Bank on bob to claim Plumpton prize

BOB BACKUS should be supported as he seeks to double up in division two of the Buy The Plumpton History Book Now Handicap Hurdle.

Anthony Honeyball’s six-year-old was breaking his duck, at his fifth career attempt, over the course and distance last month.

In only his second handicap, having unseated early in similar company at Fontwell in March, Bob Backus was also trying this longer trip and wearing blinkers for the first time.

It was a recipe which clearly worked as he put up a convincing performance to win by two and a half lengths.

A sounder surface was probably a significant help too, after he had failed to get competitive in three winter appearances in novice and maiden hurdles on much softer ground.

Jockey Ben Godfrey also retains the winning partnership, with his 5lb claim a handy asset, so much is in place for further progress from an 8lb higher rating after Bob Backus initially entered handicaps on the lowly mark of 80.

Iconic Muddle must defy a significantly stiffer assessment, but is another who is surely capable of improvement in the tote.co.uk Handicap Chase.

Gary Moore’s grey has to give weight all round and carry 11st 11lb, but he has the lightly-raced profile of a progressive horse who is likely to prove better over fences than he was hurdles.

Iconic Muddle put up some decent efforts over timber too, including when he capped a notably consistent 2019/20 campaign with a wide-margin novice victory in heavy ground here.

He is at least as good on a quicker surface and back at this shorter distance, as he has shown in just two runs since - both over fences.

There was a little cut in the ground when he was a near nine-length third on chasing debut to the prolific King D’argent at Warwick in December - with another two-time winning chaser Belargus in second.

Then after a four-month break, Iconic Muddle again ran well but could not quite peg back the useful Exelerator Express at Huntingdon.

The eight-year-old is up another 4lb but nonetheless has a good opportunity to go one better.