16:10 Plumpton

Monday 20 January 2020

All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:10

Follow Plumpton On Instagram Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 5m 29.8s

Nautical Twilight^p¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Alexander Fielding⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N B King| OR: 102

16/1

Race still hadn't fully developed when she fell over 2m4f at this track over fences 15 days ago. Now reverts to hurdles for the first time since February 2018, and is up against far less exposed sorts.

Form: 4-3133F

Zoltan Varga¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 100

4/1

Produced another good effort for this yard when third over C&D (half-a-length behind Ede'iffs Elton) at the start of the month. Has every chance of reversing those placings, despite running off the same terms with that rival.

Form: 32-F723

The Tin Miner^v⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 100| C

16/1

Failed to build upon encouraging first run for this yard back in April at this track when pulled-up on his seasonal return over fences at the start of last month. Not one to place full trust into off the back of such an effort.

Form: 26F32-P

Ede'iffs Elton¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 97

7/2

Unlucky to bump into one on handicap debut over this C&D at the start of the month. Doesn't look to be anything as well treated in this contest, & that effort was a definite improvement on his previous showings in novice company.

Form: 8F-6762

Little Boy Boru¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 97| CD

5/1

Last tasted success over 3m at this track in February last year. Patchy form in seven starts since then, and he was beaten a total of 34-length into fourth at Lingfield (2m7f; heavy) most recently. Looks vulnerable to less exposed types.

Form: U-5U354

Arcadian Sea^t⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 96

20/1

It is a surprise to see him declared given the ground description (heavy), coupled with the fact his profile suggests he prefers much better ground. 0-8 over hurdles, and he was tailed off at Huntingdon (2m4f; good) when last seen.

Form: 424558

Sabbathical³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 96

9/2

Handicap newcomer who will need to step up significantly on what he has shown in three novice hurdles. Opening mark doesn't look a gift, but the market is likely to be the best guide to his chance.

Form: 2-8P70

Chivers¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Steele| OR: 90

16/1

Posted a highly encouraging seasonal reappearance effort when runner-up over this C&D over fences recently. Reverts to hurdles off a 4lb lower mark, and looks to have a solid chance if able to back that comeback run up. Is 0-13 over hurdles though.

Form: 443-3U2

Little Rich^t1,v1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 88

25/1

Seven-race maiden. Shown next to no improvement for the switch to this sphere, as shown by the fact his mark has dropped 12lb in just three handicap starts. First time headgear now tried with visor/tongue-tie. Others look more convincing.

Form: 4328-67

Spirit Of Rome^p,t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁷⁾| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 77

10/1

Can be confidently ruled out given his strike rate of 0-24. Never looked dangerous when fifth at Hereford (2m3f; heavy) earlier this month, and there is no evidence to suggest he can feature prominently here.

Form: P36-7F5

Huccaby^t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 70

9/1

Showed very little ability in novice hurdles prior to making a low-key handicap debut at Warwick (2m5f; heavy) last month. Likely to come good at some point as he is lightly raced. Must show more positive signs before he can be recommended though.

Form: 888007

Forecasts

Ede'iffs Elton (7/2), Zoltan Varga (4/1), Sabbathical (9/2), Little Boy Boru (5/1), Huccaby (9/1), Spirit Of Rome (10/1), The Tin Miner (16/1), Chivers (16/1), Nautical Twilight (16/1), Arcadian Sea (20/1), Little Rich (25/1)

It is difficult to split both EDE'IFFS ELTON & Zoltan Varga who were separated by just a half-length when the pair met over C&D just 15 days ago. They renew rivalry off the same terms and preference is for the former to confirm those placings given he is a little less exposed than the latter. As for the rest of the field, Chivers has solid place claims given how encouragingly he shaped on return from a six-month layoff when runner-up over this trip over fences earlier this month. He runs off a 4lb lower mark as he is returned to hurdles which looks notable. Meanwhile, Nautical Twilight could get involved if none the worse for a tumble over fences here recently.