February is a busy month for Bedford’s nearest racecourse at Huntingdon, with some big name jockeys and trainers visiting the racecourse, ahead of a busy card during half-term week.
Last week (5 February), Huntingdon welcomed racehorses from some of the nation’s finest yards, including from the training ranks of Nicky Henderson and Dan Skelton with the biggest festival of the season on the horizon.
Nicky Henderson is looking forward to next month’s Cheltenham Festival with the exciting Act Of Innocence, who was an impressive winner of the Listed Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon last week.
The six-year-old arrived with a growing reputation and he relished this step up in trip to just shy of two and a half miles on Thursday afternoon, galloping clear in the closing stages for an eye-catching success.
That performance certainly impressed the bookmakers, who priced him up as a general 10/1 chance for next month’s Grade One Turners Novices’ Hurdle, on Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival.
The Sidney Banks has been won by some excellent horses over the years, including former Seven Barrows star Shishkin in 2020, who went on to win no less than six top level races for Henderson.
And he feels the sky could be the limit for both Act Of Innocence and his stablemate Old Park Star, who share the same ownership.
Henderson said: “You can’t fault this, I have to say.
“He’s got a lot of talent and has always looked like a really nice horse. You can’t fault him at the moment, he’s done nothing wrong all the way through, he’s uncomplicated and just looks the part. He’s got a lot of class.
“You’d have to say the route is mapped out for him and his stablemate now (the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Turners Novices’ Hurdle).
I thought Act Of Innocence was the slightly quicker of the two to be honest with you, but they’ve flip flopped.
“It’s lovely to have these horses and we’ve got a fantastic team, but everything’s got to go right from here on in.”
More action next week
There was plenty to savour on Thursday’s card, with Jasmine Bliss securing the most valuable victory of her career with a game success in the Listed Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase.
Racing is set to return to Huntingdon on Thursday, 19 February during the half-term holidays, with a host of family activities planned.
General Manager, Daniel Craggs commented: “Last Thursday’s race meeting was an excellent one, with plenty of great racing stories, and we’re already looking ahead to the next one.
“It will fall during the half-term holidays and we will have plenty of activities, including an arts and crafts area and lots of giveaways on the day.
“If you’re struggling for things to do next week, it’s well worth remembering that all under 18s get into the racecourse for free and we’d be thrilled to have you along.”
by Nick Seddon, The Jockey Club
