PADDOCKS PATENT (MONDAY)

13:40 Plumpton A small field of seven go to post for this 2m maiden hurdle. Jumping experience is thin on the ground, with most of the field hailing from a flat background. Gary Moore’s Graasten is one of the more experienced hurdlers in the line up. This 4yo gelding is from a very good German family on the flat. Bought for close to 50,000 guineas last year after two wins in Germany, this grand looking son of Sholokhov will be expected to shed his maiden tag here. Placed three times over timber already, there will be no excuses today. Moore has a fine strike record here at Plumpton and current odds of 6/5 fairly sum up his excellent chance of landing this prize. Graasten (WIN)

14:10 Plumpton Another small field of seven for this 2m 4f mares novice hurdle and again the market leader looks to have an outstanding of landing the spoils. Jamie Snowden’s Queens Well has progressed with every race of her short career to date – four on the Irish point to point scene and then two under rules here in the UK. The 5yo mare had today’s nearest market rival, Ivor’s Queen well behind on her last start three weeks ago at Chepstow.  Queens Well was in receipt of 6lbs that day and re-opposes here 1lb better off, so there seems no obvious reason for Ivor’s Queen to be turning the tables. This is further underlined by the fact that we race again over a distance that Ivor’s Queen did not seem to see out at Chepstow. Granted, current odds of evens will not be making anyone rich quick but Queens Well certainly stands out as the most likely victor for me. Queens Well (WIN)

15:10 Plumpton A wide open eight runner handicap here in which a case can be made for every entry. Jim Best’s Red Orator looks set to start as favourite. The 7yo gelding is looking to complete a protracted hat-trick which began with two wins back in August at Fontwell. However, up 10lbs since the beginning of the sequence, he may now be vulnerable to a better handicapped foe. Gary Moore’s Guards Chapel is a talented, quirky sort who is now 1lb below his last winning mark. An 8yo gelding who stays extremely well, the forecasted good ground will be right up his street. As mentioned above, Gary Moore excels at Plumpton and I am hoping his link up with son Joshua will pay dividends here. The price of 7/1 at the time of writing allows for an each way play. Guards Chapel (E/W)