- Race Conditions: 1m 7f 195y | Maiden Hurdle | Class 4 | £4,357 | 4yo+
- Going: Good (Good to Soft in places on hurdles course)
- Runners: 8
- Pace Forecast: Very Weak
- Draw Bias: N/A (jumps race)
- Pace Angle: A steadily-run race is expected. Those racing handily or up front may be favoured. Slade Shore and Machete Beach may be best placed in this regard.
Strongest Contenders
1. Bohemian Breeze (IRE) – Rating: 115 – 8/10
- Trainer: Gary & Josh Moore | Jockey: Sean Bowen
- Profile: Ran well on hurdles debut over this C&D, finishing third (beaten 6L), shaping with promise.
- Fair form on the Flat, and connections are significant—Gary Moore has a good Plumpton strike-rate and won this race in 2023.
- Positives: Experience over course, progressive type, trainer has won this race before.
- Timeform: “Ran with promise… should build on that.”
- Market Watch: Fit and recent run—support would further boost confidence.
2. Machete Beach – No TF Rating Yet – 7.5/10
- Trainer: Jamie Snowden | Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
- Profile: Fairly useful Flat performer (1m4f), now switched to hurdles. Sold for 40,000gns from Harry Charlton and off 220 days.
- Dam from staying family, and he’s had a breathing op.
- Positives: Top jockey for yard; strong Flat ability; stable often goes well with novice hurdlers.
- Caution: No jumps experience; 220-day layoff. Watch market support.
- Timeform: “Chief threat… particularly if the market speaks in his favour.”
Main Dangers
3. Ask Peter (FR) – Rating: 110 – 6.5/10
- Trainer: Anthony Honeyball | Jockey: Rex Dingle
- Profile: Fair Flat mare (stays 2m), returned from 17 months off with a respectable hurdles debut effort at Fontwell.
- Related to 2m hurdle winner Pyramid Place.
- Positives: Better for reappearance, trainer strikes at 21% in summer.
- Caution: Only second hurdles start, and fitness still a question. Market guidance key.
4. Slade Shore – Rating: 111 – 6/10
- Trainer: Richard Bandey | Jockey: Harry Bannister
- Profile: Irish point-placed, ran in a Huntingdon bumper and mid-division at Ffos Las over hurdles.
- Half-brother to Kylemore Lough, smart chaser.
- Positives: Strong pedigree, pace angle could help.
- Caution: Limited finishing effort so far; needs to step forward.
Interesting Outsider
5. Pergamon (FR) – No TF Rating – 6/10
- Trainer: Jennie Candlish | Jockey: Ross Chapman
- Profile: By Frankel, dam is black-type mare; form in France was modest, and well beaten in two UK runs.
- Recent breathing op and switch to better ground could spark improvement.
- Positives: Well-bred; may improve on quicker ground.
- Caution: Yet to show ability in this sphere; fitness not proven.
Others Briefly
- Mr Daytona (4/10): Related to stayers, might need further. No early promise.
- Run Joy Run (2/10): Low-grade Flat form, debuting over hurdles off 84 days.
- Liberty Looming (1/10): Tailed off all starts; hard to support.
Notable Trends
- 5yo and 6yo winners dominate – 5 of the last 6 renewals.
- Market leaders go well – 3 favourites have won since 2020.
- Gary Moore (won 2023, 2019) has a strong record in the race.
- Fit horses tend to outperform – no winner in over a decade has returned from a layoff of more than 90 days.
Marks Out of 10 (Based on Profile, Trainer, Ratings, Trends)
| Horse | TF Rating | Layoff | Score (/10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bohemian Breeze | 115 | 12d | 8.0 |
| Machete Beach | n/a | 220d | 7.5 |
| Ask Peter | 110 | 66d | 6.5 |
| Slade Shore | 111 | 35d | 6.0 |
| Pergamon | n/a | 19d | 6.0 |
| Mr Daytona | n/a | n/a | 4.0 |
| Run Joy Run | n/a | 84d | 2.0 |
| Liberty Looming | n/a | 32d | 1.0 |
Advice
With a weak pace forecast and multiple runners returning from breaks, the market should be closely watched, especially for Machete Beach (220d) and Ask Peter (66d). The standout profile on balance is Bohemian Breeze, who has fitness, track experience, and a respected local yard behind him.
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