Huntingdon best bets: Cusano worth another chance, Dreaming Diamond could sparkle

14:40 Huntingdon:  Daily offers at Rhino.Bet Maiden Hurdle  (2 miles)

The bookies would have us believe that this should develop into a two-horse race between early market leaders Realistic Optimism and Cusano. 

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The former looks likely to be sent off as favourite, and despite some decent bumper showings early in his career, there must be a question mark over his short price as he returns to make his hurdle and stable debut for Jamie Snowden after more than 600 days away from the track.

Elsewhere, each-way options include the hitherto underachieving Dreaming Diamond, who is back in the care of Fergal O’Brien, and after a couple of inauspicious efforts in hunter chases, the seven-year-old might just show his potential on better ground and over smaller obstacles.

Each-way punt: Dreaming Diamond in the 14:40 at Huntingdon

• Tip advised by Model Man on Tipstrr

Our best-bet nod goes to the aforementioned Cusano, who crowned a promising stint on the French Flat circuit  with his solitary success on his last outing there last October.

A winter move across the Channel brought him under the expert protective wing of Dan Skelton, who wasted little time pitching him into his hurdle debut at Ludlow, where he was far from disgraced in coming fourth of six behind Bellbird, despite some jumping errors on his way round.

The four-year-old should have come on for that experience, and he is clearly in the best of hands, with the Skelton yard boasting a 25 percent win rate  from 75 runners this season (52% place rate), so Cusano looks worth another chance to convert his undoubted ability into a maiden hurdle success.

Suggested best bet: Cusano in the 14:40 at Huntingdon

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