14:10 Plumpton

Monday 4 December 2017

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Strong Flavours Catering Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 3m 53.6s

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Selected odds by:

Knocknanuss²⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| CD

13/8

Won a July 2015 Killarney bumper which had subsequent Grade two winners in second and third. Comfortably made all after near two year absence here in May in a maiden hurdle. Hopefully make up for lost time now and remains a smart prospect.

Form: 121/1

Alka Step²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Gifford

100/1

Won a maiden point-to-point although only two finished. Well beaten in hurdle races at Exeter and Fontwell so considerably more needed to be involved.

Form: 2-105

Ashkoul²¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Unknown| T: D Skelton

Form: /-2

Cockney Seagull²¹³

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L C Jewell

Form: 6

Desert Cross²²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Unknown| T: J & A O'Neill

Form: /3-9

Dream Baie³⁶

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Unknown| T: M Roberts

Form: 44

East Wing¹⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 10-12| J: Unknown| T: A J Honeyball| BF

Form: 28

Flo'sboy Sam²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard

16/1

Didn't show much in two bumpers last season but there was plenty of promise in a C&D maiden hurdle last month. Tired a little there having led two out but should now strip fitter and can go well here.

Form: 88-4

Friday Night Light⁵¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-12| J: Unknown| T: D Pipe

Form: /-

Havisham⁵³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

25/1

Classy 82 rated flat horse for Andrew Balding when last seen in 2016. Makes hurdles debut here and enough ability to watch the market although absence a concern.

Form: /-

Isis Blue²¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland

40/1

65 rated triple winner on the flat at up to 1m2f. Probably be suited by this easy 2m and trainer does well here so wouldn't be biggest surprise if he goes well despite relatively ordinary flat form.

Form: /-

Niblawi²³

Age: 13| Weight: 10-12| J: Unknown| T: N P Mulholland

Form: /-

Roll Of The Dice¹⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 10-12| J: Unknown| T: G & J Moore

Form: UF1-450

Solomon Grey¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

10/11

Placed in all four bumpers and went really close a couple of times. Chased home a potentially graded class horse on hurdles debut at Bangor last month and was well clear of the rest. That is strong form and he is a leading player here.

Form: 232-22

Thames Knight⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: L Treadwell| T: J R Boyle

25/1

Progressive for Marcus Tregoning and won four times at up to 1m4f. Trainer has very few jumps runners so surprise that this one switches to hurdles. 82 flat rating good enough to give him each-way chance.

Form: /-

The Major⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: R Woollacott

25/1

Won his last two flat races to achieve a rating of 76. Saddle slipped on hurdles debut and he then ran out. Too keen in that race and that would be a concern again here.

Form: /-R

Waikiki Waves²⁰⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

66/1

Third at Fontwell then fourth here in bumpers back in the spring. Embarks on hurdling campaign now and while he has shown some ability others make more compelling cases.

Form: 3-4

What's Occurring²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood

7/1

Likable debut in a Newbury bumper last month where he made nice headway before just tiring a little in closing stages. Switched to hurdles now for which he is bred and this one could easily leave that first run well behind.

Form: 5

Kiwi Myth²⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 10-5| J: Unknown| T: Mrs F M Shaw

Form: 00

Forecasts

Solomon Grey (10/11), Knocknanuss (13/8), What's Occurring (7/1), Flo'sboy Sam (16/1), Havisham (25/1), Thames Knight (25/1), The Major (25/1), Isis Blue (40/1), Waikiki Waves (66/1), Alka Step (100/1)

The 2015 bumper won by KNOCKNANUSS has worked out really well and connections must wonder just how highly he could have ranked but for the subsequent absence. That said he looked like he retained most of his ability when winning comfortable here last month and with that in mind he may be good enough to overcome a penalty. The biggest threat is posed by Dan Skelton's Solomon Grey who ran well on his hurdles debut behind a smart novice at Bangor. Flo'sboy Sam and What's Occurring are both someway short of the top pair at present but both have each-way claims and look nice prospects.