Baltic can Storm to a Plum win
IT’S a huge ask for the ultraconsistent Blue Et Noir to carry 12st 5lb, even taking into consideration the excellent George Blackwell’s claim.
That’s the five-year-old’s reward in penalties for winning three out of his last four outings in the opening novice event at Plumpton today.
That may leave the way open for Charlie Mann’s Baltic Storm, who also has the assistance of a top-notch claiming rider in Tommy Dowling.
That apart, his second to Red Tornado at Ludlow in April rates among the best summer-hurdle form, given that the winner is now rated 137.
Mount Vesuvius is a solid candidate for the closing two-mile handicap hurdle, after a victory and two seconds in his last three tries.
His last runner-up effort was to be one length behind The Way You Dance at Newton Abbot 18 days ago, the winner an unexposed four-year-old.
That was in a Class 4 event and Paul Henderson’s charge has only been raised 2lb, leaving him with a nice racing weight in a Class 5.
Burrows Lane might be up to taking a very uncompetitive maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter after winning his Irish bumper and moving to Charlie Longsdon.
The five-year-old makes his jumping debut and, with the bumper second winning next time for Gordon Elliott, this seems a suitable starting point.