue his progressive ways for the in form Jamie Snowden.
2:40 Kelso – Richard Landale Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+) – Matata 5/2 2pt WIN
The sole progressive runner in the field is the six year old MATATA, who wouldn’t have to improve much again on his last two efforts to take this for Nigel Twiston Davies, who sends just the one runner up north for the day.
He was a bet for the column when just nabbed by Calico at Cheltenham in October, though easily reversed the form with that on last time out when bolting up 26L, for all it was at the expense of Gunsight Ridge falling at the last.
The pair were both put up 3lbs, which seems a touch harsh on Olly Murphy’s, but I’d say Matata had his measure there given how he powered up the straight and I can envisage a similar scenario here if getting loose on the front end. His form behind JPR One at Lingfield in a Grade Two in January suggests he’s still well handicapped off 147, and this undulating, sharp test will play to his strengths in that respect.
3:00 Huntingdon – trustatrader.com Handicap Chase (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-110) – Guerlain De Vaux 16/1 1pt WIN
The handicapper has given GUERLAIN DE VAUX a chance having dropped him 9lbs to 110 on this return to action, and while he has to contend with a 754 day absence, he brings a considerable amount of potential here on yard debut for Kim Bailey. The half brother to last years’ Champion Bumper winner Jasmin De Vaux was a promising 5yo for Oliver Sherwood, winning a pair of Novice Hurdles in the winter of 2021/22, including beating the now 136r Lounge Lizard on hurdles debut.
He was evidently not right since when pulling up twice, he remains of interest and if Kim Bailey can spark some life back into him then he’s worth a speculative play for a yard who are 18-4-8 in handicap chases here (£10.00+) in the last five seasons.
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