16:50 Plumpton

Monday 12 February 2018

All14:1514:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Support The Injured Jockeys Fund Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 4m 16.35s

Third Act^b,t⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-5| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 102| D

9/1

Out of form over fences this term and reverts to hurdling off a potentially lenient mark. Returns from mid-winter break so any market confidence could well be worth noting.

Form: 5234FP

Ormskirk⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-5| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁶⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 102

16/1

Yet to reach a place in eight starts over timber, and what little form he has shown has been on a much better surface. Handicapper not relenting so looks hard to make a serious case for.

Form: 677-447

Drewmain Legend^p1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: A Stronge| OR: 95

7/2

Still a maiden but has run well last two outings, including when runner-up at Taunton last month. Application of first-time cheekpieces may help conentrate her mind and she should be in the thick of the action.

Form: 465-732

Cassivellaunus¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: William Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: D Steele| OR: 94

16/1

Gelded son of Danehill Dancer. Never raced on the Flat and disappointing so far over jumps. Not sighted on handicap bow here two weeks ago and difficult to enthuse over on that evidence.

Form: 4/9-0097

Be Daring^h¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 93| BF

3/1

Very frustrating 12-race maiden who has unseated twice in his last four starts and in between went very close at Fontwell five weeks ago. Has been favourite or joint-favourite on five of his last six starts, so owes supporters a favour.

Form: 74U52U

Kalarika^p,t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 90

25/1

Has shown very little in four starts over hurdles and was soon in trouble on handicap debut at Taunton last month. 3lb lower now but faces a stiff task.

Form: 43-7040

Sixties Idol^b,t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R Patrick| T: Miss S West| OR: 85

7/2

24-race maiden under both codes, 12 of them over hurdles. Inconsistent and ususally finds a few too good, so a place appears the very best she can hope for if things go her way.

Form: 067253

Upham Running¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: Mrs K A Buckett| OR: 79

4/1

Veteran gelding whose only win came at Fontwell over three years ago. Posted his best effort for ages follwong a wind op when runner-up over C&D last time, so if in similar mood might make his presence felt.

Form: 663P-P2

Forecasts

Be Daring (3/1), Sixties Idol (7/2), Drewmain Legend (7/2), Upham Running (4/1), Third Act (9/1), Cassivellaunus (16/1), Ormskirk (16/1), Kalarika (25/1)

With question marks over just about all the runners, top weight THIRD ACT might have been found an opportunity to return to winning ways. He's been struggling over fences but competes here off a lower mark and won't get many better opportunities to recover his form. Drewmain Legend may prove the main danger if in the same kind of form as when runner-up last time out, a comment that similarly applies to Upham Running, who went close at big odds recently. Be Daring has attracted money nearly every time he has run this season, but he is a chancey proposition, although undoubtedly capable.