Huntingdon, Saturday 4 April 2026 — Good Going

Huntingdon, Saturday 4 April 2026 — Good Going

Three races worth picking apart at Huntingdon today with good ground across the card. The going suits front-runners and horses with a flat-speed background, and a couple of these fields are weak enough to find something at a decent price. Six runners in the chase and eight in both hurdle races means each-way betting is live in places. Here are the angles worth following.

3:47 — Join Our Syndicate At Brownsbarn Thoroughbreds Novices' Hurdle (2m, Good, 8 runners)

Selection: Forever Penywern — 10/3 Bet365

This looks a straightforward race to unpick once you strip out the O'Brien defector and the ones that simply need this for experience. Fergal O'Brien saddles both Is This For Real and Katarcice, but the yard is running at a dismal 2/27 in the last 14 days. That stat matters. Is This For Real pulled up last time and goes back in trip, which helps, but the trainer form is a red flag you cannot ignore.

The selection is Forever Penywern with Harry Bannister up for Warren Greatrex. Yes, Greatrex is 1/13 lately, but this horse's profile stands out in this field. He won sellers for William Haggas on the Flat, which tells you he has genuine ability. His hurdle debut at Stratford over 2m2f on soft ground last month showed clear improvement from the first run, and he was beaten only a length and a half finishing third. Drop him back to 2m on good ground today, which will suit his Flat pace, and he becomes the most interesting entry in the race. The price of 10/3 at Bet365 is fair rather than generous, but in a field where the market leader's trainer is cold and the Pipe runner pulled up on stable debut, backing the horse with the cleanest profile makes sense.

Cinammon Coco is best watched after that Fakenham pulled-up run, tongue-tie now removed. Katarcice is interesting for the future but this is a hurdle debut over 2m and he was bought for his staying point form. Leave him alone today.

5:25 — Brian Knight Loves His Family Handicap Chase (2m½f, Good, 6 runners)

Selection: Icare Grandchamp — 3/1 William Hill or Coral

Six runners means no each-way betting, so this is a win-only race. Gary and Josh Moore have sent Icare Grandchamp here and the yard is firing at 7/36 in the last two weeks, which is a solid enough strike rate for jumps handlers at this time of year.

Icare Grandchamp, ridden by Caoilin Quinn, won at Plumpton in February and then came back here last month over 2m4f on good to soft. He was third but the Spotlight notes his stamina appeared to give out. That is the key line. Back to 2m½f on good ground today, he should have more in the tank at the business end. The Moore yard does not run horses at venues like Huntingdon without a reason, and the drop back in trip on faster ground looks like the precise setup they have been waiting for.

Rumoursareflying carries a 7lb penalty after winning at Ludlow when his rival fell at the last, so that form needs a discount. Park Annonciade has been running well and is a danger, but Sarah Humphrey is 0/4 in the last 14 days. Harel Du Marais won at Stratford last month and has a seasonal trend going for him, but 8/1 suggests even the market respects the risk of that claim. Icare Grandchamp at 3/1 is the play.

6:00 — Best Odds Guaranteed At Betano Handicap Hurdle (2m, Good, 8 runners)

Selection: Hello Sweety — 5/2 William Hill or Coral

Hello Sweety is a front-runner who has won twice over the Fakenham course and distance, the second of those at Huntingdon last month over C&D on good to soft. She is 12lb higher today, which is the obvious concern, but the mare's profile is the kind you keep following until the market says stop. She makes the running, she jumps well, and Stuart Edmunds has her fit and in form. The good ground is as fast as she will have encountered this season, but her Flat-bred profile and quick-jumping style mean it should not inconvenience her.

Tilehurst ran to within half a length of a winner at Taunton on good ground last month and is the chief danger. Neil Mulholland is 5/25 in recent weeks, which is respectable. At 7/2 he is worth consideration each-way. King Ulanda is also interesting after falling two out at Sedgefield when in the process of running well, cheekpieces retained, and good ground confirmed as his key. But Hello Sweety's course form and the strength of her current mood make her the selection.

Sweeper System won at Wetherby last month and is thrown in if the 7lb rise is manageable, but 4/1 is not good enough value when Hello Sweety is going in at 5/2 and has already proven she handles this track and trip.

Today's NAP