14:30 Plumpton

Tuesday 20 December 2022

All12:2512:5513:2514:0014:3015:0015:35

Strong Flavours Catering Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 5m 23.20s

Le Patron¹⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 12-1| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 116

11/4

Fairly useful hurdles winner in France. Very interesting contender now starting out for the Gary Moore yard, particularly if the betting vibes are strong.

Form: F3-2

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Zestful Hope²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 114

5/1

Cashed in on a lowly mark when doubling career tally (both at Hereford) a month ago. Up 7 lb but he can remain competitive.

Form: 34-3361

Thirtyfourstitches³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 114| D

20/1

Likeable front-runner who was prolific last season, notching his seventh victory with a career-best effort at Market Rasen in April. However, pulled up both starts this time round and now finds himself with a fair bit to prove.

Form: 1F11-PP

Super Duper Sam³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Reed| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 111

9/1

Bumper winner on debut last November and found just one too good on first 2 starts over hurdles at Wincanton and Newbury. Return to that level on the back of a wind op when runner-up on reappearance over C&D last month.

Form: 12245-2

Baddesley³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁷⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 109| CD

9/2

Off the mark over hurdles at the seventh attempt when making virtually all the running in a C&D handicap last month (Super Duper Sam second). 4 lb rise fair enough.

Form: 236-431

Mountain Leopard³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 108| C

4/1

Bumper winner here in 2019. Hasn't stood much racing since but best effort over hurdles when runner-up back from a long break at Chepstow month ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 15226/2

Ben Bulben^t1³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 103

17/2

Not obviously well handicapped on what he achieved in his qualifying runs but he's in very good hands and this trip will suit now handicapping. Tongue tie on.

Form: 452-4

Storm Hill³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: P Henderson| OR: 99| BF| C

11/1

Left hurdles debut well behind when cosily seeing off 11 rivals from the front in a 2m maiden here in February. Failed to complete on recent Warwick reappearance and he didn't seem to stay over this trip a fortnight later.

Form: F291-F8

Non-Runners

Northern Poet³⁶

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: N J Gifford J: James Davies

Pilsdon Pen³⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: J Scott J: Rex Dingle

Forecasts

Le Patron (11/4), Mountain Leopard (4/1), Baddesley (9/2), Zestful Hope (5/1), Pilsdon Pen (8/1), Northern Poet (8/1), Ben Bulben (17/2), Super Duper Sam (9/1), Storm Hill (11/1), Thirtyfourstitches (20/1)

The 4-y-o hurdle LE PATRON finished runner-up in when trained in France this summer worked out very well and having transferred to a successful yard, he looks well weighted. Pilsdon Pen can boast a superb record in handicaps and he is a threat, with Mountain Leopard and Ben Bulben potential improvers.