Racecards
15:15 Plumpton
Tote Exacta Handicap Hurdle (Class E)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Soft, Heavy in places
- Form 1440FP
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
soon led, mistake 6th, headed 3 out, weakened before next
- Form 0212-44
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Trainer B Hanbury
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
held up, blundered 3rd, mistake 3 out, weakened quickly
- Form 415-F4P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer G Enright
- Jockey R Thornton
held up and behind, headway 6th, challenged after 3 out, led before 2 out, mistake last, headed near finish
- Form 0-15336
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
prominent until weakened before 3 out
Shaman
20- Form 0-52262
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
took keen hold and held up in rear, headway under pressure before 3 out, driven to chase leaders next, stayed on under pressure to lead near finish
- Form 30/606-0
- Age 10
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey Gary Richards
in touch, ridden to lead narrowly 3 out, soon headed and weakened before next
- Form 0/0506-3
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer J Spearing
- Jockey A P McCoy
close up, challenged 3 out, weakened before next
Pharly Reef
539- Form 65/6102-
- Age 12
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer D Burchell
- Jockey A Scholes
prominent to 5th, weakened quickly, tailed off
- Form 32326P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer P Butler
- Jockey R Lucey-Butler
took keen hold, close up until weakened quickly before 3 out, tailed off
Dunraven
19- Form 435300
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer M Gingell
- Jockey James Davies
in touch, reminder after 2nd, led soon after 3 out, headed and mistake next, one pace before last
Rodiak
4- Form 224-0P0
- Age 5
- Weight 10-1
- Trainer P Hedger
- Jockey A O'keeffe
always behind, struggling after 6th, tailed off
Faddad (USA)
294- Form 00/50P-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer D O'Brien
- Jockey Mr T J Malone
always in rear, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
Forest Tune has run well in both his starts over hurdles this term, latterly behind Greenhope at Kempton, but may find conditions too testing here and preference is for Shaman, who gets the vote over Diamonds Will Do. The last mentioned is trained by Venetia Williams, has slipped back to a fair mark and has the assistance of the ever increasingly impressive Sam Thomas. However, a doubt remains concerning his ability to handle ground as testing as this and we prefer to side with Shaman. Gary Moore's gelding had form in the heavy on the flat and lost no caste in defeat here behind Barton Nic over course and distance last time. A reproduction of that effort may suffice. L'Etang Bleu has claims on his best but has disappointed in his last two starts, while both Storm Prince and Pharly Reef have a long absence to overcome. The Milton Harris-trained Kandjar d'Allier is probably better than he has shown in recent starts but this should go to Shaman, who gets the vote.