14:00 Plumpton

Monday 26 February 2018

All14:0014:3015:0015:3516:0516:4017:15

Howdens Insurance Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 4m 13.7s

Chocolate Diamond¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁷⁾| T: D C O'Brien

33/1

10f Irish claimer winner in 2014. Regressed afterward for Mickey Hammond and abseent 28 months until made poor hurdles bow for new yard at Fontwell 11 days ago, pulling up when well behind.

Form: P

Daleelak^t1¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: D C O'Brien

50/1

2015 7f maiden winner for Mark Johnston but deteriorated after and had woeful form end of last term. Joined new yard but showed little when tailed off at Fontwell earlier this month on hurdle bow. Tongue-tie now applied..

Form: 6

Dream Baie^t⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Joshua Moore| T: M RobertsWS

13/2

Modest form in bumper and maiden hurdle for Joseph O'Brien. Bought by new connections for £4,000 in November. Well behind when pulled up 3 out at Plumpton following month. Has since had wind op so may do a shade better.

Form: 44P

Royal Marskell⁶⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: Miss Gay Kelleway

5/1

Winne rof nine Flat races between 11-14f. Late start hurdling but ran well when thrid at Bangor in the autumn, leading until headed before last. Not out of it, but refused to race on Flat last time at Southwell in December.

Form: 3

Royal Ruby^h⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| D

5/2

Won Southwell turf bumper on debut last March but ran free and a little disappointing when only third on hurdling bow at Fakenham in November. Poor effort in heavy ground at Newbury last time but this is easier and has prospects.

Form: 1-34

Snowy Oscar^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford

14/1

Dam from family of talented Cyfor Malta but has shown little in three starts to date, falling 3 out at Fontwell last month when well beaten. Needs to get his act together.

Form: 86F

The Premier Celtic¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N P Madden| T: P Phelan

15/2

Signs of some ability in all three starts so far without ever looking set to play a major role. May do better this time with that experience and one of the more likely contenders on form of latest run at Newbury.

Form: 775

Times Of Trouble^t1⁸⁰⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr M Legg⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs F M Shaw

20/1

Dam 12-time Flat winner (12-17f). Just one start at Taunton in 2015 when last of 10 in 12f bumper. Not seens since and has surely had issues. Hard to enthuse over after such a long absence.

Form: 0/

Wahwonaisa⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: D G Bridgwater

33/1

Unseated rider when tailed off at Uttoxeter in November on racecourse bow, then beaten out of sight at Huntingon last time. Looks to have a very stiff task once again.

Form: U0

Legend Of France¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: P Phelan

12/1

Not disgraced in two bumpers, and showed a little ability when fourth of 6 in Plumpton novice hurdle last month. Open to improvement and not out of it in a weak race.

Form: 664

Miss Adventure^p1²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 115

3/1

Doesn't look an easy ride but has placed in two of her four novice hurdles so far, including good second over C&D in January. Possibly didn't stay over further last time and dropping back here has strong claims in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 32-2525

Forecasts

Royal Ruby (5/2), Miss Adventure (3/1), Royal Marskell (5/1), Dream Baie (13/2), The Premier Celtic (15/2), Legend Of France (12/1), Snowy Oscar (14/1), Times Of Trouble (20/1), Wahwonaisa (33/1), Chocolate Diamond (33/1), Daleelak (50/1)

This is a moderate contest and a chance is taken that MISS ADVENTURE can bounce back after seeming not to stay at Sandown earlier this month. Her previous effort over C&D gives her leading claims. Royal Ruby is an danger representing a top yard, but hasn't looked a world beater and may be vulnerable, while The Premier Celtic is going the right way and doesn't have to improve much . Royal Marskell ran well on belated hurdles debut in the autumn but looked moody on the Flat last time, and Legend of France is another with a squeak.