Ice- cool customer Knickerbocker can take glory
KNICKERBOCKERGLORY can edge Dan Skelton closer to a first championship by winning the valuable BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton.
The £ 75,000 highlight of the Premier Raceday represents a bit of a drop in class from his recent races after he began the season with a brilliant win at Ascot.
He fairly bolted up that day from the smart Altobelli, but it came at a cost as he was hit with a 7lb rise, which in truth could have been more as he would certainly have won with another 7lb that day.
Only seventh in the Greatwood a couple of weeks later with a 5lb penalty, form which could hardly have worked out any better really, he has run two further rock- solid races since then when sixth in the Betfair Hurdle and fifth in the Imperial Cup.
The ground staying on the soft side is in his favour and he has now edged back down to a mark just 4lb above his Ascot win, so he has been given a chance.
Chris Gordon always does well at Plumpton and his Alto Alto can bring up a hat- trick in the BetGoodwin Our Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase.
He has won four races in his career over hurdles and fences, with all coming at the Sussex track.
Having won off 114 last time out, he will now need to defy a careerhigh perch of 118 but he is only having his fifth run of the season, so might have a bit more to offer.
Gordon’s Unanswered Prayers drops markedly in class for the BetGoodwin Free Bet Nose Losers Handicap Chase.
He ran in the Coral Trophy last time out at Kempton and was not disgraced when an eight- length sixth.
That was his first run since a wind operation and it is likely he can go well if the ground dries a little.
Tactical Affair went well on his first run for Warren Greatrex since leaving Gordon Elliott when second at Warwick.
He was conceding 7lb to the winner for a victory at Cork in November and currently has a rating of 124. That should be enough to take the 3A’s Leisure Caravans And Motorhomes Novices’ Hurdle at Ffos Las.
Harjo ran much better last time out after an inexplicable performance at Wetherby.
Prior to his trip north, he had won easily at Wincanton, beating a subsequent winner easily, but he never went a yard in his attempt to follow up.
Dropped in class at Hereford, he finished second, and is given one more chance to confirm his early promise in the DMJ Drainage Novices’ Handicap Chase at Market Rasen.
SELECTIONS
CORK: 1.10 Firebrand, 1.45 Sir Gerhard, 2.20 Jokers ‘ N’ Clowns, 2.55 An Epic Song, 3.30 Asterion Forlonge, 4.05 Ashdale Bob, 4.40 Lovely Reaction, 5.15 Jackson Wood.
FAIRYHOUSE: 1.25 Rath Gaul Boy, 2.00 Lucky Lyreen, 2.35 Fun Fun Fun, 3.10 No Flies On Him, 3.45 Western Diego, 4.20 Hurricane Cliff, 4.55 Blood Destiny, 5.30 Butchers Bill.
FFOS LAS: 1.40 Tactical Affair, 2.15 Fashion’s Model, 2.50 Mumbles, 3.25 Pimlico Point, 4.00 Just Over Land, 4.35 Dentley De Mee, 5.10 J’Aime El Mars.
MARKET RASEN: 2.09 Gerico Ville, 2.44 Irish Lullaby, 3.19 Taras Halls, 3.54 Mammies Boy, 4.29 Grain d’Oudairies, 5.04 Harjo, 5.39 Wade Out.
PLUMPTON: 1.55 Fourtowns, 2.30 Alto Alto, 3.05 Two To Tango, 3.40 Unanswered Prayers, 4.15 KNICKER BOCKERGLORY ( NAP), 4.50 Star Flyer, 5.25 Colours On Canvas.
SOUTHWELL: 1.30 Hashtagmetoo, 2.05 Far Above Mary, 2.40 Hint Of The Jungle, 3.15 King’s School, 3.50 Body Parts, 4.25 Catherine Chroi, 5.00 Brother Dave, 5.35 Blazing Son.
DOUBLE: Knickerbockerglory and Unanswered Prayers.