Racecards
15:50 Plumpton
Tetley's Mares' Only Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 5f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Form 16/016-9
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer R Rowe
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
mostly tracked leader until 8, outpaced next, rallied to take moderate 3rd 2 out, hit last
- Form 531400
- Age 5
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey S P Jones
in touch, hit 7th, weakened soon after 4 out
- Form 64-326P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer G P Enright
- Jockey R Thornton
in rear, mistake 3rd, some headway approaching 3 out, never reached leaders
- Form 220-569
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer Jim Best
- Jockey R Lucey-Butler
mid-division, mistake 3rd, lost place before 8th, behind when hit 3 out, plugged on at one pace after
Ruling Reef
10- Form 076632
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer M D I Usher
- Jockey Mr Lee Newnes
towards rear, headway under pressure approaching 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with easy winner
- Form 5-P43PP
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 86
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey B Fenton
raced wide in rear, hit 8th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before last
Cusp
9- Form F38P-03
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer Mrs A M Thorpe
- Jockey S Durack
not fluent 1st, tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, led going well after 3 out, soon in command, eased near finish
- Form 6-08328
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer M Scudamore
- Jockey James Davies
mid-division, ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 1-05815
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey L Treadwell
mid-division, mistake, ridden 4th, weakened 8th
- Form PPFU54
- Age 7
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 80
chased leaders until weakened before 8th
Romney Marsh
14- Form 69-8P8P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer R Curtis
- Jockey Charlie Studd
made most, hit 4 out, headed soon after next, weakened after 2 out, 5th no chance when pulled up before last
In depth
Verdict
Lunar Eclipse, Up At Midnight and Ruling Reef are three against the field in a tough race to call for punters and the narrow vote is given to Lunar Eclipse. The selection was a fair fifth behind Norton Saphire last time out, that form has since been franked and off the same mark here he looks a value bet in a trappy affair. Up At Midnight rates the main danger on his best form and goes well at the track but he ran with little enthusiasm last time so can not be put forward with any confidence. Ruling Reef is game and consistent and is sure to run his race but he is rising in the weights without winning and is taken on with this in mind. Gaelic Gift is from a yard in form and could go well at a price while Blueland is well weighted on his best form but is inconsistent and with this in mind for the winner we return to Lunar Eclipse to small stakes.
Formwatch
Up At Midnight 12-1 (10-1) Led, hung left from 7th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, 31l behind Lord Of Beauty (11-3) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Gaelic Gift (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Led to 3rd, stayed prominent, ridden 5th and soon lost place, 11th of 13, well behind Scaramouche (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Carly Bay 50-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, weakened 6th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Desert Air (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 1f beg chs (4) hvy, 6 ran.
Blueland (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) In touch, mistake 2 out, ridden when hit last and soon weakened, 9th of 12, 28l behind Dance With Wolves (10-8) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Ruling Reef 16-1 (9-7) In touch, led approaching 2 out, driven and headed between last 2, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 13, 2l behind Scaramouche (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy.
Sister Grace 25-1 (11-1) Mid-division, mistake 1st and dropped rear, behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Gunship (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft, 16 ran.
Cusp 33-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 5th, chased winner 9th until approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 16, 12l behind Keen Warrior (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy.
South Sands (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, ridden 8th and some progress, weakened after 2 out, 8th of 13, well behind Ikemba (9-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan.
Lunar Eclipse 6-1 (10-7) In touch, joined leader 7th until 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 5th of 12, 29l behind Norton Sapphire (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Rude Health 33-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 21, well behind Norton Sapphire (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft.
Romney Marsh 16-1 (11-1) In rear, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by It's Rumoured (11-9) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl (5) hvy, 14 ran.