Hello, Friend,

The RTP Syndicate gang are descending on Plumpton today, 16 owners/friends in all, and provided Shandancer comes home safe in the 2pm, it will be a great day out.

I'll be there and I've pulled together a 'through the card' down below. All the usual caveats (you can only cover so much in 5-10 minutes) and I did spent far too long looking at the 1.15 from Ludlow, we shall see if that bears fruit.

It looks a hot enough novice hurdle but we hope he builds on Southwell and runs a solid race, over a distance that looks sharp enough for him. He should come into his own when handicapping over 2m4f or so, but he’s fit, he tries, won’t mind the ground/rain and will be doing his best. If he can build on Southwell and run a promising race, staying on through the line, we’ll be delighted. Whether he can grab a 3rd place, or a pleasing effort in 4th-6th, we shall see! He will be winning races for us at some point. Exciting.

You can watch Amy's latest video update on him HERE >>>

Plumpton

‘through the card’ …

12.25 – Tea And Chats – 9/4

12.55 – Art of Illusion – 10/3

1.25 – Merry Mistress – 11/2

2.00 – Shandancer – 33/1 (each way/extra places…)

2.30 – Northern Poet – 11/2

3.00 – Poldark Cross – 5/2

3.35 – Duhallow Tommy – 7/1

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Notes…

Tea And Chats – he will try and make all here, his run LTO full of promise and he may well come on for it – although he probably went for home too soon. Northern Poet beat him there and with any luck their form comes to the fore today. He won’t be too far away here and sets a solid standard, Chris Gordon and Tom Cannon not doing much wrong together in the last year.

Art of Illusion – I wouldn’t put anyone off a small ‘double’ with the one above and Gary Moore’s fav in this, who is solid. Art’s price getting a bit skinnier now, he was 11/2 or so last night – I thought he may try and make all here and he has course form/exp, unlike the fav. He’s a 12lb swing from when they met at Lingfield and has since had a wind op, LTO his first start back. James Bowen takes over and he will give this a good go. I could see Moore’s running him down, maybe a 1-2. Tizzard’s could mix it if the blinkers work, an if though and he looked short for all well handicapped on old form. He may get outpaced.

Merry Mistress – her best form is good enough to take this I thought and the mark looks workable. She arrives in form, bumping into an unexposed one LTO, stays well, is a trier, and should run her race. I thought 11/2 or so was generous, since a NR/R4. I’d like to think she’ll be thereabouts. Fry’s fav may bolt up again but they sent her north for easy pickings and hard to know what that effort is worth, today will tell us more but I can leave at the price. Lucy Wadham’s is interesting but first run for her/first start of season, I thought more a 3 miler but if she can keep up, she could do some damage here. Fergal’s is on a recovery mission from chasing, a watching brief for now but she has the ability to take this also. It’s that sort of race!

Shandancer – well he won’t be winning this (it would be a surprise to us if he did, but you never know), but with Diamond Egg and Pauling’s now out, he is even more of an EW proposition at the prices, some bookies do ‘each way extras’ and I’d like to think he’ll be in the first 4-6, and it’s not impossible 2 of the top 4 don’t run their race, need the run, get outpaced, don’t jump well, freeing up a 3rd place position, we shall see who takes it. Shan may well get outpaced running down the hill the final time but hopefully hits the line in pleasing style. He’s one for 2m4f and handicaps for sure, but is here to do his best. Johnny Burke recommended keeping him at 2m to help sharpen up his jumping. It's all a learning process given it's just his second hurdling start. He did jump/hang left last time also, Amy thinks just a bad habit that needs ironing out, nothing wrong physically. Any of the top 3 in the market could take this, each interesting in their own right, but with questions also. The Nicholls horse also interesting but plenty of unknowns. An fascinating, competitive race.

Northern Poet – 11/2 or so looked an ok price here after his return win LTO. That was his first start in a while and not impossible he ‘bounces’ but he was a solid handicapper before his break, arrives fit and in form, on paper anyway. I thought he looked overpriced but it looks another competitive little race.

Poldark Cross – he was running a big race on his return when coming down, for all was going to be beaten but every chance he strips fitter. The visor may help him and I can see Jack being aggressive. He’s a decent jumper at his best, well handicapped, and should give this a good go. Another Moore shorty to contend with, maybe opposing both his chasers here will look silly but in I go.

Duhallow Tommy – no great confidence here, but his bumper effort when last seen was promising and the race is working out well. Will he be fit enough here? No idea. Toby can ready them and if he’s fit he’ll be thereabouts. The Nicholls horse appears well fancied, maybe its a ‘shorty multiple’ sort of day, we shall see. He Knows Better didn’t do much wrong on debut either and should run well also. Anyway, not the sort of race I ever have strong opinions on.

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Have a great day,

All the best

Josh