Racecards
13:30 Plumpton
Book For Plumpton's Easter Festival Now! Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 195y
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £6,300 added
- Winner: £4,094
- 2nd: £1,202
- 3rd: £601
- 4th: £301
West Drive (IRE)
146- Form 1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
always towards rear, pushed along and struggling before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 321-45
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
chased leaders, switched right and went 2nd 3 out, led next, clear before last, stayed on well
Fly To Mars
21- Form 626
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey T Scudamore
chased leaders on inside, led going well before 3 out, joined when went left hit 2 out and headed, ridden and no impression before hit last
Mach One
32- Form 3P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer C E Longsdon
- Jockey J J Burke
led until 5th, chased leader until driven and one pace in 3rd after 3 out
- Form P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey R T Dunne
chased leader until mistake 2nd, chased leaders, lost place before blundered 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off
- Form 80-680
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey P K Donovan
always behind, mistake and struggling 5th, tailed off
- Form 6F-4326
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Trainer P Phelan
- Jockey Sean Houlihan
raced wide, held up, plugged on in modest 4th after 3 out
Given Name
326- Form -
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey P J Brennan
soon detached, mistake 4th, tailed off
- Form 70P
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey T J Phelan
raced keenly, tracked leader 2nd, led 5th until before 3 out, chased leaders, weakened 3 out
Verdict
WEST DRIVE, three times a winner on the Flat, fought off the hat-trick seeking Competition to make a successful debut over timber at Fontwell in August when the third was a long way behind. Gary Moore's charge has an absence to overcome but should progress further and can defy a penalty. Baddesley Knight won a bumper here in April and has run in two strong novices' contests over hurdles subsequently. He looks certain to be winning soon while Fly To Mars, who made a very bright start over timber when tackling 2m4f on this track, found Class 2 company too hot over this trip at Kempton on Boxing Day. Mach One made a reasonable debut here in November but was soon beaten in a better race at Doncaster and the remainder make no appeal.
Formwatch
West Drive (IRE) 6-4 (11-0) Tracked leading pair and keen, mistake 3rd, 2nd after 3 out, led approaching next, joined last, driven and kept on gamely run-in, won at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) gd in Aug beating Competition (12-0) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Baddesley Knight (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Tracked leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 10, 12 3/4l behind I Can't Explain (10-12) at Sandown 2m (3) hvy in Dec.
Fly To Mars 20-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, last of 6, 37l behind Mister Fisher (11-0) at Kempton 2m (2) gs in Dec.
Mach One 25-1 (10-12) Prominent on outside, lost place 4 out, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before next, at Doncaster 2m 1f (3) gd in Dec.
Moayadd (USA) 25-1 (10-12) Always in rear, tailed off 4 out, pulled up after next, at Southwell 2m mdn (5) sft in Dec.
Test Ride (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Off the pace in 8th, never on terms, tailed off, last of 12, dist behind Brandon Castle (11-11) at Plumpton 2m (4) gs in Jan.
Witches Glen (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Behind, headway 4 out, weakened next, 6th of 13, dist behind Mr Pumblechook (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f mdn (4) sft in Dec.
Given Name 33-1 (9-2) Dwel, always towards rear, pushed along and struggling halfway, ridden and beaten over 2f out, last of 9, 12l behind Mandalayan (9-2) at Lingfield 1m stks (5) pol in Feb.
Noble Saffron 14-1 (10-12) Very hesitant and well behind, well tailed off 5th, pulled up after, at Hereford 2m mdn (5) gs in Jan.