13:20 Plumpton

Monday 18 December 2017

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2515:0015:30

Derek Hunnisett Memorial Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 5m 12.25s

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Selected odds by:

Delire D'Estruval²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 135

13/8

French bumper winner who was a beaten favourite on his first start for this yard at Aintree last month (2m4f, good to soft) but won a Haydock Listed event (1m7½f, heavy) when resolute under pressure. Should make bold bid under his penalty.

Form: 3232-41

Landin²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 122

11/2

Won a Worcester maiden hurdle (2m4f, good) in October and put up a very similar effort under a penalty here last time when beating everything bar the wide margin winner. Handles soft ground and claimer negates penalty to not ruled out.

Form: 2867-12

New To This Town^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Cooper| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 125

4/1

Has won twice on testing ground in Irish bumpers and this former Jessie Harrington inmate made a good debut for this yard when winning a Ludlow maiden hurdle (2m) last month. Penalised now but potential improver over this trip. Contender.

Form: 34340-1

Cintex¹⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: N P Mulholland

5/1

Runner-up in an Irish point-to-point and also on his hurdles debut at Uttoxeter (2m6f, good) in July. Yet to race on ground anything like as testing at this, but if he handles it then he could get competitive.

Form: P2-362

Mickieblueeyes²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs D Grissell| C

33/1

Debut bumper winner here (heavy) 22-months ago, but seen only twice since then, the latest a 55L defeat over C&D last month after a year off. Entitled to come on a fair bit for that and a market check is suggested.

Form: 1/7-6

Neyja Blue

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

33/1

Minor improver to make the frame at the third attempt in Irish point-to-points. Cost £13,000 in June and is half-brother to a French 2m2f-2m3f hurdle/chase winner. Probably one to watch in this field on his hurdles debut.

Form:

Ring Minella²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson

100/1

Fell on Chepstow hurdling debut in November and beaten 78L at Lingfield (2m, soft) later in the month. That gives him an awful lot to do to get competitive here and he looks one to consider more closely with a handicap mark.

Form: F0

Sam Brown⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball| BF

9/2

Did well to back up debut bumper win with another under a penalty at Newbury in March, those coming on heavy/soft. Disappointed when 6-5 fav for hurdles debut and beaten 39L into fourth. Has been given time since and capable of better this time.

Form: 11-4

Waikiki Waves¹⁴

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

50/1

Made the frame at Fontwell in April on his debut in a bumper, although was quiet enough on his hurdles debut when 44L sixth here over 2m earlier in the month. Probably more to come, but whether enough to make an impact today remains to be seen.

Form: 3-46

Angel of Harlem²⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: N de Boinville| T: M Bradstock

25/1

£43,000 buy last year and out of a useful bumper/2m-3m hurdle winner, so being sent off at 5-2 on her debut at Ffos Las in March you had to be disappointed that she was a 64L last of eight. May do better over hurdles and market check advised.

Form: 8-

Jolly Jet

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: L P Aspell| T: Mrs L C Jewell

50/1

€5,000 buy and half-sister to 2m4f hurdle winner Transient Bay with champion hurdlers Morley Street and Granville Again further back in her pedigree. Could have a future, though probably one to watch on her racecourse debut.

Form:

Forecasts

Delire D'Estruval (13/8), New To This Town (4/1), Sam Brown (9/2), Cintex (5/1), Landin (11/2), Angel of Harlem (25/1), Neyja Blue (33/1), Mickieblueeyes (33/1), Waikiki Waves (50/1), Jolly Jet (50/1), Ring Minella (100/1)

A race that looks likely to be contested largely between the penalised runners and it is DELIRE D'ESTRUVAL at the head of the list that gets the vote. There was a great deal to like about his attitude at Haydock last time on desperate ground and provided he is over those exertions there could be a fair bit more to come. Landin and New To This Town are both well worth keeping an eye on too and the latter, in particular, could rate a danger, while Cintex makes some appeal in receipt of weight and the well-related Angel Of Harlem can't be dismissed on one run and a market check is advised to gauge confidence this time around.