The seven race card is opened by an interesting novice hurdle which has a number of useful young hurdlers entered at the five day stage by some of the sports leading trainers.

Nicky Henderson has a choice of four prospects to send down from his Lambourn base of which Proud Presence and Anquetta look to be the pick.

The former holds an alternative entry in the big EBF novice final at Sandown a couple of days earlier so if he misses that engagement and comes to Plumpton he is likely to be a very short price favourite.

Anquetta has enjoyed a promising start to his career and will be a live player if fulfilling his entry so it would appear that the Henderson team will have a great say in the outcome of this contest.

I would not choose to oppose either of the two entries mentioned but the Alan King trained Ravethebrave is certainly no back number.

He was a point winner in Ireland and stamina looks to be his strong suit. An encouraging run at Doncaster toward the end of January in a race where the form has some substance to it strongly suggests that he has a future and significant progress can be anticipated. Although he may find the configuration of Plumpton against him he is worth noting for the future as is the Emma Lavelle trained Ravenclaw if he too takes his chance. He has the make and shape of a chaser.

All of those mentioned look potential future winners.

The following novices’ handicap chase also features a few individuals who appear to have some progression in them. Henrietta Knight is not a regular visitor to the track but should Little Eaglet make his fencing debut here his hurdling form suggests he could easily be seen as leniently treated.

Lightly raced he has shown encouragement to this point and his run behind Lord Singer at Fontwell last time could prove to be much better than it at first appeared. If he takes to the larger obstacles he will be difficult to beat.

Should they stand their ground, his principal rivals are likely to be Cloud Nine from the David Pipe yard and Charlie Mann’s Prince Louis. Cloud Nine was entered at the last meeting when I fancied his chances but he did not take up the engagement and subsequently fell at only the second fence last week at Wincanton. He has an entry for the Cheltenham Festival but may now come here and will be supported to put the Wincanton disappointment behind him. I was also very keen on the chance of Prince Louis when he appeared here at Plumpton earlier this season. Unfortunately he crashed out at an early stage so my belief that he has much more to offer was never given a chance to be tested. His transfer to the capable Charlie Mann was one of the chief reasons why I felt he was handicapped to win and that theory will be proved or otherwise in the weeks ahead.

It is an interesting event and the winner is highly likely to come from the three mentioned.

The mares hurdle has a number of protagonists that represent quality stables and who have the potential to improve markedly on what they have achieved on the racecourse to date.  Emma Lavelles Mayberry (who will appreciate better ground) and the Henderson trained Synthe Davis fall into that category.

The Jevington based trainer Anna Newton Smith recorded a double at the last meeting and her Pomander and Quartz De Montceaux will give her a great chance of following up those victories if they turn up on Monday. The staying handicap hurdle and chases on the card that they will respectively contest do not have great strength in depth at the five day stage and with the yard obviously in great heart they should both play leading roles. The Lewes trainer Suzy Smith has Jordan entered in the hurdle and she may prove the stiffest opponent that Pomander will face. Quartz De Montceaux is likely to find the Renee Robeson trained Millarky a tough opponent and Robeson has also entered Jardin De Vienne in the two mile chase. If either make the journey they should both be respected.

Jim Best looks on the face of it to have the two mile handicap hurdle at his mercy with his three entries and I am certain he will pick the right one to get the job done.