14:15 Plumpton

Monday 22 January 2024

All13:1513:4514:1514:4515:2015:55

Thank You To All Raceday Staff Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 5m 14.71s

Idy Wood⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 126| BF

5/6

Winner of first 2 starts under Rules, namely bumper at Newbury and novice hurdle at Fontwell. Excellent third in Grade 2 at Cheltenham in October and lost shoe/suffered overreach when a short-priced second at Hexham since. Leading form claims.

Form: 4/21-132

Bob Bob Ricard^p1³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

11/4

Promise in bumpers and positive start over hurdles when second at Wetherby, inexperience getting the better of him late on. Too lit up in blinkers at Ascot next time and capable of better for in-form yard if settling down in cheekpieces.

Form: 3/32-25

Captain Howse³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: M Goldstein| T: K Jewell

250/1

Modest handicapper on Flat for Sir Mark Prescott Bt but has finished well held both starts for current yard following a 13-month absence, offering little on hurdling debut at Plumpton in December. Best watched.

Form: 0

Defi Nonantais⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

12/1

Finished third on his sole outing in Irish points. Well held on hurdles debut at Kempton (21f) 70 days ago, looking one for later on.

Form: 3-8

Diplomatic Ash¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: David Noonan| T: G & J Moore

11/4

Built on debut when third of 7 in novice hurdle at this C&D (soft, 22/1) 15 days ago. May well do better still. Possibilities.

Form: 83

Rum Cove⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford

250/1

Well held in Exeter bumper and 21.6f novice hurdle (tongue tied) this winter.

Form: 0P

Simon The Seagull⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs D Grissell

300/1

Big price and well beaten in Lingfield AW bumper on debut last month.

Form: 0

Supreme Commander⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: S Hosie

33/1

Bought for plenty of money after finishing second in an Irish point. No impact in Exeter novice hunter chase in March 2022 and stiff task in Cheltenham Grade 2 hurdle 20 months on.

Form: 2P/7

Tigger⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: James Bowen| T: W GreatrexWS

66/1

Some promise in bumpers for Fergal O'Brien but only tenth on yard debut in novice hurdle at Chepstow (19.4f, soft) on hurdles bow 83 days ago. Needs subsequent wind op to spark an improvement.

Form: 65-0

Vintage Icon^h³⁵

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

150/1

No impact in bumpers/2 races over hurdles. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 07-009

Non-Runners

Two To Tango⁵⁴

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Thomas Bellamy

Forecasts

Idy Wood (5/6), Diplomatic Ash (11/4), Bob Bob Ricard (11/4), Two To Tango (13/2), Defi Nonantais (12/1), Supreme Commander (33/1), Tigger (66/1), Vintage Icon (150/1), Captain Howse (250/1), Rum Cove (250/1), Simon The Seagull (300/1)

IDY WOOD sets a high standard on the form of his Cheltenham Grade 2 third and can be forgiven his subsequent odds-on reverse at Hexham (lost a shoe and suffered an overreach) so looks the one to beat. Both Two To Tango and Diplomatic Ash have better days ahead of them and can chase home Jamie Snowden's fairly useful winner in that order. Bob Bob Ricard completes the shortlist.