13:40 Plumpton

Sunday 5 January 2020

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

Visit attheraces.com/jumps EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 5m 21.95s

Cat Tiger⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| BF

11/8

Dual Grade 3 chase winner in France last year, after which he changed hands for €180,000. Beaten odds-on favourite on his British/stable debut at Worcester before narrow win at Exeter. Turned over at 1/3 at Lingfield latest but can make amends here.

Form: 341-212

Top Man²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: L P Aspell| T: C Gordon| OR: 118| CD

5/1

Former point-to-point winner off the mark at the third time of asking over hurdles when winning with plenty in hand over C&D last month on heavy ground. Penalty to overcome now but bold bid still expected.

Form: 6-15361

Calypso Jack²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Dave Crosse| T: Mrs L C Jewell

200/1

Beaten 60L and 49L so far over hurdles here with the latest behind Highway One O Two the likely favourite in today's opener. Need to see more to have any hope.

Form: 0-68

Deewhy^t1⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: Mrs L C Jewell

200/1

Jumping the main reason for his huge struggles in all three starts (twice tailed off last, once pulled up). Makes no appeal.

Form: 0P-0

Fraternel³⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

7/1

Son of Kap Rock ran once in France for Davy Cottin finishing third over 2m1½f in a four-year-old hurdle 12 months ago. That form hard to gauge but since joined a respected yard so one to note in the market.

Form: 3-

Iconic Muddle¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 115

4/1

Twice placed at 16/1 at Fontwell (second beaten 2½L) and Newbury (third beaten 7L). Form ought to put him in the mix again and expected to provide the biggest threat to the previous winners.

Form: 00-23

Just In A Muddle²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

66/1

Second foal of a dual 3m1f chase winner so never likely to show much in his bumper here last month (sixth of nine). Longer trip and presence of hurdles here should help but others still preferred.

Form: 6

Kerb Line¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Scott

100/1

100/1 on debut here and beaten just over 30L in a race where Iconic Muddle finished third and 27L in front. That gives a rough guide as to the severity of his task today.

Form: 0

Moroder⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

11/2

Uttoxeter bumper winner in March finished third beaten 3¾L over 2m5½f on hurdles debut at Exeter. That gives him each-way claims today and certainly one of the bigger dangers to the top two.

Form: 21-3

Rufio^t⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry

14/1

Twice third in bumpers so a shade disappointing in hurdles debut won by Cat Tiger at Exeter. Should be capable of better now and stable won this last year albeit with one with vastly superior form.

Form: 33-8

Forecasts

Cat Tiger (11/8), Iconic Muddle (4/1), Top Man (5/1), Moroder (11/2), Fraternel (7/1), Rufio (14/1), Just In A Muddle (66/1), Kerb Line (100/1), Calypso Jack (200/1), Deewhy (200/1)

A 1-3 record so far has been somewhat underwhelming for €180,000 buy CAT TIGER with his latest reverse at Lingfield particularly disappointing. Despite all of that he still has the most solid claims today and he gets the nod over the other previous winner Top Man. Most likely to serve it up to the penalised winners is Iconic Muddle who has two sound pieces of form in three starts over hurdles.