14:15 Plumpton

Monday 10 February 2020

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:45

That Friday-Ad Feeling Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:17 | Winning time: 4m 11.45s

Calva D'Auge¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132| CD

5/6

Scored over C&D in November, and after a couple of tougher tasks he added another success at Wincanton last time. Hung left-handed there. Carries a double penalty, but remains a big player here.

Form: 22-1241

Ardbruce¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins

150/1

Well beaten in his only bumper run and was never involved on his hurdles debut (2m3f, soft). Can only watch until we see more.

Form: 9P

Ballydoyle⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

11/2

Won in France a couple of years ago, and wasn't far away from doing the same over slightly shorter on testing ground in October. Cost €26,000 in November, and one to note in the market on debut for a stable that does well here.

Form:

Hewn From Granite²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

50/1

Not devoid of promise when fourth of 10 here in a bumper in December (heavy). Didn't back that up on his hurdles debut (2m3f) last month. Drop in trip could help, but much improvement needed.

Form: 0946

Lightonthewing²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner

100/1

Progressively finished further behind with each of his bumper starts, and well held at Exeter (2m1f, heavy) last time. Can only watch on his hurdles debut.

Form: 006

Lisronagh Stone²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson

66/1

Point winner who was not devoid of promise on his debut here (2m4f, soft) last March. Tailed off when next seen in action in November (2m, heavy), and will need much more than that to be competitive.

Form: 3F215-0

Llanbeau²⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: D L Williams

150/1

Didn't show much in points. Is a half-brother to 2m hurdle winner Llantara and also bumper winner Monnow Made, but a watching brief is advised on this rules debut.

Form: 3PP8P-6

Milreu Has⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland

25/1

Cost €75,000 as a yearling, and nicely bred, so perhaps he can improve on his debut at Fakenham last month, when well held. Keep an eye on the market for any confidence.

Form: 6

Truckers Time⁶⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe

100/1

1-10 in points, and that came in a walkover. Well related (Calgary Bay, The Grey Monk and Grey Abbey in the family), but not run in points for almost two years and hard to fancy on rules debut.

Form: 1P343/U-

Fraser Island³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 135| BF| D

13/8

1m2f Flat winner who scored readily on his hurdles/stable debut at Newbury (2m, soft) in December. Stepped up on that with a useful-looking third at Kempton, despite defeat. That is very good form in context. The one to beat.

Form: 13

Queen Among Kings¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison

100/1

Well beaten at big prices in two runs to date, and impossible to make a case for her in this field.

Form: 33PP67

Beaufort¹¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| BFWS

14/1

Won on AW (1m4f) in September for Michael Dods. Had wind surgery after one more run, and changed hands for 16,000gns in October. In good hands and is half-brother to a 2m-2m2f hurdle winner, so no surprise to see him make a nice hurdles debut.

Form:

The Topp Notes²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West

150/1

Well beaten or tailed off in bumpers at both Wincanton and Newbury in recent months, and vast improvement needed on that for this hurdling introduction.

Form: 90

Forecasts

Calva D'Auge (5/6), Fraser Island (13/8), Ballydoyle (11/2), Beaufort (14/1), Milreu Has (25/1), Hewn From Granite (50/1), Lisronagh Stone (66/1), Queen Among Kings (100/1), Lightonthewing (100/1), Truckers Time (100/1), Ardbruce (150/1), The Topp Notes (150/1), Llanbeau (150/1)

Unlikely to be too many that get into this, given the presence of Calva D'Auge and FRASER ISLAND, who look likely to have it between them. The latter is just preferred after looking useful in two hurdles runs so far, and perhaps being open to more improvement on these terms. Paul Nicholls' runner is much respected, however, after winning last time. Beaufort is an interesting hurdles debutant and could battle for minor honours with Milreu Has.