After the recent dry spell, ground conditions look as though they will be markedly quicker than has been prevalent for the majority of this season.

The best race on Monday’s card in terms of current official ratings is the 2m5f novice hurdle at 3.20. Also the excellent number of entries at the five day stage raises hopes that many will stand their ground after the final declarations are received on Sunday evening and racegoers can enjoy an interesting and informative contest.

A good number of those entries have been from prominent stables but I do not have the space to go through them all and have selected a few who should feature prominently if they stand their ground. Arkose has been highly tried since he made a winning UK debut and although this ex Irish pointer disappointed on his last run, when he appeared not to stay the extended three mile trip, he must be a leading player on this drop in class. His trainer Oliver Sherwood has a good record here with his hurdlers and the 6yo gelding should be suited by this sharp track. Another who will find the track playing to her strengths is the course and distance winner Sophies Trophy. Also the faster ground is very likely to suit her well (good run last time on Kempton s quick AW surface). Enthusiasm is tempered however by her double penalty but the trainer Pat Phelan is another with a fine course record. Bangkok Pete is dropped in class here after running in the EBF Novice Hurdle Final at Sandown where he was out of his depth and although he has solid form at a reasonable level this return to quick ground is not certain to suit him ideally. The juvenile Fin Vin De Leu was heavily supported on his last visit to Plumpton but appeared not to fully see out this trip against his elders on that occasion and although the less testing going likely here will help him in that respect it is unlikely that he will enjoy such ground with his quite rounded action. Some of his collateral form appears to tie him in quite favourably with Sophies Trophy but that could be misleading. Finally, the game Doncaster winner Hidden Keel looks as though the step up in trip here will suit him nicely as will the quicker ground. There have been winners from his Doncaster win and that will encourage connections but his chance looks as though it will be heavily reliant on the new conditions bringing marked improvement in his form. This is not impossible and I would suggest him as the alternative to Arkose as the likely winner of a good contest.

Phillip Hobbs has no less than four entries for the concluding 2m5f handicap hurdle and his final selection must be worthy of interest especially with the yard in such good recent form. Lewes trainer Jim Best is as usual enjoying a high strike rate and he has placed Canni Thinkaar well this season and he will be a player if taking his chance. However his handicap mark is now markedly higher after four wins from five starts. The novice Azulada Bay from the stable of Mark Rimell has been running consistently behind some fairly decent types but might just lack a bit of pace on this surface. The most interesting runner is the Gary Moore trained Lupanar who as a novice would have picked this lot up and carried them. He had a spell chasing but was far too clumsy although he did race with his usual zest. Brought back to hurdles at Kempton last time in a far hotter contest than this he ran with credit without ever seriously being put in the race. This quicker ground will be to his liking, he has course form and rates for me the nap of the meeting. He does have an entry at Ascot on Sunday in a much better race but hopefully will take this option.

Local trainer Anna Newton-Smith will be represented at the meeting by both Portrait Royale in the staying handicap chase and by The Hardy Boy in the conditional jockeys 2m5f handicap chase at 2.50. The latter came back from an injury sustained when winning here in January and ran with credit over course and distance. With that run sharpening him up he should show improved form. He is however likely to come up against some in form types such as Ray Mond, Brushford and Prince Louis. There are plenty of others also to consider in a trappy affair. Portrait Royale on the other hand will be near certain to go off favourite in her contest after a good win here at the last meeting. With the stable having done well recently she will be hard to beat. Nick Gifford has Timons Present entered and the Findon trainer is always to be respected with his runners here.

Jim Best would once again appear to have the seller at his mercy. Other notable runners should they stand their ground are the Lucy Wadham trained Laharna in the 2m chase a race in which Renee Robeson also has Jardin De Vienne and the Pat Phelan trained Oxford City in the opening maiden hurdle who will be of interest to each way punters.