Racecards
15:20 Plumpton
Weatherbys Bank Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Soft (Chase - Good to Soft, Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Form 6P/04
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey Alexander Merriam
held up in 5th off strong pace, headway approaching 4 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened soon after next, tailed off (bled from nose)
- Form 2/4-P7PU
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey J Kington
held up well in rear, fell 3rd
- Form 248303
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey R Johnson
held up in 3rd and off strong pace, led 4 out, joined and strongly pressed 2 out, soon headed, no chance with winner
- Form 653344
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 91
patiently ridden, held up in 4th, steady headway from 8th, went 2nd 3 out, challenged next, nudged into lead soon after, well in command approaching last
- Form 1242F2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer Mark Gillard
- Jockey T J Phelan
jumped right, raced keenly and soon well clear, stumbled and unseated rider 7th
- Form P83UU6
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
chased clear leader, left in narrow lead 7th, mistake next, headed 4 out, weakened after next, tailed off when refused 2 out
- Form 670-U77
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey T Siddall
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
Littleton Aldor has more experience over fences than many of his rivals and he is the selection in this company. Others that make appeal include: Ashwell Lad, who showed enough ability on his chasing debut to suggest he can win a race before too long, while In For The Dancer has already been expensive to follow and 33 previous outings without a win is hardly a glowing statistical pointer towards an imminent change of fortune. She's Humble is modest over hurdles but may rise to challenge of her chasing debut. She wouldn't need to improve much to make the frame, so is no forlorn hope for an each-way steal at the likely odds. Admittedly, the selection has a poor strike-rate and he is not one to be going overboard about - a solitary win to his name tells its own story. However, Mark Gillard's gelding does have a more consistent profile than any of the others, so Littleton Aldor is the logical choice on the evidence available.
Formwatch
Tancredi (SWE) 50-1 (10-9) Held up, steady headway 6th, soon chasing leaders, ridden 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 11, 22l behind Harry Tricker (10-7) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Feb.
Thegalleryman (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Led to 4th, chased winner until hampered 9th, hit 11th, beaten when unseated rider 3 out in race won by Flying Falcon (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov chs (4) sft, 6 ran.
Ashwell Lad (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, jumped left 7th, headway 5 out, not fluent 3 out, stayed on strongly approaching last, nearest finish, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Tyup Pompey (10-9) at Ludlow 2m nov chs (4) gd.
Inn For The Dancer 8-1 (10-8) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, ridden to dispute 2nd 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 10l behind Count Kristo (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
Littleton Aldor (IRE) 6-1 (9-11) Jumped right throughout, led and soon clear, 13 lengths clear 5 out, ridden and headed soon after last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Mango Catcher (10-10) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
A Sea Commander (GER) 11-1 (10-3) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 16l behind Green Gamble (10-13) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Feb.
She's Humble (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Keen, headway 4th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakened last, 6th of 14, 12l behind Ede's (10-8) at Plumpton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
Galaxia (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 2nd, ridden and weakened 3 out, 7th of 18, 28l behind Abit Irish (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Feb.