13:10 Plumpton

Monday 4 December 2017

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Mayfield Sussex Hop Gin Novices' Chase

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 18.8s

Optimus Prime^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: D Skelton| OR: 143| D

8/11

Ran well twice over fences in France before switch to current yard where he proved a smart handicap hurdler. Made all switched back to chasing at Worcester last time and will find any chinks in opponents armour despite carrying 5lb penalty.

Form: 2P6-241

Tommy Silver¹⁴

Age: 13| Weight: 11-5| J: Unknown| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144| C

Form: 1016-21

Behind Time²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N P Madden| T: H Fry| OR: 124

20/1

Fair hurdler who won a 2m5f handicap at Cheltenham. Bumped into top class Yanworth first time over fences before being tailed off latest behind re-opposing Optimus Prime. Can't see any chance of a reverse.

Form: 3/146-53

Cap Horner¹²

Age: 13| Weight: 11-0| J: Unknown| T: J W Mullins| OR: 106

Form: 63-335P

Eamon An Cnoic³⁰

Age: 14| Weight: 11-0| J: Unknown| T: D Pipe| OR: 130

Form: 52/119-F

Movewiththetimes¹⁷

Age: 14| Weight: 11-0| J: Unknown| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145

Form: 1512-42

Duke Of Kilcorral³⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-8| J: Unknown| T: N P Mulholland

Form: 80-6

San Pedro De Senam¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 125| D

12/1

Heavy ground hurdle winner for Guillaume Macaire. Second in two small field chases also and filled same spot at Warwick last month albeit in a two runner race where he was outclassed by useful Sceau Royal. Bit to find here.

Form: 2462-82

Dusky Legend¹⁹

Age: 15| Weight: 10-7| J: Unknown| T: A King| OR: 137| BF

Form: 2232-22

Shaama Grise^h²⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 136

13/8

French hurdle winner ran well in all four starts for current yard including win at Chepstow. Steadily on the up last season so potential over fences and could well prove the biggest threat to Optimus Prime here.

Form: 322122-

Forecasts

Optimus Prime (8/11), Shaama Grise (13/8), San Pedro De Senam (12/1), Behind Time (20/1)

There was lots to like about an exuberant display of front-running by OPTIMUS PRIME when he scored at Worcester last month. He carries a penalty here but clearly has the best form on offer over fences and looks like taking plenty of beating. Shaama Grise is an interesting newcomer to chasing and she looks the danger for the Pipe team. Of the others San Pedro De Senam may have enough to get third.