15:20 Plumpton

Sunday 15 April 2018

All14:1514:5015:2015:5516:3017:0017:30

Premier League Betting At 188Bet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 5m 10.0s

Midnight Maestro¹¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 125

9/4

Has been well-supported on his last two starts and he appeared to find 2m5f too far last time. Slightly shorter here and down in class so possible he can restore confidence.

Form: 21P-605

Nesterenko³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 124

14/1

Lightly raced over the past two seasons and his comeback run last month offered little encouragement. Age may be becoming a factor now and he may need a few runs to earn a more realistic mark.

Form: 6/144P-7

Ballygown Bay¹⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120| BF

17/2

Has improved with each run and had the useful Captain Cattistock behind him last time when stepping up in trip. Mark looks right based on what he's done, but any improvement since last October would make him the one to beat.

Form: 33-33

Wolfcatcher^t,v¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 119| BF

17/2

Potential improver now dropped in class and with current drying conditions in his favour. Weighted to go close and stable are in good form.

Form: 653036

Cleni Wells^h¹³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J McGrath| T: M Hill| OR: 118

50/1

Did not take to chasing last time and conditions were too soft on his last run over timber. Weighted to give a good account on his best form, but this is a strong race for the grade and others are more appealing.

Form: P03365

The Premier Celtic²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: P Phelan| OR: 117| C

14/1

Beat a disappointing Nicky Henderson here in February and refused to settle when well-beaten next time. Scored on good ground, but said to want a bit of ease underfoot and now tries a new trip.

Form: 77516

No Hiding Place³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 117

5/1

Unlucky to bump into an in-form rival last time and has gone up the weights again for another defeat. Hardly appeals as a handicap good thing and he needs to find a further career best against rivals who are more leniently treated.

Form: 244822

Balgemmois⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: A Stronge| OR: 116

10/1

A change of tactics and softer ground reaped dividends when opening his account at Leicester in December. Just found wanting off his revised mark since and questions remain regarding his stamina.

Form: 33-9145

Boy In A Bentley^p,t¹⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 115

33/1

Picked up a couple of small races last summer and he has been put away since a poor run in November and the onset of winter ground. Likely to need the run and faster conditions.

Form: 2211P0

Puppet Warrior²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Nick Scholfield| T: N J Gifford| OR: 114

13/2

Has proved disappointing so far but stepped up last time when tackling 3m. Drop to this trip whilst stepping up in class makes his prospects less appealing, but he will be dangerous if connections find the key to overcoming his lack of gears.

Form: 282234

Rothman^p,t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 110| D

12/1

Runner-up five times this term including over C&D in November off the same mark when the ground was good. Has been mixing hurdling and chasing this year and deserves to add to his 2-28 record. Looks set to go close again on a course he handles well.

Form: 282252

Searching^v⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 105

16/1

Soundly beaten in his three runs back from an absence including a seller. Stable can prepare one for this contest and it would be worth assessing the market to see if there are signs he may be coming back to his 2016 form.

Form: 4/21-739

Takeitfromalady^b¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Matthew Batchelor| T: D Steele| OR: 95

66/1

Not seen over hurdles since three runs here in 2015, the pick of which came on good ground. Two AW runs following a lengthy absence have not suggested he is ready to threaten from 4lb out of the weights.

Form: 350/

Non-Runners

Paddys Runner⁵⁶

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: D Killahena & G McPherson J: Kielan Woods

Justification⁶²

Weight: 10-11| Age: 10

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Midnight Maestro (9/4), No Hiding Place (5/1), Puppet Warrior (13/2), Wolfcatcher (17/2), Ballygown Bay (17/2), Balgemmois (10/1), Rothman (12/1), Justification (12/1), Nesterenko (14/1), The Premier Celtic (14/1), Searching (16/1), Paddys Runner (16/1), Boy In A Bentley (33/1), Cleni Wells (50/1), Takeitfromalady (66/1)

Midnight Maestro has been a costly failure on his last two starts and an absence since Boxing Day indicate there may have been issues. WOLFCATCHER makes most appeal with his yard in such good form and with his mark looking more attractive. Paddy's Runner and Cleni Wells have also been given a chance by the handicapper with the former more likely to be competitive in this grade. No Hiding Place will need to improve again to defy an increasing mark but Ballygown Bay is lightly raced and will not have to find much on form in order to figure.