2.50pm 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: Coyoacan and SPIRITUAL MAN should dominate this and preference is for the latter. His bit of form behind River Wylde is the best in this race and he can capitalise on the excellent form of his yard to continue their excellent recent run. Jassur is worth keeping an eye on at the bigger prices.

1 COSMIC KING – Showed a hint of ability in a National Hunt Flat Race at Stratford back in June of last year having only been beaten by 3/4 of a length. He’s been disappointing since on Good and Soft ground so it’s difficult to know what to expect on today’s surface. This is certainly weaker than the last two contests he’s competed in and he can’t be ruled out entirely. Yard have a 7% strike rate here.

2 COYOACAN – Decent type for the Warren Greatrex yard who’s been competitive on his last three stars with form figures of 343. They came in decent sized fields and he was just done for a bit of pace over C&D a few weeks ago by some speedier types. This better ground should suit him today and he’s worth plenty of respect with that first effort over hurdles under his belt and he’s one of the likelier types in this for a yard with a decent 16% strike rate here. Respected.

3 SPIRITUAL MAN – Arrives here with the strongest bit of form in the book with a 4 length defeat to River Wylde in January. The winner that day has since gone on to finish third in the Supreme Hurdle and the second won easily just a few weeks ago so the form looks absolutely rock solid. He’s progressing all the time and this is the easiest task he’s faced to date for Jonjo O’Neill and this Lawman gelding will prefer the better ground. Very respected here for a trainer with a 27% strike rate in the last 14 days.

4 GIFT GROM GOD – First time over hurdles today having raced six times on the flat to date. His overall form has been poor and the handicapper had him on a rating of 55 on his last handicap effort where he was beaten 16 1/2 lengths. He’s by Teofilo so this longer trip shouldn’t pose a problem but he’s very hard to recommend today and will probably need handicaps to be seen to best effect.

5 HEAD HIGH – Finished 3 1/2 lengths behind Coyoacan on his last start when receiving 8lbs from that rival. He’s 2lbs worse off with that runner today and it would be a surprise to see him reverse the form here having weakened badly in the finish. He’s started at 100/1 twice and 66/1 on all hurdles starts for Sarah Hollinshead and her runner will be better off in handicaps. Has something to find with Spiritual Man at the weights.

6 JASSUR – Ex-Marco Botti inmate who won once on the flat off a mark of 49 over 1m 2f. He struggled after that victory and connections wisely moved him on to a new career over hurdles. He’s by Canford Cliffs so this drying ground should help him and his trainer generally exceeds with these types of horses so he’s not without a chance on debut. However, he may just need this and is best watched today.

7 LORD TOPPER – Another ex-flat recruit and this horse was with Charlie Hills on the flat. He won a maiden over 1m 5 1/2 furlongs so today’s extra trip should be ideal on debut for a yard that have a decent 12% strike rate here. The ground should be fine on breeding but he’ll need to be fully wound up here to get the better of some fairly decent rivals and may be best watched on that basis.

8 THEODORICO – Ex-Jim Bolger inmate who won once over 7 furlongs on Good to Yielding ground. His new connections have raced him under both codes to date and return him to the hurdling scene here having been beaten 52 lengths in a Novice Hurdle back in January. He looks well-held here on the back of that form although he definitely had ability in his earlier days. Interesting runner.

9 TYNECASTLE PARK – Gelded son of Sea The Stars who has been progressively stepped up in trip on the flat for this stable. He was well-supported on his last outing at Kempton when sent off at 4/1 but he was beaten out of sight in a Class 6 handicap off 57 and that doesn’t encourage support for his hurdles debut. Avoided here.