Racecards
17:10 Plumpton
Birch Hotel Maiden Hurdle (Class F)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Form 00
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer M C Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up in rear, mistake 6th, stayed on under pressure after 3 out, no impression when mistake 2 out
L'Archer
45- Form 6060
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer A Jessop
- Jockey Paul Moloney
always in rear, tailed off from 5th, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 0250
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
in touch, close up when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
Naked Oat
775- Form 0/
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey L P Aspell
took keen hold, held up in touch, mistake 3rd and 4th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
- Form P3PFF1/
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Mrs L Jewell
- Jockey J Mogford
pulled hard, made most to 6th, still close up when blundered 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off
- Form 002
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
took keen hold, tracked leader, led 6th, joined 2 out, kept on well run-in until headed final 75 yards
Carlotta
21- Form 60
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey James Davies
always in rear, tailed off 6th, pulled up before 3 out
Dusky Light
459- Form 34-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey A Honeyball
took keen hold, held up in mid-division, kept on under pressure from 3 out, no impression when blundered 2 out
- Form 00
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey J P McNamara
took keen hold, tracked leaders until lost place approaching 3 out, never dangerous after
- Form 2
- Age 4
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey A P McCoy
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, hard ridden and strong challenge from next, driven ahead final 75 yards
Cherokee Bay
40- Form 5
- Age 4
- Weight 10-3
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway from 6th, chased leading pair 3 out, kept on under pressure run-in, not pace to reach leading pair
In depth
Verdict
Glencoyle gets the vote here ahead of Dusky Light and, possibly, Dinarelli. The Nicky Henderson-trained selection won over middle distances on the Flat and showed plenty of promise on his debut when just touched off at Kempton. While his Triumph Hurdle entry might be aiming a little high, he has to be seriously competitive in this race. Dusky Light has shown plenty of promise in two starts and the Paul Nicholls-trained mare looks well up to winning races. Of the others, Dinarelli won in France before joining Martin Pipe but he has shown little in two starts for the champion trainer. My Retreat was second on his hurdling debut but has failed to trouble the judge since but might make the frame. Noble Calling ran respectably in a competitive seller last time and is another with place claims. Multiple Polish winner Szeroki Bor ran well at Folkestone last time and will be more at home on this easier track. Carlotta hails from a stable in form but has shown little in two starts so for the winner we return to Glencoyle.