'He works better than his mark' - hat-trick seeking Mordred back over hurdles

Monday: 3.20 Plumpton
Summertree Novices' Handicap Hurdle | 2m | 3yo+ | Sky

Bottomweight Encashment has been banging hard on the summer jumps door in recent months.

She has handicap hurdle form figures of 33382326 since April 22, and deserves to get her head in front.

Exaggerated waiting tactics didn't work at Uttoxeter last time, so it would be no surprise if Dylan Whelan, who takes 7lb off the mare’s back, rides her more handily as she wears a tongue-tie in addition to cheekpieces this time.

Mordred is seeking a hat-trick after a Plumpton maiden hurdle success and a victory in a four-runner Sedgefield handicap chase.

He beat two bang-in-form rivals at the Durham track in Cawthorne and Master Malachy, and a 7lb rise to a mark of 101 might not be enough to stop the six-year-old, who was rated 95 during his early three-year-old days on the Flat for Richard Hannon.

The Jamie Snowden-trained four-year-old Cornicello competed in Listed races on the Flat in France and Germany last year, and a mark of 102 should not prove too stiff.

Unexposed three-year-old Hill Station receives a 17lb weight-for-age allowance, while Henry Box Brown is likely to be placed to advantage by Evan Williams before too much longer.

The son of Getaway, who was purchased for £45,000 after winning a Wexford bumper, caught the eye at Fontwell in May off 100, and has now dropped 7lb to 93 following three subsequent defeats.

He still looks a work in progress, but the horse he beat in that Irish bumper, Limerick Leader, now has an official mark of 106.
Race analysis by Richard Birch

What they say

Milton Harris, trainer of Mordred
He seems to have come to himself over the last couple of runs. I'm not sure what changed over the summer because I couldn't seem to work out why he wasn't running better. The plan is to mix and match over fences and hurdles for a couple runs before he has a break towards the end of November. Lots of rain wouldn't be ideal, but he's in good form and is a very versatile horse. He works a lot better than his mark and we might just be seeing the fruition of that.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Cornicello
He was a decent juvenile hurdler last season but never got his head in front. He was arguably unlucky on a couple of occasions but he ran a solid race on his comeback at Warwick on the back of a nasty fall in the spring, and it looks the right opportunity to step him into handicap company now.

Evan Williams, trainer of Henry Box Brown
He was disappointing last time as he ran a very poor race. We've given him a bit of a break as a result and we're hoping he’s a bit fresher now. I'm not sure what his preferred trip is but we'll give it a go. He would appreciate any rain.

Fergal O’Brien, trainer of Rebel Roxy
She's been in good form but was disappointing last time. We've given her a break to freshen her up and hopefully we'll see a better run. I think a fast-run two miles will make more use of her. A little bit of rain would help, but we wouldn't want too much.
Reporting by Catherine Macrae

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