16:07 Plumpton

Monday 6 November 2023

All13:0713:3714:0714:3715:0715:3716:07

Southern Contract Lifting Ltd Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:08 | Winning time: 5m 10.74s

Godot¹⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: A Irvine| OR: 111| CD

9/2

Opened hurdles account in C&D maiden during the spring and improved when following up in a Kempton handicap (21f, good to soft) in May. Resumes on just a 3 lb higher mark and, with further improvement on the cards, he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 37831-1

Heross Du Seuil^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: R Potter| OR: 110

13/2

Left first 3 runs for this yard behind when successful at Uttoxeter (2½m, soft) in September and backed it up when narrowly denied at Southwell last month. Wasn't disgraced at Carlisle since, but it could be that the handicapper now has his measure.

Form: PP-7125

Copshill Lad^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Reed| T: M F Harris| OR: 106| BF

10/3

Yet to really build on the promise of his impressive bumper success, but he has shown a fair level of ability in this sphere. Reappearance third in a handicap at Exeter (18.5f, good) was creditable and he merits respect off 1 lb lower here.

Form: 3453-F3

Poker Master²⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: P J McBride| OR: 106| D

22/1

Won 3 on the bounce during 2021/22 campaign and progressed again on first 2 starts of last season, landing back-to-back 20.7f handicaps at Huntingdon. However, returns to action with a point to prove having failed to fire at Ffos Las when last seen during the spring.

Form: 13/115P-

Ragamuffin^p,t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 104| D

22/1

Three-time chase winner in 2022 and posted easily his best effort so far this year when runner-up in a handicap hurdle at Worcester (2½m, good to soft) in August. Failed to build on that both subsequent starts, though, and needs to bounce back.

Form: 755249

Baddesley^p¹⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 104| CD

11/2

Off the mark over hurdles at seventh attempt when making virtually in a C&D handicap last November. Creditable third in a first-time visor (omitted here) back here during the spring and it was in a stronger race than this that he struggled at Market Rasen next time.

Form: 15P33-5

Beat The Heat^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R T Dunne| T: J R Boyle| OR: 104

15/2

Bagged 3 handicap hurdles at Fontwell in 2022 and, fit from the Flat (winner at Bath at the end of August), he put in a good shift when third of 12 back there (19.2f, good) last month. Needs to raise his game touch in order to take this, but he's one to consider nonetheless.

Form: 71311-3

Pilbara¹⁹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 103

22/1

Twice successful in this sphere for Emmet Mullins on the other side of the Irish Sea in 2020. Sole win for this yard was gained off a significantly higher mark over fences at Fontwell in October 2021, but it's been a struggle since and he needs to bounce back in a major way.

Form: P/P5555-

Highlander Casseul²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 101

18/1

Fair ex-Irish maiden hurdler, but safely held both starts for present yard and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 86P3-49

Dylan's Double²¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: J Tizzard| OR: 97

7/1

Shaped well on hurdles debut in an Exeter novice in January. Failed to build on that in 2 subsequent starts, but it would be no surprise were he to take a step forward now upped in trip for this handicap debut. Watch the betting.

Form: 8/454-

Executive Pool¹⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 93

12/1

Fair Flat winner who got off the mark in this sphere in 2m Hereford handicap in April. Not disgraced when fifth here (15.9f, good to firm) following month, but will need to have improved during the summer if he's to make a winning return in this contest.

Form: 22301-5

Forecasts

Copshill Lad (10/3), Godot (9/2), Baddesley (11/2), Heross Du Seuil (13/2), Dylan's Double (7/1), Beat The Heat (15/2), Executive Pool (12/1), Highlander Casseul (18/1), Ragamuffin (22/1), Poker Master (22/1), Pilbara (22/1)

The vote goes to GODOT, who got his act together with back-to-back wins during the spring and, with the prospect of better to come from this 6-y-o, he makes plenty of appeal. Fellow C&D winner Baddesley has something of a patchy record, but he's certainly capable of a bold show off this mark and is next on the list ahead of Copshill Lad and interesting handicap debutant Dylan's Double. Beat The Heat is also worthy of a mention in what looks a pretty competitive heat.