5.20pm Huntingdon Tips & Betting Preview 03/04/2017

This is an interesting contest at Huntingdon, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: CRESSWELL LEGEND should come on for his first run under rules at Southwell last year and this expensive purchase can go onto better things. Cockney Wren is a big threat receiving a sex allowance and she should be capable of better whilst any support for the flat-bred Understatement would be of serious interest.

1 OSKI – 70,000 Euros purchase as a 3yo and he made a winning debut at Southwell in a similar contest to this. That came on Good ground and conditions have probably been against him in his last two races on Soft and Good to Soft ground so today’s drying ground will definitely help his cause. He does have to carry a 7lb penalty today but is worth respect for a yard with a decent 14% strike rate here.

2 CRESSWELL LEGEND – 75,000 Euros purchase as a 4yo and he won a point to point in April 2015. That came over 3 miles and he made a good debut under rules when third of 14 at Southwell over today’s trip in November. That effort came on Good ground and with today’s conditions likely to be similar again today he should have a good chance of making a winning reappearance under rules.

3 POTTERS HEDGER – Half-brother to Cresswell Legend (also by Midnight Legend) and he’s run with credit in two National Hunt Flat Races. The last of those runs came at Southwell and he was only beaten 4 1/2 lengths which puts him in contention here with a decent run previous to that back on the turf. His trainer has been slightly out of form of late which is off-putting but he’s worth a second look in the betting.

4 RAISING THE BAR – Nicky Henderson has an incredibly good record at Huntingdon (35% strike rate) and he runs an interesting enough type here. He’s a 43,000 Euro 3yo who finished a remote sixth of 16 at Warwick back in December having been supported into 6/1. There should be more to come with that experience under his belt and he’s worth very close attention in the betting for a yard so good here at Huntingdon.

5 BUCKBY BOY – £40,000 3yo purchase and is an interesting debutante for a yard that have been in good form recently (24% strike rate last 14 days). He’s a 4yo so it’ll be interesting to see how ready he will be on debut but this yard can ready one first time out and the betting may provide the best clues as to his chances in this.

6 KINGSLEY – 21,000 Euro purchase as a 3yo and by a decent jumps sire in Kalanisi. His trainer hasn’t sent many horses to Huntingdon but he’s operating at a 25% strike rate here and that makes this runner of interest. He gets the assistance of Ciaran Gethings who claims a valuable 3lbs and he’s another that’s worth close attention in the betting market. Interesting.

7 TAKEN BY FORCE – Very cheap 3yo purchase (5,500 Euros) and had run to a modest level in two point-to-points. He placed on both occasions in decent fields having looked a bit one paced in the finish. He steps down in trip here for his rules debut and it’ll be interesting to see how he shapes from a pace angle. Owned and trained by Tom Weston and yard have been out of form of late.

8 TOP GARRY – Second runner in this for Stuart Edmunds and he’s another that will be worth a close market check on debut. His runners usually need their debuts and it’s tricky to know what to expect from this sort until you see him on the racecourse. The percentage call is to oppose him with some nicer looking sorts on paper here.

9 UNDERSTATEMENT – Bought for an eye-catching 57,000GNS as a yearling but he was sold on for just 4,000GNS as a 3yo. He’s likely to have had plenty of issues to lose such value and it’s interesting that he makes his appearance here for Warren Greatrex. The yard have an excellent 15% strike rate in the last fortnight and he’s one of the likelier types if connections can straighten out any issues he may have had.

10 WESTELLO – 6yo mare making only her second start today and she was beaten a long way at Wetherby last time out in an eleven runner contest. She’ll do better on this drying ground but she’s very lightly raced for her age and may have had one or two problems. Her yard don’t excel here (6% strike rate, 2 wins from 32 runners) and others make more appeal today.

11 COCKNEY WREN – By Cockney Rebel who has produced some nice enough types over jumps and this horse was a 14,000GNS purchase a foal. She’s run some nice races to date and came very close to winning on her first attempt under rules when beaten a neck at Taunton in a Class 4 contest. That piece of form gives her a leading chance and this and she’ll be better suited to today’s 2 miles than the shorter trip she faced last time out at Wetherby. Respected here.