Plumpton 15/03/10

The world's finest week of racing starts here. After this, the show rolls on to Sedgefield tomorrow, then Huntingdon, Hexham and Fakenham. And those fine people at the BHA have arranged some interesting other meetings to support these main events.

Going: Good to Soft

Race 1: toteplacepot Novice Hurdle [2m 5f]

1: Sophies Trophy     2: Ravenclaw     3: Backfromthebrink

Winner owned: Mrs Sophie Anderson, trained: Pat Phelan, ridden: Colin Bolger

This was a much-stronger-than-usual novice hurdle for Plumpton, but it was marred when the favourite Proud Presence took a fatal fall two out, at which stage he was closing down the first two home in an ominous manner. At that point of the race, Sophies Trophy, who had some decent efforts to his name without winning, had been in front a long time, but he was plugging away gamely and did have enough in hand to hold Ravenclaw at bay. By taking on plenty of opponents with handicap marks earned it was feasible to think that Sophies Trophy was heading for a mark of 120, and Ravenclaw to 111. The first two ended up well clear of the rest, and whilst Backfromthebrink took a major step forward, he was only just ahead of a horse coming back from a break after a let down (Dawn Choir) and another that had even lesser achievements than he had (Quickdraw).

Despite a somewhat less than foot perfect way of negotiating the last, Sophies Trophy has a clear enough lead on Ravenclaw for it not to matter

Race 2: toteswinger Novice Handicap Chase [2m 4f]

1: Prince Louis     2: Pistolet Dove     3: Little Eaglet

Winner owned: Alan Le Herissier, trained: Charlie Mann, ridden: Peter Toole

After a heavy fall last time, Prince Louis bounced back strongly to hold off the less than ferocious challenge of Pistolet Dove. The runner-up had been patiently ridden, but he got to the front in plenty of time to challenge and may even have nosed in front for a few yards. But when push came to shove, Prince Louis was prepared to give a little bit more than his main challenger. In the meantime, Little Eaglet was nagging away at the first two, whilst not quite finding enough pace to suggest that he would pass them. This was his chase debut, and overall it had encouragement within. Uncle Eli seemed to enjoy himself out in front, which after beginning the season UPPUU he could have been forgiven for having an alternate view. It was a big advance on his token completion last time - will there be more to come?

Front to back they are Prince Louis, Quarrymount, Uncle Eli and Little Eaglet. No other shades of blue are available.

Race 3: totequadpot mares' Novice Hurdle [2m]

1: Raquel White     2: Good Faloue     3: Mayberry

Winner owned: N Poacher, trained: John Flint, ridden: Rhys Flint

With form that was hard to measure due to being a win and a loss against repeat opponents, Raquel White seemed an awfully short price for this, but the oppo did not inspire much terror in her or punters. She won, but perhaps made slightly harder work of it than the betting suggested was appropriate. Good Faloue tried hard in vain, but maybe Mayberry was not so hearty in making the places, gaining a clear second between the last two flights and then losing it again on the run-in.

Race 4: toteexacta Handicap Chase [2m 1f]

1: Sebastiano     2: Star Galaxy     3: Sir Ian

Winner owned: Leap Of Faith Partnership, trained: Gary Moore, ridden: Joshua Moore

Two non-runners left this as a gruesomely suspect event, and even though the first two went head to head from the second last, triumph was secured by being the least feeble. The evidence? Sebastiano: 0/16 in previous chases, runner-up four times, last won December 2007 and often unable to win from a similar mark. Star Galaxy: won three of his last four, but refused in the other, and prior to this inexplicable spurt had failed to win in 38 races. Sir Ian: both wins over two and a half miles on level tracks, from a lower rating. One Cornetto: after a decisive comeback win, this was his third awful run in a row. Sumdancer: won last time when no rivals handled the ground, and that made today's non-going day more likely to happen.

Just past the post and Sebastiano (2) is worried that he has set an unwelcome precedent, whereas Star Galaxy probably should be showing more remorse for his defeat 

Race 5: Bet totepool On All UK Racing Handicap Hurdle [2m 1f]

1: Gamesters Lady     2: Hiddensee     3: Bari Bay

Winner owned: M&R Refurbishments Ltd, trained: Jim Best, ridden: Andrew Glassonbury

Even allowing for this being a 0-90 race, it was a distinctly modest event. Hiddensee had won last week from a derisory low rating, totally coincidentally ending a run of four pulled ups spread over three seasons on the day he was backed in from 33/1 to 11/4. A quick reappearance was not certain to be ideal, plus there was the thought that today did not matter, as the job required had been done. He was ridden at halfway, and unable to make any impression on Gamesters Lady, who had scooted in on her flat debut for her yard and repeated the dose as a hurdler. She will do well to find such a golden opportunity in future, even in sellers. Bari Bay shares part of his name with an Italian football club whose continual failure is largely attributable to having a badge that is a cartoon chicken. This matters more than most people would expect.

