totepool Barry Hills Further Flight Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 3m 7.24s

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(4)

Culmination³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: D McCain Jnr

50/1

Minor Flat winner in France for Andre Fabre (March 2016), but has been limited to hurdling since joining this stable. Off the mark in an Ayr maiden hurdle (runner up beaten since at Hexham), he'll surely find life far too tough on his UK Flat debut on much quicker ground than he's encountered over hurdles.

Form: 1/5

(3)

Elidor²¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: M R Channon| OR: 108

6/1

Four time career winner between 1m4f and 1m6f who goes well on a sound surface and can win fresh as demonstrated at Thirsk in April 2014. Down the field in the Mallard (Doncaster) and the Ebor (York) after winning a Class 2 handicap at Goodwood in July 2016 and this is a much more realistic target.

Form: 79107-1

(2)

Trip To Paris^b¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: R L Moore| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 110

6/1

2015 Chester Cup and Ascot Gold Cup winner who was only narrowly beaten in the Goodwood Cup by Big Orange (July 2015), but has lost his way after globetrotting to Australia and Japan. Not the force of old during 2016 and always in the rear at Meydan on his 2017 return late last month. This race (where he should be competitive) will tell us more about what the future might hold.

Form: 0/343-04

(5)

Wall of Fire^b¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: W Buick| T: H Palmer| OR: 107

11/8

Kicked on after finishing 13th of 28 in the 2016 Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot, winning three of his four remaining races last year, including the Melrose at York and the Mallard at Doncaster. Not disgraced when sixth on his 2017 return in a Group 2 contest won by Vazirabad (Trip To Paris well held) at Meydan last month. The progressive in-form horse and very much the one to beat.

Form: 1011-62

(1)

Moonrise Landing³²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Fran Berry| T: R M Beckett| OR: 105

2/1

Thrived between October 2015 and May 2016, winning five races on the bounce between 1m4f and 2m. Her AW progress culminated with a ½L success from Anglophile in the AW Marathon Conditions Stakes on Finals Day, before doggedly downing Quest For More back on turf in the Listed Grand Cup at York in May 2016 (1m6f). Her season was cut short by injury, but connections clearly think she can win more major races with a stud career put on hold.

Form: 111/11-3

Forecasts

Wall of Fire (11/8), Moonrise Landing (2/1), Elidor (6/1), Trip To Paris (6/1), Culmination (50/1)

An early midweek feast of high quality Flat action at Nottingham with this traditional season curtain raiser paying homage to both Barry Hills and Further Flight. A small but very select field line up, with only one of the five runners able to be totally discounted (Culmination). Trip To Paris has failed to reach the Group 1 heights of 2015, and there must be grave doubts as to whether he retains the ability to do so once again. Therefore, this is best left to the returning mare Moonrise Landing and the fast improving Hugo Palmer trained four-year-old WALL OF FIRE. Clear preference is for the latter named, and he can build upon his pleasing Meydan return last month and set himself up to scale new uncharted heights during the course of 2017.