AR’ IS IN THE HUNT

Nicky’s upbeat

AN inspection at Huntingdon prior to racing today suggests it’s sensible to focus on Doncaster instead, although my nap is declared at both meetings, so will surely get a run.

ARQOOB (1.05 Doncaster or 1.35 Huntingdon – Nap) could prove to be a high-class hurdler given his Flat ability, and although well beaten in the Cambridgeshire when last seen, he was impressive when winning at Sandown in June and ran at least as well when in the frame there and at Yarmouth later in the summer when rated 93 by the handicapper.

Arqoob (pictured) would be much the best of the field on Flat form for either of his engagements and while Flat form does not always translate to hurdles, he strikes me as the type to make a solid transition for the excellent Lucy Wadham.

He has left William Jarvis since his last run, but hasn’t moved far, and remains in the same ownership, which is encouraging.

LINDAKA (2.05) is worth a second look at big odds in the EBF Maiden Hurdle.

A last-fence faller when disputing the lead in a point-to-point won by Kansas City Star (who ran in the Challow Hurdle for Gordon Elliott last month), he was made favourite for a Warwick bumper in 2021 on debut for Ian Williams but failed to fire.

Connections

Not seen since, his connections have retained the faith and I think he wouldn’t need to be out of the ordinary to win this contest.

Any early support for the son of Lindas Lad should be noted, but I’ve taken a small risk at 33/1, which underrates his chances.

The Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap Chase was won last year by Funambule Sivola, who went on to chase home Energumene at Cheltenham, and while today’s renewal is perhaps not exactly as hot, it still looks the race of the day on Town Moor.

West Cork returns from wind surgery and would be interesting if belatedly finding his smart hurdles form in this sphere, with the breathing op a valid excuse for any sudden improvement, but backing Dan Skelton’s horses in such circumstances is not always massively profitable.

That is also true for Jamie Snowden, so the same argument applies for Soldier of Destiny.

A much safer option is the Jane Williams-trained SAINT SEGAL (3.15), who has taken to chasing like a duck to water and won with something up his sleeve when beating Christopher Wood at Hereford last time.

The handicapper has not overreacted to that success where the front two came 19 lengths clear of a talented performer in Dans Le Vent and the son of Saint des Saints can make it a hat-trick over the larger obstacles.

NICKY HENDERSON has issued a positive bulletin on Altior, who is recovering after a severe bout of colic.

The Seven Barrows handler announced on Wednesday that his former two-mile stable star had to undergo two operations over the weekend, including a four-hour surgery on Saturday due to the issue.

While Henderson is a little more upbeat on the 13-year-old’s health, he says Altior still has “a very long way to go”.

He told his Unibet blog: “I am pleased to report this morning that Altior had a good night and is more comfortable than he has been so far.

“There is way to go and the next stage is try to wean him off the artificial feeding system and test his internal organs and if they can cope.”