Huntingdon Racecourse will stage a competitive seven-race jumps meeting on Thursday, with the Huntingdon Race Cards 5 February set to provide opportunities for conditionals, novices and established handicappers across hurdles, steeplechases and a concluding National Hunt Flat contest. Distances will range from just under two miles to extended staying trips, while prize funds will stretch from £4,000 to £40,000 across the afternoon.
Proceedings will begin at 12:50pm and will continue through to 4:18pm, with fields expected to range between six and ten runners per race.
The opener, the CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 5) at 12:50pm, will cover 2m 3f 178y with £7,000 in prize money on offer. The eight-runner field will include Blue Universe partnered by Shane Fenelon, Raby Mere ridden by Lewis Stones, A Good Yomp with Dillon Butler, La Belle Argentee under Harry Atkins, and Katira du Mestivel with Beau Morgan among the declared contenders.
At 1:25pm, the HANDICAP STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 5) will take place over 2m 3f 209y for a purse of £8,500. Nine runners are scheduled to line up, including Malfoy Manor under Harry Skelton, Wings On Wheels with Robert Dunne, Sanitiser partnered by Freddie Mitchell, Zoeman ridden by Jonathan Burke, and Zacony Rebel with James Best aboard among the contenders.
Feature-class action will arrive at 2:00pm with the MARES’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1), carrying prize money of £40,000 over the same chase distance. Six mares are expected to compete, headed by Paggane partnered by Harry Cobden, All The Glory with Kevin Brogan, Jasmine Bliss under Paul O’Brien, Piper Park ridden by Stan Sheppard, and Ruby Island with Danny McMenamin among the principal contenders.
The 2:35pm contest, the NOVICES’ HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 4), will see eight runners tackle 1m 7f 205y for £10,000 in prize money. Escort’kheops will run under Kevin Brogan, Alidam will be partnered by Roisin Leech, Eastern Shores will be ridden by Jonathan Burke, and Bushstreet Bowman by Ben Jones among those set to compete.
Attention will then turn to another high-quality hurdle at 3:10pm with the SIDNEY BANKS MEMORIAL NOVICES’ HURDLE (CLASS 1), offering £40,000 over 2m 3f 178y. Fresh Perspective with Gavin Sheehan, Act of Innocence under Nico de Boinville, Glance At Midnight partnered by Shane Quinlan, Sinnatra ridden by Harry Skelton, and Tiddesley Wood with Jonathan Burke are among the six declared runners.
Staying mares will then take centre stage at 3:43pm in the MARES’ HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 5) over 3m 1f 63y for £7,000. The seven-runner line-up will include Jolie Baie partnered by Gavin Sheehan, Dilly’s Gunner with Tom Midgley, Briery Butterfly under David Bass, Delta Blues Belle ridden by Harry Skelton, and Newmill Getaway with Jonathan Burke among the declared contenders.
The meeting will conclude at 4:18pm with the OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE (CLASS 5) over 1m 7f 205y for £4,000. Wilde’s Legacy partnered by Gavin Sheehan, Another Ghia ridden by Jack Hogan, Final Surprise with Jonathan Burke, Loch Ness Pineau under Ben Jones, and Mac J partnered by Conor Ring are among the ten runners scheduled to compete.
The fixture will provide a balanced mix of developmental contests and competitive handicaps, with both emerging talent and experienced campaigners due to appear. The Class 1 hurdles and mares’ chase will likely draw particular attention, while the concluding bumper will offer an early look at future jumping prospects.
Overall, the programme will present varied race conditions that will test speed, stamina and jumping accuracy across the Huntingdon circuit as the midweek jumps season continues.
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