Runner Bean, performing on his favourite course, can show his rivals a clean pair of heels at Huntingdon tomorrow.
Trained by Richard Lee, who sent out a winner at Sedgefield yesterday, the ten-year-old goes for the Flahive Brickwork Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle and will receive every assistance from William Kennedy, an up-and-coming rider with the Noel Chance stable.
Runner Bean has won two of his last three starts. His latest success, at Wincanton, saw him score by a length from Toulouse, a winner next time out at Hereford.
Runner Bean, who has won four of his seven races at Huntingdon and finished in the money in the other three, is awarded my Nap vote.
Lee can also hit the target with Macnance in the EBF/Tattersalls Mares' Only Novices' Chase (Qualifier).
A winning hurdler, Macnance shaped well to finish second on her chasing bow over this course-and-distance last month.
Declan Carroll, who trains at Warthill near York, is aiming to strike while the iron is hot with Caraman in the £20,000 totejackpot Handicap Hurdle.
A solid winner at Newcastle last week, Caraman looks to be a horse on the upgrade and, although he has a 7lb penalty to carry here, I expect him to make a bold bid in the hands of the in-form Tom Scudamore.
Majlis, a winner at Fontwell last month, is selected to follow-up in the Hutton Shopfitting Claiming Hurdle.
A one-time high-class handicapper, Majlis has regressed since he was in his prime, but he remains capable of winning at this sort of level. And tomorrow's race looks no stronger than the one he landed three weeks ago.
Tomorrow's Tips:
Huntingdon
12.30 Majlis, 1.00 Macnance, 1.30 Caraman, 2.00 Fullards, 2.30 Beauchamp Gigi, 3.00 Runner Bean (Nap), 3.30 Darnayson.
Ludlow
12.40 Ambersong, 1.10 Mr Fluffy
1.40 Colliers Court, 2.10 Hamadeenah, 2.40 Harlov, 3.10 The Glen, 3.40 Cistercian.
Tomorrow's other meeting is at Taunton.
Updated: 10:43 Wednesday, December 08, 2004
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