Bold Plan got no further than the third last time out, but looks worth another chance to show that he is ahead of his mark in the valuable 2m 7f Grade 3 Heroes Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday (15:00).
That tumble came in the similar grade Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle at Ascot.
After being heavily backed and sent off the 3/1 favourite, the Evan Williams trained six-year-old appeared to jump the flight fine only to crumple on landing.
It was a soft fall. Bold Plan had previously looked one to keep firmly onside when bolting up and landing a monster gamble in a competitive 12-runner class 2 handicap over 2m 2f at Haydock.
After being held-up towards the rear under a confident Robbie Power, the Angela and William Rucker owned son of Jeremy made stealthy headway three from home.
Bold Plan then went second after the last and stayed on powerfully to win going away by 2 1/2 lengths from Whoshothesherriff. He was value for more than the winning margin.
Good Haydock form and step up promises to suit
The runner-up has since come out and run very well to finish fifth of 13 to Not So Sleepy in the Grade 3 Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot.
Honest Vic, who was fourth, also won next time up. The fifth home Irish Roe ran a cracker last time out when a three-quarters of a length runner-up to prolific winning mare Lady Buttons in a Grade 2 at Doncaster.
That gives the form a rock solid look. It also suggests that despite now having to race off 10lb higher, Bold Plan should be well up to winning a race of this nature off his current mark of 140.
He also remains unexposed and the step up in trip may well unlock further progression. That is because Bold Plan won his sole start in an Irish point over 3m.
With testing ground also holding no fears, he looks to have lots going for him in this. Bold Plan makes plenty of appeal at the 8/1 on offer with Unibet for the Heroes Handicap Hurdle.
Ask Ben a big player for McPherson
The Graeme McPherson trained Ask Ben has run very well in both his starts this season and looks sure to go well.
This seven-year-old put in a fine display on his second start in an Irish point when keeping on to finish a 2 1/2 lengths runner-up to subsequent Grade 2 chase winner Danny Whizzbang.
Ask Ben then joined McPherson and showed a good attitude to make a winning debut over hurdles when beating the now 139-rated Beakstown by a head.
He then made all and bolted up by 19 lengths at Ayr, before running a fine race to finish a 10-length runner-up to Lisnagar Oscar in a Grade 2 at Haydock.
Ask Ben went on to round off the campaign with a fair 10th of 20 to Minella Indo in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He looked like the type that would have more to offer this season.
That view was confirmed back at Haydock when Ask Ben finished a fine staying on 3 1/4 lengths fourth of 17 to Stoney Mountain in the Grade 3 Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle off an opening mark of 133.
He has since gone down all guns blazing when finishing off strongly and going down by just under two lengths to Goodbye Dancer in a class 2 at Cheltenham off 3lb higher.
The fourth home Falco Blitz has won since to give the form a boost. Ask Ben has nothing to fear from the re-opposing sixth hime Debesteyman, who he now meets on 2lb better terms.
Another 2lb rise for that looks more than fair. Ask Ben looks primed to make a bold bid to go one better and he can be backed at 7/1 with Coral to do just that.
Ask Dillon another with Heroes Handicap Hurdle claims
Having shaped nicely on seasonal reappearance, Ask Dillon is another with leading claims in a typically wide open and fierce renewal of the Heroes Handicap Hurdle.
This Fergal O’Brien trained seven-year-old was a smart bumper performer who opened his account the obstacles at the first time of asking when easily beating Larkbarow Lad by seven lengths at Ascot.
He then ran very well to finish a 2 1/4 lengths runner-up to the now 141-rated Umbrigado at Exeter, before finding life too hot when 10th of 16 to City Island in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Ask Dillon went on to round off the campaign with a taking eight-length success at Exeter.
There was lots to like about his run at Chepstow in December on handicap debut when a 6 1/4 lengths third of 11 to Eva’s Oscar off a mark of 137.
The son of Ask held every chance at the last until lack of fitness took its toll and he was unable to find any extra.
Ask Dillon looks sure to strip fitter for that spin and is able to race in this off just 2lb higher.
Judged on the pick of his form, it makes him a player at the weights for a yard that continues to be among the winners. At 8/1 with Betfred, Ask Dillion is another each-way punt to consider.
