14:25 Plumpton

Monday 18 December 2017

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2515:0015:30

A & D Staff Christmas Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 11.72s

Hollywood All Star²⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Richard Condon⁽⁷⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 102| D

6/1

Beaten from 2lb higher mark on his last two runs in the spring, but would have claims if able to reproduce his February effort at Bangor when 5L second from 1lb lower. Handles heavy ground and not ruled out with claimer lightening the load.

Form: 5/7626P-

Le Capricieux¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: William Clarke⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 102

11/2

Lightly-raced and yet to get his nose in front but has shown promise on more than one occasion, though particularly on better ground. Was entitled to need his recent Sandown run, his first for 13-months but has a bit to prove now despite 5lb drop.

Form: 4/2235-0

Thundering Home^b,t²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N R Mitchell| OR: 100| CD

7/1

Won 3-4 at one stage in the spring, including here over C&D from a mark of 99. Three recent runs have not been as good, but now back on a good mark, won't be lacking in fitness and has won on heavy, so enters calculations.

Form: 40P044

Grams And Ounces^p,t³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 99| BF| D

7/1

Although he has since won on the Flat, he comes into this on a losing run of 16 over hurdles since scoring at Towcester (soft) in 2016 from 13lb higher. Not beaten far from slightly higher in the spring, but needs more than in his last three runs.

Form: 334-237

Kastani Beach²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 96| CD

9/2

Goes well here and has a C&D (heavy) win to his name, but is without success anywhere since March 2015. On a decent mark if he could get back to his spring form, though well beaten from similar marks lately. Check market for any signs of revival.

Form: 2-36842

Landscape²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr James King⁽⁵⁾| T: D Steele| OR: 88

14/1

All three career wins were in 2011 and 2012. Threw in a decent effort when beaten just ½L over 3m1f (heavy) here in February from 1lb higher, but failed to complete on reappearance and this trip looks plenty short enough for him.

Form: 8P324-P

Cafe Au Lait^t²⁶⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 88| BF| D

7/2

Scored at Wetherby in February for Sophie Leech from 6lb lower and ran well in defeat on next two starts, including on soft/from this mark. Stable/seasonal debut today and market check advised to see if any confidence in some improvement from him.

Form: 241237-

Blue April^b²¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott| OR: 85

7/1

13-race maiden who put up his best effort over hurdles for some time when a 4L runner-up from this mark at Exeter (2m1f) in February. Has run well when fresh before, though not fully proven on ground this soft so has questions to answer.

Form: P6P02-6

Zarliman^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: R Ingram| OR: 77

20/1

0-10 over hurdles, though at least positive that his one appearance in the frame came here over C&D (good to firm) last year from 2lb higher. Well held in all four starts since, however, and it takes a leap of faith to see him making an impact.

Form: P/9726-6

Forecasts

Cafe Au Lait (7/2), Kastani Beach (9/2), Le Capricieux (11/2), Hollywood All Star (6/1), Blue April (7/1), Thundering Home (7/1), Grams And Ounces (7/1), Landscape (14/1), Zarliman (20/1)

Not a race to be risking the Christmas present fund on with some very moderate performers lining-up and it might just be worth siding with LE CAPRICIEUX. Gary Moore's gelding was entitled to need his recent return run and although he is unproven on the ground, he is open to improvement and the 10lb claimed off his back could prove invaluable. Top weight Hollywood All Star is respected from this mark, while Thundering Home is another to consider and Cafe Au Lait would be interesting if backed on his first run for Dan Skelton.