15:45 Plumpton

Sunday 7 January 2018

All12:3013:0013:0513:3013:3514:0514:3515:1015:45

Free Race Replays On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 4m 10.1s

Tara Bridge³⁰⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 112

10/1

Has made the frame in a couple of C&D handicap hurdles on soft ground and handles heavy. Reverts to hurdles here after a successful spell chasing last spring. Capable of being competitive despite 4lb nudge up, but has fitness to prove.

Form: 2/363F1-

Atlantic Storm^h,t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 110

13/2

Won a Bangor handicap hurdle over 2m½f (good to soft) in March. Unable to reach that level in four subsequent runs. Back to just 2lb higher than his winning mark, but comes here with a bit to prove given recent efforts.

Form: 814-6F8

Not Never²¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 108| BF| D

7/2

Handles some cut in the ground, though yet to convince when conditions are as testing as forecast. Nonetheless, he was in good form when last seen in the spring/summer and resumes from same mark as at Bangor last time. Claims.

Form: 44061-2

Soulsaver^t³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 101| BF

6/4

Has improved since finishing runner-up over C&D (good to soft) last March from a 13lb lower mark. Scored at Fontwell (2m3f) since and ran well over same trip at Taunton last time. Up a further 3lb and dropped in trip, but not ruled out.

Form: 052-312

Hold The Bucks⁷⁴⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁷⁾| T: D Steele| OR: 100| CD

40/1

All four hurdles wins have been over C&D/on soft, the latest being three years ago. Not seen for over two years now and although handicapper gives him a chance it is a big ask to return with a win after such a lengthy absence.

Form: 4104PP/

Briac^p1³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: M Pattinson| OR: 100| D

12/1

Has won over 2m on All Weather, so plenty of stamina. Has rarely threatened in six attempts over hurdles, but put in a respectable effort over C&D last month after a 17-month absence and can't be ruled out following 2lb drop today.

Form: 509/20-4

Tee It Up Tommo^t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Matthew Batchelor| T: D Steele| OR: 93

66/1

All eight wins have been on All Weather at around 1m, the latest at Chelmsford from a mark of 71. Just about gets 1m2f, but all four runs over hurdles have suggested that stamina is an issue and even more emphasis placed on that in these conditions.

Form: 0P/80-

Landscape^p,t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: R Johnson| T: D Steele| OR: 92

9/2

It is now over five years since he recorded the last of his three wins, though he has twice gone close here in the past 11-months. Acts on heavy and sees out 3m, but that last run was over C&D and he has claims again from 4lb higher.

Form: P324-P2

Non-Runners

Sixties Idol²⁷

Weight: 10-3| Age: 5

T: Miss S West J: M Goldstein

Forecasts

Soulsaver (6/4), Not Never (7/2), Landscape (9/2), Atlantic Storm (13/2), Tara Bridge (10/1), Sixties Idol (10/1), Briac (12/1), Hold The Bucks (40/1), Tee It Up Tommo (66/1)

Another tough call for punters with doubts over the entire field, but the one with the least of those appears to be SOULSAVER, who gets the vote. Unlike the majority of these, he has been improving in recent times and may have what it takes to defy another 3lb rise. Landscape goes well here and the presence of Richard Johnson is a plus, but that losing run goes back to 2012 and he will need to find something extra to end the drought. Briac and Not Never both have claims, while Atlantic Storm can't be ruled out but has a bit to prove.