2.20pm Huntingdon Tips & Betting Preview 08/11/2016

IN SUMMARY: The talented Paul Nicholls inmate All Set To Go has some very good form in the book and could take a bit of stopping if he is at his best. The Swinton Hurdle runner up should come on for the run after an eye-catching 3rd at Chepstow last time out and is very respected. A chance is taken on the horse at the bottom of the weights MYSTIC SKY who comes here at the top of her game. The five year old Midnight Legend mare was a wide margin winner at Market Rasen in May and ran a very respectable race on her season reappearance at Fontwell a few days ago when 2nd to Midtech Valentine, giving the winner a stone. Jack Sherwood takes off a further five pounds and she must hold every chance with improvement to come.

1 ALL SET TO GO – Five year old gelding trained by Champion trainer Paul Nicholls. Won back to back at Taunton earlier this year before chasing home Gwafa at Haydock in the Grade 3 Swinton Hurdle. Decent third behind a progressive Philip Hobbs horse Wishfill Dreaming at Chepstow on his return and will be sharper for this. He has to give weight to the field but Stan Sheppard takes off five pounds.

2 OPTIMUS PRIME – Debutante for the Dan Skelton yard, changing hands from the Francois Nicolle stable for a hefty €110,000 so must be highly thought of. It is hard to know how forward he will be on UK debut but any market support would be very significant as the yard do well with their new recruits.

3 BELTOR – Won the Grade 2 Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton in February 2015 and if he could return to that sort of form, he would be a massive player. However, he has struggled since. Well beat when 6th in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2015 and has been beat out of sight on all three starts since. Best watched.

4 RUACANA – Cape Cross gelding trained by Tim Vaughan who is in good form at present. The 7 year old was well beat in the Pertemps at Cheltenham in March and was well beat at Aintree a month later. Well beat on seasonal debut but ran a decent race when 6th at Cheltenham last time out but he needs further than two miles.

5 PRUSSIAN EAGLE – First run for the Evan Williams stable here, coming from the flat with Charles O’Brien in Ireland. 2nd over 1m 5f on heavy ground at Navan when last seen and he won’t lack for pace, that’s for sure. He has won over hurdles in the past and if he is fit and well on first run for this yard, he must have place claims.

6 ROBINSHILL – Nigel Twiston Davies is operating at a 29% win strike rate over the past 14 days so his stable is on fire at present. That must bode well for this 5 year old gelding by Robin Des Champs who won well off a mark of 115 at Wetherby last month. He is up 12 pounds for that but Tom Humphries takes off 10 pounds in the saddle. This is tougher but he is respected.

7 MYSTIC SKY – Progressive five year old mare who ran a cracker on seasonal reappearance when 2nd at Fontwell, giving the winner a stone. She will come on heaps for that run and gets weight from the entire field plus Jack Sherwood takes off a further 5 pounds. She has plenty of speed, won over this trip in the past and ground will suit. Big player.