Racecards
14:15 Plumpton
toteplacepot Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 114y
- Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £7,700 added
- Winner: £5,003
- 2nd: £1,469
- 3rd: £735
- 4th: £367
- Form 315-165
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey Thomas Greatrex
tracked leader until after 3rd, led after 8th, headed before 2 out, not fluent last, no impression on winner flat
- Form 0-35173
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey H Cobden
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3rd until 5th, not fluent 7th, mistake next, led before 2 out, headed approaching last, no impression on winner flat
- Form 044
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
held up inn 5th, outpaced 3 out, well held next
Hiland Oscar (IRE)
1408- Form P6S6/
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Butler
- Jockey M Goldstein
not that fluent in rear, behind 5th, pulled up before 8th
- Form 2-45750
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
held up in touch, went 2nd 5th, led 8th, soon headed, mistake next, shaken up after 3 out, led before last, clear flat, comfortably
- Form 8-425
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer M Bradstock
- Jockey N de Boinville
led until 8th, outpaced after 3 out, well held next
Verdict
Not many horses have followed up running in three Grade 1 chases behind Bristol De Mai, Might Bite and Waiting Patiently and a Grade 3 at the Cheltenham Festival by contesting a Plumpton novices' hurdle. However, here we are with TRAFFIC FLUIDE who didn't run at all badly to finish in mid-division at the Festival considering he was never travelling with any fluency. Hopefully he'll relish this dramatic drop in grade and a return to hurdles and rediscover his vim. He really ought to outclass this field but we'll learn a lot about him here. Mister Malarky is taken as the one to benefit if the selection fails to fire again with Indian Hercules and Angel of Harlem also noted.
Formwatch
Indian Hercules (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Raced on inside, held up in touch in last pair, weakened before 2 out, last of 5, 25l behind Reikers Island (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) sft in Mar.
Mister Malarky 4-1 (11-8) Tracked leader until 3rd, chased leading pair until pushed along after 3 out, rallied into 3rd before 2 out, weakened between last 2, 3rd of 4, 10 3/4l behind Notre Ami (11-2) at Sandown 2m (4) hvy in Feb.
Don't Tell George (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Raced wide, tracked winner until before 6th, chased leading pair until pushed along after 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 7, dist behind Jaisalmer (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) hvy in Feb.
Hiland Oscar (IRE) 6-1 (12-2) Prom, 5th 1/2way, wknd to 7th & rdn aft 3out, ko onepcd, 6th of 14, 18l behind April Dusk (12-2) at Ballybunion 3m mdn Soft - Heavy in May.
Traffic Fluide (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Mid-division on inside, hit 10th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 11th of 22, 30l behind The Storyteller (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Angel of Harlem 12-1 (11-1) Prominent until 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 29 1/4l behind Transient Bay (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.