16:45 Plumpton

Tuesday 21 March 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Weatherbys Digital Solutions Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:46 | Winning time: 4m 6.30s

Downsman^p⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: J R Boyle| OR: 100

11/4

Fairly useful on Flat and while he hasn't made much of an impact in 3 starts since switched to hurdles, it's not hard to envisage improvement from this 5-y-o now pitched into a handicap in this sphere with the cheekpieces on.

Form: 767

Martin Spirit^p¹¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: J E Moore| T: P Butler| OR: 94

7/1

Winner over fences in France and has hit the crossbar 7 times in this sphere, including off this mark at Leicester (15.5f) when last seen in November. However, his hurdles record stands at 0-20 and needs to pull out a bit more with cheekpieces refitted here in order to get his head in front.

Form: PP-2602

Good Time Ahead²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: J & S Best| OR: 93| D

7/2

Looked better than ever when easily winning a 12-runner handicap hurdle at Lingfield (2m) last month. Remains well treated on old form despite 6 lb rise and ranks high on the shortlist again.

Form: 6/83-641

Brown Bullet^h²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 89| CD

11/4

Opened hurdles account in a C&D novice in January 2021 and also bagged a Fontwell mares' handicap in March of that year. Winless since but put in a decent shift over 20.5f here last time following a second wind op and she's an each-way player.

Form: 25P373

Pump It Up^b³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: M Roberts| OR: 86| D

17/2

Modest Flat winner and similar standard over hurdles, returning to form after wind-op when third of 8 in a C&D handicap last month. Still, others make bit more appeal for win purposes.

Form: 6140-73

Yesnosorry^t1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 75

11/1

Hasn't shown much in 4 starts over hurdles, including when upped to 20.5f on handicap debut here last time. Now tried in a tongue strap.

Form: 80866

Shirocco's Delight^p1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: Miss A M Newton-Smith| OR: 72

22/1

Still winless following 16 starts overall and, unless the addition of cheekpieces sparks significant improvement, another struggle is seemingly on the cards.

Form: 4PPF7P

Non-Runners

Executive Pool⁵⁰

Weight: 10-6| Age: 4

T: G & J Moore J: N F Houlihan

Forecasts

Brown Bullet (11/4), Downsman (11/4), Good Time Ahead (7/2), Martin Spirit (7/1), Executive Pool (15/2), Pump It Up (17/2), Yesnosorry (11/1), Shirocco's Delight (22/1)

Though he's failed to shine in a trio of starts over hurdles so far, dual Flat winner DOWNSMAN appears to have been brought along with handicaps in mind. He is now pitched into one off what looks a feasible opening mark and improvement should be forthcoming with the headgear back on. Good Time Ahead returned to form with a bang at Lingfield last time and is feared most ahead of Brown Bullet and Executive Pool.