13:10 Plumpton

Monday 14 November 2022

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

Download The At The Races App Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 5m 6.74s

Grozni³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Byrnes⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 109

2/1

Easy winner of a competitive 23.3f Punchestown handicap hurdle last month under this rider. Hard to beat under 12 lb penalty if in the same form.

Form: 903101

Claude Almighty^p⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Miss J S Davis

250/1

Well held in a brace of bumpers and fared no better tried hurdling in first-time cheekpieces at Uttoxeter 10 weeks ago.

Form: 7-79

El Paco²⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe

200/1

Modest maiden on Flat (stays 1½m). Stiff task on hurdles debut after 6 months off.

Form:

Heaven Smart¹⁴

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

11/10

Related to bumper winner/smart hurdler Cracking Smart. Runner-up twice in points (fell latest start in that sphere). Jumped none too fluently when held in second in hurdles debut over C&D a fortnight ago. Another place probably likely.

Form: 4P22F-2

Northern Poet⁶²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 106

20/1

Bumper winner who has races in him over hurdles if all is well, second in 7-runner 21.8f Fontwell handicap when last seen in February 2021. Might need this.

Form: 392632/

Promising Milan^t1⁷⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: S Hosie

50/1

€70,000 point winner who was thrown in at the deep end for his hurdles debut in Cheltenham Grade 2 in December 2020 (not seen to best effect). Off 23 months and returns with tongue tie fitted.

Form: 17/

Scamallach Liath²¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: O Sherwood

9/2

Successful on last of 3 starts in Irish points (Apr 17). One to note on hurdles debut.

Form: FP1-

Smith^v¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L Richards

125/1

Five-time winner at up to 2m on the Flat but hasn't taken to hurdling in 2 attempts, dropping away over C&D a fortnight ago.

Form: 9-P

Tea And Chats¹⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

7/1

From a good jumps family but unplaced in a pair of Irish points in May.

Form: 47

Wang Dang Doodle^v1¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Reed| T: J & S Best

250/1

Maiden pointer who offered little on recent hurdles debut at Fontwell (17.7f). Visor goes on. Might need more time.

Form: 64P/6P-6

Belgarum²¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

50/1

17/2, green and little impact in Chepstow bumper on debut in April.

Form: 6-

Titanium Bullet²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex

16/1

Fair form in bumpers. Upped markedly in trip for hurdles debut.

Form: 25

Forecasts

Heaven Smart (11/10), Grozni (2/1), Scamallach Liath (9/2), Tea And Chats (7/1), Titanium Bullet (16/1), Northern Poet (20/1), Promising Milan (50/1), Belgarum (50/1), Smith (125/1), El Paco (200/1), Wang Dang Doodle (250/1), Claude Almighty (250/1)

GROZNI was an easy winner of a well-contested Punchestown staying handicap hurdle last month and looks well placed to land a third success for the Byrnes team back down in class. Scamallach Liath and Heaven Smart might fight it out for minor honours.