14:00 Plumpton

Monday 2 January 2023

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Bet Goodwin Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 20.11s

Zoltan Varga²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 101

14/1

Winner of a Fontwell handicap in September, his sole success from 13 starts over hurdles. Probably needed the run when down the field at that course following a lengthy absence last month but it's hard to be sure how much ability he retains.

Form: 23210/0

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Mr Jack^p,t⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 100| C

8/1

Four-time winner during 2020/21 campaign but generally below par last season and he was rather disappointing at Fontwell on Boxing Day.

Form: 485-637

Pawpaw²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 95

16/1

Lost his way for Paul Webber last season and while he appeared to take a step back in the right direction when third on latest start for Ben Pauling at Carlisle in October, he didn't show much on the Flat for new yard last month.

Form: 4P0893

Getaway Tom⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 93

16/5

Signs of ability in bumper/novice hurdles and it's entirely possible that he'll be seen in a better light now moving up in trip for this handicap debut. One to note in the betting.

Form: 45-85

Wind Of Fortune²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 92

20/1

Fared better than he had in 2 bumpers when fourth in novice at Fontwell (19.2f, good) on hurdles debut in October but has failed to back that effort up in 2 subsequent starts. Improvement needed now pitched into a handicap.

Form: PP470

Coronado Joe^p1¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 90

10/1

Accounted for 14 rivals when opening hurdles account at Fontwell last February. Has dropped back to that mark and while efforts so far this season have lacked spark (over fences latest), he will be a threat if the first-time cheekpieces have the desired effect.

Form: 619-U6P

Bolberry Down^t1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: K Jewell| OR: 90

40/1

In frame first 2 starts but pulled up switched to handicap company at Lingfield last time and needs to get back on track now equipped with a tongue strap.

Form: 43P

Doireann⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 89

2/1

Maiden who had wind surgery in the off-season and ran her best race yet when second in 23f Fakenham handicap on return in November. 2 lb nudge could prove lenient given that the front 2 pulled well clear.

Form: P2257-2

Bert Wilson^t,v1³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 87

17/2

Not the most consistent but returned with respectable fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Worcester (2m, heavy) in October. Failed to complete switched to fences next time and place possibilities back in this sphere. Yard also saddles Inferno Sacree.

Form: 84PP-4U

Inferno Sacree^b1⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 74

11/1

Free-going sort has dropped to sort of mark that would give him frame claims on his best efforts. However, he was well held back from a break at Ffos Las and hopes pinned on the first-time blinkers sparking improvement here.

Form: 5-44656

Amlovi²⁹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Benjamin Poste| T: A Wintle| OR: 72| C

28/1

Generally acquitted herself well last season, finishing a creditable third in a 7-runner Warwick handicap (2m, soft) when last seen in March. Still, her record when fresh doesn't augur particularly well and she's likely to find one or two too good.

Form: P/P4463-

Forecasts

Doireann (2/1), Getaway Tom (16/5), Mr Jack (8/1), Bert Wilson (17/2), Coronado Joe (10/1), Inferno Sacree (11/1), Zoltan Varga (14/1), Pawpaw (16/1), Wind Of Fortune (20/1), Amlovi (28/1), Bolberry Down (40/1)

A first taste of success could be on the cards for DOIREANN, who found some improvement on her first start following a wind operation when a clear second on her reappearance at Fakenham. It will be interesting to see how Coronado Joe responds to the addition of cheekpieces, as he would have a serious chance off this mark if the headgear were to spark a return to form. Handicap debutants Getaway Tom and Wind of Fortune both need a second look in the betting, particularly the former.