Race 6: Bet totepool At Totesport.com Handicap Chase [3m 2f]

1: Abbey Dore     2: Honour's Dream     3: Hobb's Dream

Winner owned: Dr & Mrs Peter Leftley, trained: Seamus Mullins, ridden: Jimmy Derham

This had the potential to be as dodgy as the two mile chase, but could at least claim a serious advance in numbers, which did thin out with a few major blunders along the way. It produced a decent finish as Abbey Dore maintained his recent improvement to hold off the underachieving Honour's Dream and the sound jumping but slow running Hobb's Dream. This was a slightly odd outcome, as Honour's Dream has often finished weakly over shorter and even when she won here, Hobb's Dream has found her jumping more of a hindrance than a help - today she got a couple of errors out of the way early on but was reliable thereafter. Doing a good job of trying to tongue tie the commentator was Quartz Dore (there was Quartz De Montceau in the field as well), who led most of the way and still was right up there when a blunder three out forced him to pull up. It could not be said that he was a spent force at the time.

Race 7: Bet totepool on 0800 221 221 Handicap Hurdle [3m 2f]

1: Ethiopia     2: Count Boris     3: Pomander

Winner owned: Nick Elliott, trained: Bob Buckler, ridden: Nathan Sweeney

Count Boris was a warm favourite to win this, no doubt influenced by his yard having had a couple of winners in the space of twenty-four hours. However, he was winless in sixteen runs coming into it, and there was no obvious reason to expect him to do any better than his seven previous places - in fact the better ground did rather hint against it. He ran his usual sound race in defeat, this time against Ethiopia. The name alone suggests that the winner should love long distance races, and not the mud, which proved to be the case. He was just about determined enough. The ground may have been against Not For Diamonds, a course and distance winner, but he did run his second terrible race in a row, before deciding to fling his rider to the ground.

Plus Points

Sophies Trophy (race 1): May have had a bit of good fortune on his side, but the large gap back to the third was a clear positive.

Ravenclaw (race 1): Could not follow up his UK debut win, but did nothing wrong in defeat without ruining the case for giving him a workable handicap mark.

Little Eaglet (race 2): Made a solid first start over fences, and will appreciate a longer trip as well. First time cheekpieces did no harm.

Sir Ian (race 4): Is not over-raced and despite being beaten in such a poor race, stepping up back to two and a half miles might allow him to put this behind him.

Abbey Dore (race 5): This was only his eighth run, and whilst it was hardly an eye-catching thrashing he dealt out, he might grind out one or two more minor successes.

Down Arrows

Backfromthebrink (race 1): Did outbattle a couple of rivals for third but it would be risky to read too much into it.

Tiger Bay (race 1): Having his first hurdle after a win and a place in all-weather bumpers, he found this much tougher and his form figures look very deceptively flattering.

Pistolet Dove (race 2): Backed as if defeat was thought unthinkable, he had every chance to reward that faith but just could not be bothered. First time cheekpieces had limited benefit.

Ouragan Lagrange (race 2): In case anyone is tempted to ignore his form figures, he looked thoroughly fed up with things himself today.

Mayberry (race 3): Performed solidly in bumpers but had another disappointing run over hurdles, getting up to be a close second between the last two flights, only to be worried out of that minor achievement and hanging off to the left on the run-in.

Sebastiano (race 4): Will it happen again? Possibly, but how long must we wait?

Hiddensee (race 5): Descending back below the waves?

Quartz De Montceau (race 6): Has had a long busy season, and is beginning to run like it has been too long.

Quedillac (race 7): Close up and travelling well three out, he stopped very quickly on the railway turn. It appeared that something may have been amiss, as there was no effort from the saddle to do much about it, but when a Findlay owned horse with a chance of victory drifts as badly as he did, there is a nagging doubt...

UK-Jumping Selections

Inthejungle (race 2): Looked like he got away with it when winning on heavy, but on this better ground got a bit outpaced and did not look likely to reel in the leaders when falling three out.

Timon's Present (race 2): Making a chase debut, was a little bit sluggish at the fences, so future prospects are dependent on how much improvement the experience generates.

Good Faloue (race 3):Will be better suited to little handicaps, and best of the rest in this was as much as could be expected.