Good morning all,

I was hoping to go to Wetherby today but that plan has been rather scuppered as the car started making some pretty horrendous noises last night whenever I put the brakes on, which can only mean they need replacing. So the car is going into the garage first thing and they're hopefully going to turn it around in an afternoon, which will at least mean I'll be able to get to Uttoxeter and possibly Fakenham on Friday.

So I'm grounded as far as today goes but that's no hardship as it means I'll have plenty of time to study up for Uttoxeter and provide you with a preview tomorrow.

For today, there's a review of Huntingdon yesterday, with a few pointers for the near future, and today's selection at the end.

Huntingdon Review

The plan of putting everything in at short in-running prices in the 2.00 rather went to pot once Sarpech decided to make all the running this time, rather than come from the back, and what a difference that made. He looked much happier with nothing to pass and could be called the winner some way out. Similar tactics should see him follow up, but I would still be a bit concerned if he wasn't to get an easy lead, as he did yesterday.

King Simba looked badly in need of a run beforehand and ran accordingly.

The best thing to happen yesterday was the promise of Bodekin Point's run in the Maiden Hurdle at 3.00. It was a run that I expected, as I thought his Worcester run had some promise to it too, and now he's handicapped will be one to watch closely. He ran on nicely under hands and heels from the home turn to claim third, coming clear of the fourth on the run in, and should improve again next time out. If he's not already in trackers then he should be now.

My Mo isn't the biggest and may struggle to carry penalties against better horses. It's debatable whether he's going to improve any more too, so is one to treat with care. Capotasta is huge and won't do much until he sees a fence, one for the long term.

The Jonjo rollercoaster continued here after Mister Dick's disappointing effort earlier, with Adam De Breteau winning quite easily in the end after looking very reluctant in the early stages. He looked very short of confidence at the first three fences but once finding out that it wasn't killing him to jump the fences rather than go through them, warmed to the task and galloped them into the ground. Who knows what to expect next time, but I'd definitely keep him right-handed, as his jumping was a bit straighter than it had been previously.

Vexillium just makes too many mistakes and needs dropping in class before he can score again.

Keep In Line took the Maiden Hurdle at 4.05 but be warned – beforehand he looked like the only hurdler in a field full of chasers, and the suspicion was that, as a Flat horse, he would simply have too much speed for these. And so it proved, as they dawdled round for much of the contest, and he simply did them for foot after the last. His hurdling was far from great too, and I'd be very wary of going in at a short price next time.

Adrrastos was a bit keen beforehand but didn't do much wrong in the race itself. He would have appreciated a better pace, and in the circumstances this wasn't a bad effort, quickening up nicely to chase the winner after the last without ever threatening. He should find a race before much longer.

Inch Rover (4.35) looked much fitter than he had done at Sedgefield and I was confident of a good run off the back of that (and the market agreed, 8-1 into 5-1 at the off) but he found Perfect Poison, from a totally rejuvenated Donald McCain yard, too good. I'd suggest the form of this isn't bad, at it's own low level, and both the front two should be winning again.

Spanish Fork is dreadfully one paced but does keep going – one of these days he'll touch three figures in running as he gets outpaced at halfway before staying on again as the leaders fall in a hole, coming through to snatch it late. Fontwell, with it's uphill finish, looks favourite for that to happen, given it's near Sheena West's base in Sussex.

Today's selection comes in the hope that the low draws still hold sway over the straight track at Nottingham, as they seemed to do at the last meeting. If that's the case then Fruit Salad (4.20) will have a good chance of following up her Redcar victory, where the first time cheekpieces seemed to do to trick. She had been very consistent even before that win, and is fine on all ground, so from just 4lb higher appears to have a great chance if in the same form.

Good luck with all your bets today,

David.