Huntingdon 2nd June Review
By Paul Simmons

Race 1- The Breeders Cup Launch Maiden over 1 Mile:
Gill Duffield unleashed another potential Derby class recruit when HH Sheikh Hamdan’s impeccably bred Nasij (Dormane x Elisa Du Paon) just got up on the line from stablemate Hathrah (Makzan x Ester Du Paon). Third home was the promising Oman bred Nahdah (Amer x Budoor).

Race 2 – The Brunton Handicap Stakes 0-65 over 6 Furlongs:
Bill Smith scored with handicap debutant Djak Sprat (Al Sakbe x Djinka) for HH Sheikh Mohammed who out sprinted his rivals coming clear 2 ½ lengths at the line. Second was The Way To Go (Way To Go x Nepenthes Al Maury) who kept on three lengths ahead of the ever consistent SA Bibi (Abitibi x Florich).

Race 3 – The Shaw & Fox Open race over 1 Mile:
Fraternity (Grand Lodge x Catawba) followed up his recent Market Rasen with a quick double and did it with some authority stretching four lengths clear of stable mate Bold Maggie (Bold Edge x Vera’s First) to give the James stable a solid 1-2. Hoofbeats Tour (Vettori x Sprite) stayed on for third and looks useful.

Race 4 – The Jebel Ali 0-75 over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs:
Mack The Knife (Makzan x GAS Pepelka) started as he means to go on with an emphatic victory for the Cook family, he came home two lengths to good for HH Sheikh Hamdan’s runner Muzmin (Pepe Le Moco x Synaps), whilst Operatic (Vert Olive x Operetta) kept on for third ahead of the rest.

Race 5 – The Almost All Handicap Stakes 0-90 over & furlongs:
HH Shiekh Hamdan and Gill Duffield completed a quick double when Tash Reefat (Bengali D’Albret x Seglaoui) opened her account for the season with a good battling victory from Earlsdon (Akbar x Elgonda) coming home a length clear at the line. Baraka Ibn Shahtess (Baraka Mahatsi x Shahtess) was finishing strongly in third.

Race 6 – The Brampton Open Race over 1 Mile 6 Furlongs:
Impressive Wolverhampton scorer Son of Sophie (Band on The Run x Fair Enchantress) followed up here out staying his rivals in dour fashion to win by eight lengths. Cordage (Dr Fong x Flagship) was back in second ahead of Extra Cover (Danehill Dancer x Ballycurranne).

Race 7 – The Nokomys 0-50 Handicap Stakes over 1 Mile:
Simon Walker was in brilliant form in getting Glastonbury Pop (Dedja Des Forges x Operetta) up on the line, although he had to work hard to repel the challenge of Carol Legg’s Mushammer (Passem Lotois x Kawzah Tiki) who was a neck ahead of smart sprinter Bodiddle (Crystal Monarch x Silver Magnolia).

Race 8 – The Lycetts Hamilton Maiden Stakes over 1 Mile 4 Furlongs:
Angela Colledge unleashed a potential superstar when Colin Bank’s Estival (Khairouan x Viny De Passerat) out galloped her rivals coming with a wet sail in the final furlong to come home three lengths too good on the line. Back in second was HH Sheikh Hamdan’s one time Derby hope Almutasader (Makzan x Valina Des Fabries), whilst Bill Smith’s Consider Me (Dormane x Reconsider) was another four lengths back in third.