15:40 Plumpton

Sunday 6 January 2019

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Watch Today's Race Replays On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 3m 58.1s

Argyle^v³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: N F Houlihan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 110| CD

4/1

Only win in 25 starts came over C&D 11 months ago.. Arrives in form following seconds in a Flat riders hurdle at Lingfield and an amateur Flat race. Usually ridden by a conditional so no surprise should he usurp his stablemate.

Form: 4125-U2

Oden^p²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Gifford| OR: 110

3/1

52,000 gns purchase from Roger Varian's yard in 2017 having won a Brighton handicap. Cheekpieces worn then are fitted for the first time over hurdles having shown improved form a month ago. Strong contender under promising rider.

Form: 5-992

First Quest³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: R T Dunne| T: J R Boyle| OR: 109| D

3/1

Easy Uttoxeter winner under this rider prior to a wind op. Made a crucial error on his return last month and could have further improvement in him.

Form: 6586-14

Telegraph Place²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 109| D

20/1

Warwick novice hurdle winner on final start for Olly Murphy made an inauspicious start for these connections when tailed off on his first two starts for them. More needed against rivals in better form.

Form: 72-4107

Mr Jack²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Garner| T: Mrs L C Jewell| OR: 106

20/1

Has gone well here in the past so no surprise should he step up on his first two runs in handicaps. Others still have more pressing claims.

Form: PP43-47

Goldslinger^t³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 104

9/2

Landed a low grade affair at Newton Abbot and stepped up on that at Kempton. More to do off 4lb higher, but fit from the Flat and noted staying on late at Chelmsford on Thursday. Stable took this last year.

Form: 5/P531-2

Stonecoldsoba^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: D P Quinn| OR: 104| BF| D

14/1

All three hurdle wins have been under this rider, the last two off marks of 103. Cheekpieces fitted having thrown away his latest race with a final flight blunder.

Form: 84U863

Maisy Belle²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 104

66/1

Makes handicap debut having shown mixed form in maiden company. Faces a stiff opening mark in a competitive event for the grade.

Form: 8P/4357

Gannicus^p,t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: B G Powell| OR: 99| D

16/1

Last win came in the summer of 2017. He has gone well on his last two visits here but this looks stronger.

Form: 7-4625B

Dream Baie^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: M Roberts| OR: 90

12/1

Modest looking maiden who has been well beaten on both starts this term and continues to drop down the weights. Can be given a chance on his Huntingdon third but that is beginning to look flattering.

Form: 830-657

Forecasts

First Quest (3/1), Oden (3/1), Argyle (4/1), Goldslinger (9/2), Dream Baie (12/1), Stonecoldsoba (14/1), Gannicus (16/1), Mr Jack (20/1), Telegraph Place (20/1), Maisy Belle (66/1)

A tricky race to close the card but one where the fitting of cheekpieces and the booking of Rex Dingle may make enough of a difference to give ODEN an edge. Having scored at Brighton the dips and undulations here should suit and his handicap hurdles debut showed he was not far off winning. Stable companions Goldslinger and Argyle are difficult to split, whilst Stonecoldsoba looks ready to strike soon. First Quest would have finished closer last time but for a mistake when making ground and is another possibility in an open event.