Storm Survivor shines the brightest in the 32Red.Com Handicap Hurdle on 22nd February
The Class 3 32Red.Com Handicap Hurdle is to be held at Doncaster on Wednesday, 22nd February. The purse of the race is set at £4, 549 for which eighteen runners will contest.
The candidate with the strongest credentials is Storm Survivor, Milan’s six-year-old bay gelding out of mare Lindas Present, under training Jonjo O’Neill. He has had a pretty decent beginning of the 2012 season.
Storm Survivor was second in the Holt Handicap Hurdle on 1st January at Fakenham. He was entered as a 4/6 favourite of the race which was won by Lady Karabaya. The winner led the field of seven by 3 ¼ lengths.
On 30th January, Storm Survivor posted his seasonal debut victory in the Attheraces.Com Exclusive Hugh Taylor Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton. He was the 2/1 favourite for the race held over three miles and 1 ½ furlong.
Storm Survivor’s closing of the 2011 season was preceded by a victory in the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Handicap Hurdle on 28th November at Folkestone. He was the 10/11 favourite for the race.
30th January’s race was a third time in a row that Storm Survivor was sent as a favourite. If he gets to extend it till four this race round or not, will get decided in today’s race that will mark as his third start of the season.
The ten-year-old Crop Walker, Kotashaan’s bay gelding out of mare Miss Mutley, is racing his seasonal debut today. On 25th May 2011, he was second in the Classic Excel Handicap Chase at Sedgefield. He pushed the 5/2 favourite for the race, Kells Castle, into the third position.
Crop Walker then won the ELM Skip Hire Novices’ Hurdle on 11th June 2011 at Hexham. In order to get to the wire first, Crop Walker over rode the 2/9 favourite of the race, Ely Brown, who finished second.
His climax race for the previous season was the Weatherbys Bank Handicap on 14th July at Cartmel. Being the 5/1 joint favourite did not help much as he fell during the course of the race. The fall did put a dent in his record but cannot impact his performance in the future races.
The two are almost equally compatible but the two also have to face the twelve others that will be contesting.
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