15:15 Plumpton

Monday 23 October 2023

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Summertree Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 3m 41.17s

Star Legend^h³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: James Owen| OR: 98

7/1

Fair on the Flat for William Haggas and stepped up on low-key handicap debut in this sphere when third of 9 at Southwell (15.8f, good to firm) last month. Failed to build on that with cheekpieces enlisted next time (discarded here) and hood now refitted. Yard also saddles King Otis.

Form: 33734

Embolden¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: C Hobson| OR: 90| C

9/4

Mixed bag, some good efforts interspersed with some lesser ones, but he's 3 lb lower than for his first hurdles success over 17.7f here in April and put in a good shift when third at Uttoxeter (15.8f, good to soft) recently. Likely player.

Form: P35033

Mi Sueno¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: J E Moore| T: P Butler| OR: 89

9/1

Best effort yet when runner-up in a Cartmel handicap on final start for Peter Flood in June. Poor effort on debut for this yard on the Flat but wasn't disgraced back in this sphere at Fontwell (19.2f, good) recently and he's not without each-way hope.

Form: 000-526

Hobsons Bay^t,v¹⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 79

16/1

Lightly-raced maiden on the level and has offered little in 3 starts over hurdles to date. On the upside, he makes his handicap debut in this sphere on a lowly mark and is fitted with a visor here (went close sole start in this headgear on the Flat last year).

Form: P/88-

Deal Em High⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Reed| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 78

12/1

Bumper winner who was runner-up in a Ffos Las maiden in May and latest fourth of 10 in a Stratford handicap (16.3f, good) was a creditable effort. 2 lb lower here and could have a part to play if handling conditions.

Form: P/P9-264

King Otis^p⁹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 77

5/4

Modest maiden hurdler who has yet to trouble the judge. However, he wouldn't be the first to benefit from the switch to the up-and-coming James Owen yard and needs a close look in the betting.

Form: P5-8P77

Onnaroll^h⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: Cynthia Woods| OR: 73

22/1

Offered little first 8 starts over hurdles but looked a different proposition when, despite being 12 lb out of the handicap, finding just one too good at Fontwell (17.7f, good) on penultimate start. However, he failed to back that up on slow ground at Worcester since.

Form: 8U5P2P

Milton Boy²¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: N J Hawke| OR: 71

66/1

Little impact in 3 starts in this sphere to date and major step forward needed now pitched into a handicap. Yard saddles a potentially stronger candidate in Hobsons Bay.

Form: 8P0-

Forecasts

King Otis (5/4), Embolden (9/4), Star Legend (7/1), Mi Sueno (9/1), Deal Em High (12/1), Hobsons Bay (16/1), Onnaroll (22/1), Milton Boy (66/1)

None of these look especially solid and EMBOLDEN is the obvious place to turn on the back of a good effort at Uttoxeter a couple of weeks ago. He's slipped below the mark off which he opened his hurdles account here during the spring and conditions won't be an issue for this 6-y-o. King Otis will be of interest starting out for James Owen if the market vibes are upbeat, while Deal Em High also enters calculations. Hobsons Bay is also worth a second look on his handicap debut in this sphere.