BEST PROSPECT     (M. Dods)

6 year old bay gelding     (Orpen - Bright Prospect)     2F1

For a three race career over hurdles, Best Prospect has had quite an eventful time of it. On his debut at Kelso, he ran exceedingly well, second to Starting Point, who was winning his third on the spin but has disappointingly been beaten at Catterick since. Apart from Best Prospect, only one other has emerged from the race to win, and our hero was a bit lucky, as he was beaten entirely on merit, only for it to subsequently emerge that the first past the post, Ignotus, had one day of suspension still to run, making disqualification inevitable. In the mean time, Best Prospect had fallen when running well - and the eventual second has won impressively since. And there is the problem with assessing this horse - the collateral form is all over the place and evidence exists to support every view from mediocre through to one step short of the Second Coming. The average view is that if he sticks to the small tracks, he should find some winnable races, and as he won on the flat on heavy right up to good to firm, he clearly has a degree of adaptability.

Hurdles up to 2m 3f

ELLIOTT     (R. Rowe)

6 year old bay gelding     (I'm Supposin - Kiloran Bay)     4-6605

At a time when his yard was struggling to throw off the effects of a virus, which more or less scuppered two years of results for them, Elliott posted an encouraging start to his racing career in a bumper at Kempton. When he switched to hurdles, the initial response was not that great, and although he did better next time at Towcester, it was still a comfortable defeat in a modest race. From this point things got interesting, but possibly not in a good way. After five months out, he reappeared from Jim Best's yard at Fontwell. The performance looked for all the world like a non-trier, and a stewards enquiry ensued. The published result was that the jockey stated that Elliott had slipped on the bends and found little for pressure, the trainer acknowledged that but said that he was not happy with the inexperienced riders' contribution to the affair, and the vet reported Elliott lame behind. The vet sort of explained the jockey's view, and the trainer sort of queried that of the bends were a problem, what was the deal in the straights, and racegoers wondered what pressure had he not responded to? I know an old lady who swallowed a fly etc etc. Anyway, the next run was a surprise, as he had, after fourteen weeks off, returned to the Richard Rowe yard, and at Folkestone he was subject to a ride only a couple of notches more strenuous than at Fontwell, coming fifth to Lupanar. The Fontwell jock may be proven right, that Elliott is more of a thinker than a battler, but he is worth supporting for a while in handicaps

Handicap hurdles/chases rated up to 105

Elliott comes out past the prime vantage spot at Folkestone with an 'I'll show 'em' look about him. But shows us what?

HEREDITARY     (Mrs L. C. Jewell)

6 year old chesnut gelding     (Hernando – Eversince)     8686/412130-769P4

For a long while, nothing happened. Then whatever button needed to be pressed (possibly the big red one marked ‘do not press’) was, and Hereditary sprung into life. Fourth at Kempton in a modest handicap hurdle, he then won twice at Fontwell and was beaten at the same venue by a mere neck in between. This was followed by a tilt at a sub-par renewal of the National Spirit Hurdle, where third of five, nineteen lengths behind United was a fair effort. As all this was happening, time was showing his earlier Fontwell loss to Blazing Bailey was not too bad, as take the winner out and Hereditary was eight lengths away from being best of the rest. All the evidence is that he needs a sharp, level track, with a special affection for Fontwell. The poor runs on such tracks either side of New Year came when his yard had been three months without a winner and his handicap mark was a bit on the high side. Both of those problems are currently not an issue, so Hereditary should be able to respond appropriately.

Handicap hurdles on a sharp, level track on soft or good to soft, rated up to 120

A rather startled Hereditary finds himself about to finish discreetly down the field, whilst retaining some pride in his occult cheekpieces

HIGH STANDARD     (J. L. Spearing)

7 year old bay gelding     (Cicerao – For Today)     05534

As the bare numbers imply, this New Zealand bred (hence the belated start to his racing career) has progressed from a very modest start in a bumper. He posted two fifth places over hurdles, with mixed merit. In both cases High Standard beat plenty of other horses (13 and 15 went to post) but he was also a bit too far behind the winner. Then his third hurdle run caught the eye, as after racing was delayed half an hour, the field hurtled round Ludlow at such a rate that the jockeys clearly were worrying that someone would nick their packed lunch whilst it was unattended or there were a few that had something on in the evening and they had to make up the time. Despite an SP of 100/1, High Standard emerged a creditable staying on third, good enough form to win a little race. The impression of a frantic pace was confirmed as it was a good three weeks before any of the first half dozen began to reappear in the entries.  

STOP PRESS: Returned to Ludlow in a similar standard of race over 2 miles and achieved a similar sort of outcome. At least it proved that the 100/1 effort was not a fluke.

Handicap Hurdles on soft ground, rated up to 110

LEAC AN SCAIL     (Mrs S. J. Smith)

7 year old bay gelding     (Lord Americo - Swing'n'Things)     1/0P5P-1U42

There is almost certain to be some tongue twisting means to pronounce the Gaelic name so it comes out Lies'n'Seals, a scathing criticism of the marine mammal community, but it will forever seem to me as merely a way to order fish with oniony/garlicy vegetable accompaniment. As for the horse, Leac An Scail is quite easy to fathom on what we have seen so far, as when he has run on a galloping track, he has won, and when he has avoided that sort of layout he has lost. His inclusion comes with a slight question mark, as the current yard is already the third he has represented (although on his debut, for Tom George, the trainer was also the owner, so there were presumably 'for sale, one careful owner' stickers abounding). He won on his debut for Sue Smith, went over fences, promptly unseated*, tried hurdles again when the yard were badly out of form, and latest of all Leac An Scail ran well in defeat at Catterick over 3m 1.5f on soft. As it went against his preferred course and going trends, this looks an indicator of better things being around the corner. Incidentally, although the Welsh have latched onto the leek, it was ironically popularised by the Anglo-Saxons, about whom it is speculated no other vegetables registered in their diet. Somewhat short of fascinating, but so it goes.

* Let's celebrate Leap Year by giving him another chance as a chaser

Handicap hurdles/chases over 3m or more, on a galloping track, on good or good to firm

MASTER ALF     (P. A. Bull)

8 year old chesnut gelding     (Anshan – The Little Bag)     P54

When this horse was first observed lumbering around south-east point-to-points, he did not seem at that stage to be a candidate for selection here. Given that his trainer only has the occasional hunter chaser – at the moment the mighty Honourable Spider is doing the honours – and then seeing Master Alf defeated in a Members Maiden all added up to a pointing career only, and possibly a rather tepid one. However, he slowly improved in the spring of 2007 and has emerged sufficiently in the Rules arena to get handicapped. He had no chance behind Air Force One on his debut, disappointed a little behind Ruairi next time, possibly the drop to 2m 5f not suiting and then ran a bit too well behind Verasi at Plumpton. Staying handicap chases beckon. Despite the name he bears little resemblance to the 80s television alien puppet, which was brought to our screens by the Pentagon as a means to convince us all that there were good reasons for filling outer space with weapons of mass destruction.

Master Alf enjoys a spin round Plumpton, possibly too much and too close to Verasi for his own long term good