13:30 Huntingdon

Thursday 5 October 2017

All13:3014:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:4517:15

32Red Casino Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 3m 45.10s

Plato's Kode^p,t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 11-10| J: James Bowen⁽⁷⁾| T: S Durack| OR: 124| D

6/4

Carries a double penalty for a pair of hurdles successes during August (Market Rasen and Worcester). He didn't have much in hand when out-battling Ortenzia on the latter of those two starts, and he's been beaten back on the AW since.

Form: 11

Bizet¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: J Ryan

66/1

Has had 23 attempts on the Flat to shed his maiden tag, most latterly at Yarmouth. Switches to hurdles seeking substantial improvement, but shouldn't be anywhere near strong enough based upon his Flat mark of just 49.

Form:

Casaclare^t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

22/1

Six race maiden on the Flat, but has shown ability, most notably when a runner up over 1m4f on his penultimate start. An unexplicable poor show latest to overcome, but with high profile owners and no surprise if he's much improved over hurdles.

Form:

Charlie Chaplin³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁷⁾| T: R Eddery

80/1

Hasn't shown a great deal of ability in eight starts on the Flat, and the combination of a tongue tie and a step up in trip (to 1m2f) failed to bring about any improvement at Chelmsford latest. Plenty to prove on hurdles debut.

Form:

First Up⁶⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Ian Popham| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

15/2

80,000 gns yearling who did okay on the Flat for Jeremy Noseda earning a rating in the low 80's (7f maiden winner at Kempton in September 2016). Has moved onto new connections and certainly noteworthy ahead of his hurdles debut.

Form:

Geophony⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: C & M Johnston

25/1

Cut relatively little ice on the Flat, especially beyond 1m, and posted a fairly low key hurdles debut (weakened after leading) when pulled up behind Eneko at Perth last month (2m heavy). Better ground a plus, but stamina a major concern.

Form: P

Hernandes⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams

7/1

A seven race maiden on the Flat for Ed Walker (runner up over 1m at Windsor in June), and travelled to France for his stable debut last month (third in a 1m2f maiden at Le Touquet). Switched to hurdles now for the first time.

Form:

Jumping Jack¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: C Gordon

12/1

A three time winner on the Flat from 19 starts, but never beyond an extended mile (Wolverhampton). Soon outpaced, and a comfortably held 16L fourth of seven to City Dreamer on hurdles debut at Plumpton last month (2m good).

Form: 4

Thounder¹⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

2/1

Beaten just 1½L in a conditions hurdle at Nantes in April (1m7½f good to soft). Moved onto pastures new since, and whilst the worth of that form is difficult to evaluate, he could prove capable of making his mark on his UK debut.

Form: 3-

Forecasts

Plato's Kode (6/4), Thounder (2/1), Hernandes (7/1), First Up (15/2), Jumping Jack (12/1), Casaclare (22/1), Geophony (25/1), Bizet (66/1), Charlie Chaplin (80/1)

Not a massive amount of obvious strength in depth for the opening race of the season at Huntingdon, so perhaps the doubly penalised Plato's Kode will be capable of notching a third straight success over hurdles. The majority of those switching to hurdles from the Flat for the first time don't make masses of appeal, but support for either Casaclare or First Up is probably worthy of note. However, whilst it is difficult to evaluate the actual worth of his Nantes form, a very tentative vote goes to the Gary Moore trained THOUNDER.