Racecards
17:10 Plumpton
Simon Gibson Handicap Chase (Class D)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 3m 2f
- Going: Good
- Form 6/2-2P16
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey S Durack
made most, headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner, lost 2nd run-in
Smarty (IRE)
184- Form 05/4065-
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer M Pitman
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
mostly tracked leader to 4 out, rallied approaching last, took 2nd run in but no chance with winner
- Form 35P10-6
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
patiently ridden and settled last, steady headway to track leaders from 12th, went 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, soon clear easily
- Form P3612-P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer R H Alner
- Jockey A Thornton
raced in 4th, tracked leading pair after 10th, not fluent and ridden 13th, weakened 4 out, eased run-in
- Form 222BP-1
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Dr P Pritchard
- Jockey Mr David Turner
chased leaders to after 10th, soon lost place, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before last
In depth
Verdict
With Peter Bowen in great form at present, Jacquemart Colombe is selected to get the better of French Executive and Sunday Habits in the finale. Jacquemart Colombe has a fitness edge over his rivals, having already had four outings this term. The seven-year-old was pulled up on his second British start at Newton Abbot but made up for that effort by outstaying his rivals on a return to the west-country track in August. He was then given a break until reappearing in a decent class B contest at Chepstow in which he was sixth, and that form should really be enough here. French Executive is a course and distance winner, but like El Hombre Del Rio and Smarty, has an absence to overcome. With that in mind then, the biggest danger to the selection may turn out to be Sunday Habits who goes well here and who won unchallenged from out of the handicap on his last visit in September. Jacquemart Colombe can prove the answer from the top of the handicap.