15:40 Plumpton

Sunday 5 January 2020

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

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

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 4m 1.10s

Lightly Squeeze⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-3| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 120

8/11

Unpenalised for his 2m3f win at Taunton latest by 7L and he won by the same distance over 2m at Wincanton the time before. Clearly thriving and looks very well treated here.

Form: 43-2311

Sermando³⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 116WS

16/1

Dual French Flat winner met some smart sorts in relatively uninspiring novice campaign. Opening handicap mark could be workable especially after a wind operation during summer break.

Form: 736-

Karakoram^t1⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 114| D

16/1

Promising run of form came to a halt at Lingfield (2m; heavy) last month when he was a distant fifth of five. Has been given a break since then, but is still 6lb above his last winning mark and he needs to bounce back.

Form: 57-3135

Shaw's Cross^h³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 112| D

12/1

Consistent sort successful again when winning a heavy ground handicap at Lingfield latest by 7L. 8lb rise makes life tougher but certainly one to consider today.

Form: 12D5-81

Six Gun Serenade⁶³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: J & S Best| OR: 110| CD

40/1

Lightly raced nine-year-old won a maiden here over C&D on good to soft latest. Now goes handicapping and market may be a useful guide.

Form: U1051/

Hollywood Ken^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 109| D

50/1

Won first two for this stable but since pulled up twice and tailed off latest. Others now offer more compelling cases.

Form: 511/PP-0

Perfect Myth¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: N B King| OR: 108

50/1

Pulled up behind Lightly Squeeze latest although was very badly hampered on the bend and could never recover. Well held in first two starts of this season too however so others preferred.

Form: 343-58P

Mount Windsor^h1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: C Gordon| OR: 105| C

5/1

Dual bumper winner taken his time to get the hang of hurdling but his 19L second to Highway One O Two who goes in the opener today a sound effort. Hood could further assist and a genuine player on handicap bow.

Form: 21-1502

Bol D'Air^h⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 102| CD

28/1

Won back-to-back handicaps for Chris Gordon in 2017 but off over 900 days when down the field at Hereford on recent stable bow. May have needed that but remains a risky proposition.

Form: 79811/0

Rafiot¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 110

33/1

A French Flat winner on his debut over 1m2f he shaped as though he would be better for the run on his hurdling debut at Kempton (finished third). Checked out tamely when well supported next and too keen since. Handicap debut now.

Form: 3P5

Scrutinise^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 96| CD

6/1

Ran well on stable debut and has since won back-to-back C&D handicaps. Upped another 4lb for this hotter race but can't be ruled out in current form.

Form: 870-311

Non-Runners

King Muro²⁰⁹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 10

T: M Roberts J: J McGrath

Forecasts

Lightly Squeeze (8/11), Mount Windsor (5/1), Scrutinise (6/1), Shaw's Cross (12/1), Karakoram (16/1), Sermando (16/1), King Muro (20/1), Bol D'Air (28/1), Rafiot (33/1), Six Gun Serenade (40/1), Hollywood Ken (50/1), Perfect Myth (50/1)

This looks a golden opportunity for the hat-trick seeking LIGHTLY SQUEEZE who has won each of his last two races by 7L as he is well in before reassessment by the handicapper. Dangers are headed by fellow hat-trick seeker Scrutinise and unexposed Mount Windsor.