15:33 Plumpton

Monday 10 April 2023

All14:2314:5815:3316:0816:4317:1817:53

Harry And Betty Savill Memorial Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:34 | Winning time: 4m 26.46s

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Selected odds by:

Downsman^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: James Davies| T: J R Boyle| OR: 97| BF

16/1

Fairly useful on Flat but yet to get close to that level over hurdles, including when switched to handicap company here (2m) in cheekpieces last month.

Form: 7677

Embolden¹²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B Roberts⁽⁷⁾| T: C Hobson| OR: 93

25/1

Modest on the level nowadays but did show an aptitude for hurdling before Christmas. Switches to handicap company for the first time in this sphere on his return from 4 months off.

Form: 266

Ohnodonttakemehome^p1⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: P G Murphy| OR: 92

9/2

Runner-up twice in bumpers last season. Best run in maiden hurdles this term when fifth of 11 over 19f at Fontwell in January. Cheekpieces added for handicap debut. Opening handicap mark looks very workable based on his bumper ability. Worth chancing.

Form: 22-845

Big Jimbo⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 91

15/2

Modest form at best over hurdles last season but arrives in form from the Flat (won in February) and it's still early days for him in this sphere. Interesting runner.

Form: 32P5/

Birdman Bob³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 89

14/1

Offered something to work on when fourth on his Lingfield hurdling debut in November but it's been a struggled since, including pulling up on his Sandown handicap debut 5 weeks ago.

Form: 40P9P

Hunting Brook^t1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 89

17/2

Has yet to build on his hurdle debut third (only modest form) but it certainly wouldn't be a shock to see him take a step forward now handicapping in a first-time tongue tie.

Form: 48-376

Invictus De Brion⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryony Frost| T: C Gordon| OR: 88| CD

6/1

Course bumper winner in September. Subsequent hurdle exploits have been a little disappointing, including pulling up on C&D handicap debut 6 weeks ago, but it's still early days and his stable won the race last year.

Form: 21695P

Just Another One^t1,v²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 93

16/1

Ran to fairly useful level on second Flat outing and shaped well when runner-up on hurdles debut in September. Not so good since though, including in handicaps last twice. First-time tongue tie (added to a visor) needs to have a positive effect.

Form: 27505

Tommy Dillion²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 85

11/1

Suited by way race developed when off mark in hurdle at Lingfield in December. Fair fourth over 2m at this course next time but not in anything like the same form when a distant fourth back here (2m again) last month.

Form: 8714U4

Clongowes^t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: D Steele| OR: 85

9/2

Shaped as if back in form when sixth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Lingfield (23f, good) in February but failed to build on it when a remote fifth of 6 at Fontwell since.

Form: P33-665

Ez Tiger^t⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryan Carver| T: A M Hales| OR: 85| BF

11/2

Showed some promise around 2m in January but less so when stepped up to 20.5f at Huntingdon in February. Has a tongue tie fitted for the first time since his bumper debut run in Ireland.

Form: 5F-7386

Non-Runners

Mutual Respect³¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: Billy Aprahamian J: Sean O'Briain

Bolberry Down⁶³

Weight: 10-11| Age: 7

T: K Jewell J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

Clongowes (9/2), Ohnodonttakemehome (9/2), Ez Tiger (11/2), Invictus De Brion (6/1), Mutual Respect (7/1), Big Jimbo (15/2), Hunting Brook (17/2), Tommy Dillion (11/1), Birdman Bob (14/1), Just Another One (16/1), Downsman (16/1), Embolden (25/1), Bolberry Down (25/1)

OHNODONTTAKEMEHOME seemed to gradually get the hang of hurdling in his qualifying runs and has a lenient mark based on bumper ability so he's the suggestion. Big Jimbo arrives in form from AW Flat and rates an obvious danger back hurdling for the Gary Moore team. Hunting Brook is another who could take a step forward now handicapping for the first time in this sphere and also makes the shortlist.