Racecards
16:20 Plumpton
Tyser Insurance Ltd Beginners' Chase (Class 4)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Form 4004-03
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
made all, ridden after 3 out, ran on
- Form 0P/624-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
keen in rear and mistake 1st, behind when pulled up before 7th
- Form P-31906
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer J G Portman
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
held up, blundered badly 3rd, soon well behind and pulled up after 5th
Monzon (FR)
18- Form P3-PF35
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer Miss Z C Davison
- Jockey O Nelmes
held up, left poor 3rd 3 out
- Form 264-326
- Age 9
- Weight 10-11
- Trainer G P Enright
- Jockey L P Aspell
tracked leaders, weakened 6th, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 1313-2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
tracked winner from 2nd, with clear winner 6th, challenged 3 out, soon ridden and one pace
Verdict
Spidam gets the nod over Desert Air, while Earth Moving rates as the best option for an upset for a more adventurous option. However, it would be something of a leap of faith in assuming that the last named can find sufficient improvement to topple the main players and he is for the brave only. Desert Air - a Listed race winner over hurdles - has never been at his best on soft ground, so drying conditions would be very much in his favour. He jumped adequately on his chasing debut at Fontwell last month and is the obvious alternative to the selection. However, Spidam follows a familiar path set out by his trainer and, with his five-year-old's weight allowance making his case all the stronger, this French import is fully expected to start paying his way as an improving chaser.
Formwatch
Desert Air (JPN) 7-2 (11-4) Led to 5th, led approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra, 3rd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Glasker Mill (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Earth Moving (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up, headway from 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 4th of 11, 26l behind Private Be (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (E) gd in Dec '05.
Mikado Melody (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 7, 12l behind The Kop End (11-9) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy in Dec.
Monzon (FR) 100-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, lost place 8th, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 40l behind Glasker Mill (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Carly Bay 40-1 (10-11) Held up last, blundered badly 3rd, soon well behind, last of 6, well behind Glasker Mill (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) sft in Jan.
Spidam (FR) 8-11fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, pressed winner from 4 out, stayed on close home, just held, 2nd of 4, nk behind Marcel (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.