15:20 Plumpton

Monday 16 December 2019

All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:1514:5015:20

Sky Sports Racing Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 4m 38.7s

Falberto⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: S Thomas

11/2

Was was placed on AQPS Flat races, and this gelding also made the frame on his debut in a Chepstow bumper (good to soft) in October. Looks a leading player on that form, with improvement likely.

Form: 3

Hewn From Granite³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

20/1

Has not yet managed to make any impact when sent off at big prices in two starts at Worcester and Lingfield (AW). Impossible to recommend him on that evidence.

Form: 09

Just In A Muddle

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

14/1

Second foal of a dual 3m1f chase winner. From a good family, but trainer has not had a bumper winner yet this season and his usual average of 7% is moderate, so perhaps this gelding is one to watch first time.

Form:

Milnthorpe

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

7/2

€12,500 foal, €30,000 3yo. Fourth foal. Half-brother to point winner, out of a maiden pointer. Trainer 16% over five years in this sphere and an impressive 30% this season. Market check ahead of his debut.

Form:

Mountain Leopard²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams

5/2

Half-brother to the very useful bumper/2m hurdle winner Beacon Edge. Stayed on nicely for third on debut at Market Rasen (soft) last month. Trainer 13% strike-rate in bumpers over five seasons. Should go close.

Form: 3

Rocco Du Berlais²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

50/1

66-1 and beaten a long way on debut at Ascot last month, never getting into the argument. Impossible to recommend until we have seen more.

Form: 0

Castcarrie

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: R Walford

8/1

€6,200 foal, €8,000 3yo. Third foal. Dam well held in 2m and 2m3f maiden hurdles, but from a decent family. Stable 0-25 in bumpers over past five seasons, so probably one to watch on debut.

Form:

Little River Bay

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

11/4

Fifth foal. Half-sister to two winners over hurdles/fences, and out of a 2m3f-2m6f hurdle/chase winner. In good hands, although stable 0-12 this season in bumpers, which is well short of usual five-year strike rate of 17%. Interesting.

Form:

Sei Bella³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: M McGrath

25/1

Has gone off at long odds and been well held in bumpers at both Huntingdon and Fontwell. Readily opposed.

Form: 9-7

Non-Runners

Cannie Lad

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: M F Harris J: James Best

Forecasts

Mountain Leopard (5/2), Little River Bay (11/4), Milnthorpe (7/2), Falberto (11/2), Castcarrie (8/1), Cannie Lad (12/1), Just In A Muddle (14/1), Hewn From Granite (20/1), Sei Bella (25/1), Rocco Du Berlais (50/1)

Although Philip Hobbs hasn't yet had a bumper winner this season, Little River Bay has one of the more eyecatching pedigrees in this field and it would be no surprise to see her make a big impact. However, experience can often count for plenty and both Falberto and MOUNTAIN LEOPARD made positive starts to their careers. The latter is just preferred this time, while Milnthorpe also can't be dismissed on debut.