15:00 Plumpton

Monday 25 February 2019

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Book For Our Easter Festival Now Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 15:03 | Winning time: 5m 31.65s

Awesome Rock²²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Matthew Batchelor| T: R Ingram

200/1

Modest at best on the Flat and now makes his hurdles debut having shown very little in his last two runs on the level. They came some while ago so he may need this; will do well to get involved.

Form:

Brandy Cross⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison

200/1

Maiden from Irish point-to-points who offered very little on his hurdling debut here last month over further. Hard to make a case on what he's shown so far and readily passed over.

Form: P-63330

Grey Diamond^t1⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| D

11/2

Hard to see how he can be competitive until he learns to settle in his races (very hard puller); given a very negative ride last time though. Has won a bumper so not devoid of ability and may fare better in a strongly-run handicap; tongue-tied now.

Form: 1455

Harry Hazard^h⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison

125/1

Made little impact in his Irish point-to-point outings and his Rules outings have told a very similar tale. Hood worn for his last two starts is persevered with but he looks a long term project who will need time and possibly further.

Form: 5F05

Milton⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs D Grissell

150/1

Offered little on two starts in bumpers with the second one coming here in May 2017. Would have needed his hurdles debut when returning from a major absence last month but unsurprisingly showed very little.

Form: 5/6-6

Reallyradical⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: L P Aspell| T: C Gordon

20/1

Brought some place form from Irish point-to-points to the party when making his hurdles debut here over slightly further last month. Showed promise in that outing (travelled well); looks open to further progress with that run tucked away.

Form: 3P-F224

Shut The Box⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| BF

16/1

One of two that the trainer runs in this with this one making his hurdling debut on the back of some fair efforts in bumpers. All three efforts in that sphere have shown some promise; looks to have been given plenty of time, worth watching.

Form: 3-34

Soarlikeaneagle⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe

100/1

Irish point-to-point winner at the second attempt who hasn't really shown any forward progress over hurdles as yet. Certainly gone backwards from his debut and pulled up when tailed over here last time out.

Form: 3-140P

The Flying Sofa¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 126

8/13

Useful in bumpers (winner on his third attempt) he's twice run with encouragement over hurdles with his best effort coming last time over C&D. Beaten by a useful sort on that occasion (just outstayed); better ground will suit, will progress again.

Form: 3310-32

Zlatan⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: E De Giles

33/1

Needed careful handling on the Flat (had his foibles; sometimes found little); unsure how he will take to this new sphere. Looked stretched by trips of 1m3f on the Flat so will need a sharp 2m over hurdles; not given an easy introduction.

Form:

Neverbeen To Paris²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: D W P Arbuthnot

20/1

Fairly useful on the Flat when with Michael Bell (won off a mark of 74); stayed 1m4f. Didn't really promise to live up to his price tag (27,000 guineas) on his hurdling debut at Sandown but has time to improve yet.

Form: 5

Pentland Hills¹⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

5/2

Won back-to-back 1m4f handicaps on the Flat when with Chris Wall (last win off 69) and not beaten far on his last start on the level in softer conditions than his two wins. Joined a leading stable; should be able to make an impact over hurdles.

Form:

Non-Runners

Zamperini²³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: G & J Moore J: Joshua Moore

Forecasts

The Flying Sofa (8/13), Pentland Hills (5/2), Grey Diamond (11/2), Shut The Box (16/1), Zamperini (16/1), Reallyradical (20/1), Neverbeen To Paris (20/1), Zlatan (33/1), Soarlikeaneagle (100/1), Harry Hazard (125/1), Milton (150/1), Brandy Cross (200/1), Awesome Rock (200/1)

A question of experience versus promise here with the first of those element being provided by THE FLYING SOFA who was just touched off over C&D last time by the useful Acey Milan. A repeat of that effort on better ground ought to be enough to see off Pentland Hils who was promising on the Flat when with Chris Wall but lacks hurdling experience. Grey Diamond has a bigger performance in him if he can settle better and the faster the field go the better for him. The Chris Gordon duo Reallyradical and Shut The Box are worth keeping an eye on for the future whilst it will be interesting to see what two enigmatic former Flat performers Zamperini and Zlatan can bring to the table.