Jumps Racing - Thursday 21st February

[Bathtime For Rupert]

2.00 Huntingdon - 1pt win Was My Valentine @ 14/1 (Bet365) I don't like a lot of these runners, especially the more exposed types so I'm happy to side with one who could progress having shown fair ability in bumpers and novice hurdles. The nibbles of market support are certainly no negative and Jo Davis' runner should be capable of being competitive off a mark of 93. She won a bumper on debut before a respectable effort under a penalty next time and two of her three efforts over hurdles have been satisfactory. She was beaten well out of sight on the other but she had no chance really - sent off at 125/1 in a hot six-runner listed race. She shaped well after a break at Stratford and competed in a good race last time won by Poet. She was beaten 30l in the end but this is much easier going handicapping off a lowly mark and the easier track should suit. She's also been held up in her hurdle runs yet was a bit more up with the pace on the level so perhaps she'll return to more positive tactics now she's got her mark. All in all I think there's a good chance this will go to an unexposed type and the value appears to lie with Alain Cawley's only mount on the card. 2.30 Huntingdon - 1pt win Sir Frank @ 12/1 (Hills) I am a lot more worried, however, about the weakness of David Pipe's runner in the betting but he had a relatively unfancied second-string go in the other day and I'm hoping that the ease in the market is not significant to his chances. On form I'd say he looks to have a strong chance here. He did nothing wrong over hurdles in 2010 - winning three and finishing second once - and again ran creditably in a handicap after a lay-off in 2011. Was off for almost two years prior to naturally needing the run at Doncaster last November and was only beaten 8 3/4l last time in a race that has worked out. His best form has come on decent ground so the heavy there wouldn't have been ideal. The ground is a bit better here (if still not ideal) and the step up in trip shouldn't be a concern on pedigree. Dropped 3lbs for that solid effort last time and again I'm not a fan of those at the head of the market so I'll take a risk that the market has this one wrong. 4.00 Huntingdon - 1pt win Upbeat Cobbler @ 10/1 (VC) On the face of it, Bill Turner's favourite ought to take some beating here but Henry Daly's charge is simply overpriced in my book and merits a small bet at 10/1. She showed obvious promise in two bumpers last season when finishing fairly well despite showing obvious signs of inexperience. She came home well and looked like she'd really improve given time. She was sent off at 100/1 on her hurdling debut and was in the process of running a big race when falling at 3 out and may well have been very involved at the finish. Again she was showing signs of finishing well so the extended trip here looks a plus. Although she couldn't live with the winner last time (subsequently flopped a bit but perhaps race came too soon) I think the heavy ground there wouldn't have been ideal. Her other races were run on good to soft and her sire has a poor record on heavy ground. This surface won't be as bad today and she should be finishing pretty well if others have cried enough. Seems consistent and fingers crossed she can cause a bit of an upset here.

[Lodge]

Re: Jumps Racing - Thursday 21st February 4.00 - Huntingdon - Katnapping EW @ 16/1 Stan James Not usually my sort of race but considering there is nothing much i fancy today i'll have a small play on this one. Reasonably well bred and ran okay on debut when 4th behind a decent yardstick in Eleven Fifty Nine, the 2nd and 3rd of that race have both come out and placed again since too. Upped in trip today and should certainly come on alot from its debut. Not particularly strong in the market but looks far too big considering it wasnt given a hard time on its debut and is totally unexposed.