Racing tips: First time cheekpieces and Plumpton give Bob Bob Ricard every chance of breaking his hurdle duck

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Before mentioning the 16/1 winner, I want to say what a poor ride Daryl Jacob gave my NAP of Sunday, Matata. The horse is free going, we all know that so why fight him and try and restrain the horse to make him waste even more energy than if you were to let him bowl ahead at his own pace? The horse had plenty to give, as we witnessed when running powerfully at the line, so I think he would've romped home if he let the horse go the pace he wanted.

However, Movethechains made it a nice Sunday and landed a bit of a touch for the Moore's, after being punted into 15/2 from 16/1. I had a feeling it was a plan for them to return to Lingfield off such a reduced mark, and he ran out a very easy winner of the Surrey National.

Plumpton 2:15 – Bob Bob Ricard 4/1 (1pt, Bet365)

I stuck up Bob Bob Ricard in a race a week or so ago but the meeting was abandoned, but I'm back tipping him up again.

It's a bit strange to see Jonjo Jr not on board, which does raise eyebrows about how serious the yard are taking this novice race as he is only one more race away from getting a handicap mark. But, even with Richie on board I think this horse has a superb chance of winning a novice race and I'm more than happy to take on the odds-on shot who will have a tough ask carrying a 7lb penalty.

Bob Bob Ricard has been very keen in his races, so this tight track which suits speedy types should allow him to settle a lot better than your more conventional galloping tracks. The form of his runs looks decent, especially the Ascot race where he travelled through the race like a potential winner before tiring from his early exertions. I rate the horses towards the fore in the Ascot race, especially the winner who will make a cracking 3m chaser one day. He probably would've won on his hurdles debut at Wetherby if he didn't make a mess at the last hurdle when a length ahead, but that allowed the eventual winner to come and steam past him with momentum on his side. The winner that day was a previous winner, so had the experience over him, and was also carrying 9lbs less, so it would've been a nice win on hurdles debut if he didn't make a hash of the last.

The cheekpieces go on for the first time after the blinkers had an adverse effect on him last time around, so hopefully, they'll settle him a lot better.

Plumpton 2:45 – Jacamar 11/2 (1pt)

Not every horse who is anticipated to run in this race will run as a couple of them ran in the Surrey National yesterday. With the horses we have left, it doesn't seem to be a strong race, with many being old in age now and don't look to be on too dangerous of handicaps marks, so I've opted for a horse going up in trip by a fair distance, which could bring out some improvement.

Jacamar is my fancy for this race over the extended 3m 1f at Plumpton. He has always been a nice horse, but his main issue is that his jumping can severely cost him races, as he has tended to make too many mistakes over the years. He is not proven over today's trip, but his running style over shorter suggests a step up in trip isn't a bad thing as he finishes off his races very strongly. Going up in trip should allow him to jump better as they won't be going as strong of a gallop that he is used to, which means approaching fences on a correct stride should be a lot easier for him.

There's no doubt he is on a nice handicap mark of 117 as he won off 130 early into 2023, but his form has taken a swan dive since then. I think that he hasn't been running too badly since moving to Anthony Charlton's yard, with his first run of the season being easy to ignore as fitness will have played a role, but the last two races have been encouraging. He would've hated the heavy ground last time out, so it was a valiant effort.

Harry Cobden is on board, which is always a huge positive and the yard has started to get a few winners in recent weeks after not getting any since getting some of the Milton Harris horses into his yard, which is also a positive.

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