Racing tips: Hullnback will be eyeing big prizes if impressing on hurdles debut

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First and foremost I want to wish a speedy recovery to jockey Ben Sutton who took a nasty fall on yesterday's first selection, Kepy Blanc. It was a horrible fall for the jockey who was stretchered off the racetrack into an ambulance. I've not heard of anything since, but I hope he is okay, as is the horse. The race was voided so money was returned, but that didn't even cross my mind.

As for the other selection, Farouk De Cheneau, he ran a stinker of a race and was beaten by miles. Poor performance and nothing like he had previously shown which was a bit of a shock.

Chepstow 2:00

One thing which I learnt today was that Fergal O'Brien has his yard in super order, even after long absences, so the fact HULLNBACK has to prove his fitness after 200 days off the track, I feel comfortable with that as his stablemates seem to winning a lot when fresh and the form of the yard is flying, like it has been from the summer racing.

Novice races are often tricky as you have many unexposed horses either making their debuts over obstacles or have shown some form over them and are still learning their craft and shouldn't be discounted. However, using bumper form is often a very good starting point for races like this and Hullnback has the best form in that sphere by quite a margin. though he only won once, which came on racecourse debut, he has run well in some nice races since, including 5th in a Listed race, as well as finishing 2nd in a Grade 2 at Aintree. On the first of those races in Class 1 company he finished ahead of Timeforatune who will be fancied for this race, but the fact he was a fair bit behind today's selection suggests he has something to find.

The ground will probably remain as good-to-soft, which shouldn't be an issue for Hullnback considering he won on soft and ran well on both occasions on a similar surface in Class 1 races. The horse with the superior hurdles form is Pikar for the Skelton yard, running to a decent level in a Grade 2 when finishing 5th behind Jonbon. It's hard to say whether he was flattered to finish as close as he did that day (9.25L behind), but he does some good form and has to be respected, but the yard isn't exactly firing how you'd expect them to, with a 12% SR in the last fourteen days from 34 runners, so I'll take my chance on the hurdles debutante Hullnback who is priced at around 2/1.

Chepstow 3:45

Nothing crazy in terms of the price but off a 4lb higher mark, surely SONIGINO should be tough to beat, coming back to the same course and distance he won at just under three weeks ago.

He had a wind-op over the summer break and that seemed to work wonders for him, winning a Class 3 (0-140) in relatively good style. He took quite a pull in that race, so to see him finish off his race in the style he did showed the engine he has, and the benefit of the wind-op. With only Harlem Soul being the other horse in the race with a run under their belt, I find it tough to see Sonigino get beat in this race, which is effectively a weaker race in terms of the grade which is a 0-130. The race he won was a decent renewal, beating a good mare in the shape of Nina The Terrier, who is no mug.

He was sent off as 6/4F last time out, which came as a surprise to me as I didn't expect the run he did, but clearly, he had been burning up the gallops at home and they felt he was well-handicapped, which I now believe, and off a slightly higher mark, he still falls under that category. The odds aren't amazing, but I expected much shorter, so for that reason, I think he is still classed as value for the Paul Nicholls yard which seems to be flying at the moment.

Fakenham 3:35

I'm glad to see DAZZLING GLORY over a shorter trip after finishing 2nd over 3m 1f behind my selection The Big Difference a couple of weeks ago. I tipped the winner in that race based on the fact that I wasn't convinced that Dazzling Glory was as strong of a stayer at that kind of trip, and that was proven correct. However, dropping her back to 2m 5f makes her of serious interest.

She jumps well, and often jumps to the left, which is another positive for taking her to Fakenham which is a left-handed track. She has to carry top weight again, which is never ideal, but she ran well enough last time off 12st to say that the weight should be fine for her. Tristan Durrell will aid her with the weight, taking away 5lbs with his claim, and that should make things a little easier for her.

Though she does stay further, I think this tight track could suit and considering she's not favourite, I think she is worth a small bet. I can see why the others in the race will be fancied, but I think there is still room off her handicap mark of 120.

Fakenham 4:10

I can see why the early money has come for SAWPIT SIENNA as her only win came over today's course and distance back in 2020. She hasn't been a consistent performer since then, which is an obvious concern but to see her back at this track off a 1lb higher mark than her only win is noticeable.

Samuel Drinkwater has acquired the champion jockey Brian Hughes which is very eye-catching and is of real significance that they think they have a real chance of landing the prize in this. Brian doesn't come to Fakenham all too often, so the fact they've secured a ride on this horse makes me think they're confident.

This race isn't spectacular and many horses arrive in poor form, so it shouldn't take much to win a race of this nature. So knowing this horse likes this track and is virtually running off the same handicap mark as when winning here makes her a good bet in hope of a revival.

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