17:30 Plumpton

Sunday 15 April 2018

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

188Bet Live Casino Intermediate Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 4m 23.8s

Irish Odyssey³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N P Mulholland| D

9/4

Created a good impression despite only beating a small field in a slow time on debut. Had so much left in the tank it took Noel Fehily a while to pull him up and he may be good enough to mix it with the runners from the big guns despite a penalty.

Form: 1

Baddesley Knight⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| BF

15/8

Good second at Newbury last time when he may have gone even closer but for a traffic problems. Yard don't get many bumper winners but he looks one who has a race of this nature within reach.

Form: 32

Black Lightning⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford

10/1

Good second on debut to Hideaway Vic (has run well again since) and ran to a similar level at Newbury latest when behind Baddesley Knight. Had a better trip than that rival so he has work to do to reverse placings.

Form: 27

Bridle Loanan⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

12/1

Getaway half-brother to a winning hurdler. Has gone off well-supported in four point-to-points and looked to have a race in safe keeping when falling at the last in February. In good local hands and one to check for signs in the market.

Form: P-4UF

Lordofthenight

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland

33/1

Stablemate of Irish Odyssey who appears to carry the stable's main hopes. Half-brother to three AW winners and 2m4f winning hurdler Vodka Red.

Form:

Scorpion Haze^p1⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: A Stronge| BF

12/1

Has shaped encouragingly in three similar events so far, beaten less than 5L on each occasion. For all that, he was sent off a well-backed favourite at Fontwell (heavy) last time so his effort was a shade disappointing. Cheekpieces added now.

Form: 423

Shannon Light⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: B R Johnson

11/1

Runner-up to two future winners under rules on both point-to-point starts, most recently chasing home Smiths Cross who took a bumper by 21L. Has joined a predominantly Flat yard for £18,000 and top rider's only mount of the day.

Form: 22

Voyage De Retour¹⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

6/1

Craigsteel gelding out of a bumper winning mare who joined this yard for £25,000 after easily winning a point-to-point in a good time. Stable knows how to get one ready for these events and he commands great respect.

Form: 45-1

Non-Runners

Emmpara⁵⁹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 4

T: P Hobbs & J White J: R Johnson

Andapa

Weight: 10-1| Age: 4

T: M Roberts J: Tom Cheesman

Forecasts

Baddesley Knight (15/8), Irish Odyssey (9/4), Voyage De Retour (6/1), Black Lightning (10/1), Shannon Light (11/1), Scorpion Haze (12/1), Bridle Loanan (12/1), Emmpara (14/1), Lordofthenight (33/1), Andapa (50/1)

It is always hard to defy penalties in these races and Irish Odyssey will have a lot more to do than when picking up a weak race on debut, impressive though his victory was. Nicky Henderson saddles winning pointer Voyage De Retour and he will figure towards the head of the market having won a point-to-point on his last start. The booking of Daryl Jacob for SHANNON LIGHT looks significant and there is nothing wrong with his point-to-point form having chased home a decent sort last time. Baddesley Knight looks to have a race of this nature in him, but finds himself in another decent contest where on or two may be too good for him.