Having a day off out to Plumpton Racecourse this coming Monday, it will be my first visit to the Sussex course and looking forward to a jumps meeting by way of a welcome change from the usual flat action I attend.
Now the clocks have gone back in anticipation of winter it's an earlier start at 1:20pm, we are setting off early morning to get there for about midday though.
WEATHER FORECAST -- A cloudy day but dry and a high of 14C.
SELECTIONS FOR MONDAY;
13:20 -- 1m 7f 195yds Maiden Hurdle
We get started with a maiden event and as you'd expect there's little hurdle form to go on where most of these are ex flat types trying to find there way in the NH game or only have a few bits of bumper form.
STONEGATE though should be popular for the Moore family team and has some experience winning a Sandown Bumper race, and this is a track that the yard do very well at. (4th 6/5F)
At a more attractive price and a bit of risk in terms of hurdling ability we will also look at the ex Clive Brittain GUARACHA in the win/place markets. (8th 40/1)
13:50 -- 2m 4f 114yds Novices Hurdle
Although 9 officially declared I think it's unlikely that we'll see much from the likes of Betsy Boo Boo, Generous June, Loves Destination and Gentle Mel, though of those four outsiders I would have Gentle Mel as the "winner".
On form GIRLIE GIRL looks the clear choice and is very consistent in a contest that won't need much winning, though I do like the potential of the horse from Alan King's yard ANGEL FACE. Good enough to contest a decent race at Aintree on second start and wasn't knocked about in midfield so surely has enough ability for a race of this nature. (3rd 6/4F)
14:20 -- 1m 7f 195yds Handicap Hurdle
Another hurdle event where the fav is likely to be NATIVE DISPLAY from Nicky Henderson's yard, not sure they bring too many here but clearly has the form and will be strongly fancied.
I would rather have something at a bigger price though so going to Dutch these pair against the field, FLASHMAN (WON 11/2) and CREATEUR. The former trained by Gary Moore, beaten on his reappearance when quite well supported but the drop in trip might be in his favour, the latter is lightly raced and been placed for this young conditional rider at Exeter last time out.
14:55 -- 3m 1f 152yds Novices Handicap Chase
Our first Chase contest now and it's a 3 mile event which will take a fair bit of stamina in this rain softened ground. A select field of six have been declared for this and on ratings it's the top two CIDER MAKER and SKY WATCH that would seem to be the ones to focus on.
Well for me they are too short a price and having to give over a stone in weight here to the likes of WINGED EXPRESS (Pulled Up) and YA HAFAD (WON 4/1) who won a chase around this course in May and might prove a bit of value in the market.
15:30 -- 2m 3f 164yds Handicap Chase
Another chase event and again a small field for this time of year, just the five declared but we can probably exclude GORING TWO who has been off for about 2 years and seemed to struggle to complete when last seen.
Of the remaining four it's DANCING DIK (4th 2/1) who's been a winner and a runner up around here already in the past month and usually front runs so if he can keep his jumping up to scratch should have a great chance of another course win.
16:00 -- 2m 4f 114yds Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
Our finale for this fine Monday is a race for Conditional Jockeys and we've nine lined up but it's a poor event even for here and the top pair EPSOM FLYER (3rd 9/2) and TILINISI seem to be the ones to focus on and I'll side with the former in what appears to be a match.
Tried to see if there's any hope in the remainder and nothing really jumps out (pun intended) but Charlie Mann knows the time of day and DRAGON CITY (WON 9/2) was not without hope on the flat for H Dunlop, and though hasn't set the world alight over hurdles this is a low grade handicap and could perhaps get around to challenge for the places ... perhaps.
Will aim to update results when I get home on Monday night, and should have a few more words and pictures to highlight the day out and review how well the Plumpton team serve up their hospitality.
