HUNTINGDON (19 Nov 2005)

Good

1:25 toteexacta Novices' Hurdle (Class D) (4yo+)

[off 1:25] £5,243.84, £1,539.46, £769.73, £384.46 10 hdles (2m4f110y) 2m4½f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Be Be King (IRE) P F Nicholls 6 10-12 R Walsh 8/11F — —

2 2½ Wee Robbie N J Gifford 5 10-12 L Aspell 5/2 — —

3 7 Delightful Cliche Mrs P Sly 4 10-12 P Moloney 12/1 — —

4 7 Blue Hills P W Hiatt 4 10-12 p J P McNamara 25/1 — —

5 16 Alexander Sapphire (IRE) N B King 4 10-2 O Nelmes(3) 50/1 — —

6 14 Novack Du Beury (FR) Ferdy Murphy 4 10-5 P J McDonald(7) 66/1 — —

7 11 Tashkandi (IRE) P Bowen 5 10-7 T Greenway(5) 16/1 — —

8 15 Mostakbel (USA) M D I Usher 6 10-5 b1 L Newnes(7) 50/1 — —

PU Breuddwyd Lyn Mrs D A Hamer 7 10-7 L Stephens(5) 100/1 — —

PU Lady Radmore J G M O´Shea 6 9-12 S Crawford(7) 100/1 — —

10 ran TIME 5m 1.20s (slow by 22.20s) TOTAL SP 111%

NON RUNNERS: Ballyshan (IRE) ,Hobbs Hill ,Loup Bleu (USA) ,Zipalong Lad (IRE)

1st OWNER: C G Roach BRED: P E Atkinson TRAINER: P F Nicholls

2nd OWNER: P H Betts (holdings) Ltd

3rd OWNER: Mrs V M Edmonson

TOTE WIN £1.80 PL £1.10, £1.20, £1.80; Ex £2.10; CSF £2.42

ANALYSIS: A disappointing race in that there was no pace, and the raft of withdrawals robbed it of much of its strength.
Both BE BE KING and Wee Robbie are chasers in the making, but they proved a class apart from a fairly modest bunch, clearing away from the home turn.
Be Be King's hurdling is a big worry when facing a tougher examination, although connections pointed out that a tougher galloping track like Sandown or Newbury would see him in a better light. He has schooled over fences, where his futurelies next season, but was awkward over some of his hurdles and knocked the second-last flat, which gave Wee Robbie another chance.
Wee Robbie got much closer to the winner than in Karanja's bumper at Newbury and that was down to much better jumping technique, and he continues to look progressive and a novice winner in waiting.
Delightful Cliche was still taking a grip down the back straight when moving into contention. Although readily left behind by the big two, he stayed on well enough over this longer trip and is another who looks progressive and sure to pick up an ordinary novice event.
The rest were well beaten and strung out, with front-running Blue Hills holding fourth, which does not say much for the rest or the overall strength of the form.
Lady Radmore did her best to refuse at the third on this seasonal return and looks one to beware, while Alexander Sapphire was not very fluent over her hurdles on this debut, suggesting there could be some improvement from the experience.[BJ]