I will be at Plumpton today for what will be my first visit to the Sussex track for a good few years. It's a fair card considering the quick ground which sees both a Champion Chase and a National run.
14:00, BetGoodwin Download The App Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
Mild Magic 9/4, 1pt win
Local Derby deserves to be favourite here off the back of his good win at Exeter last time out and could defy a 6 pound rise. He's off 12 stone here though and he must give plenty of weight away to Neil Mullhonand's mare Mild Magic. The 6 year old hasn't registered a win yet but she's had a short career and now steps up in trip again after a good effort at this track last time out over half a mile shorter. She was 2nd in a 3 mile point last April and she looks like the type to start coming into her own now.
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14:35, BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Handicap Chase
Matterhorn 7/1, 1pt win
A small field Sussex Champion Chase but a classy one as Arkle and Tingle Creek winner Edwardstone heads the weights. The 12 year old still retains a lot of ability but may find this sharp enough on quick ground. So too could the progressive Secret Des Deiux who drops back in trip from his win at Kempton last month. Kotmask needs a return to form whilst Scorsese could enjoy things on the front end here and isn't out of it from a low weight. Perhaps it's worth taking a chance on last year's runner-up Matterhorn. Paul Nicholl's 8 year old has an in-out look to his form but comes into his own during the Spring and this looks less competitive than 12 months ago.
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15:10, Roy Reeve Memorial Maiden Hurdle
Loriko 5/6, 1.2pts win
Not the strongest maiden hurdle and although Flash Man could build on his Kempton promise, Loriko brings much the best form into this and should be up to the task.
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15:45, Southern Cranes & Access Ltd Novices' Handicap Hurdle
Easy Love 13/2, 1pt win
Tennessee Tango 10/1, 1pt win
A very competitive novices' handicap hurdle in the middle of the card here. Grand Conqueror has been in great form of late but this represents a much stiffer task than he's been facing of late. Mount Anglesby looked very good at Warwick last time and he must have a chance of going in again on similar ground. Anthony Honeyball's Easy Love must have a big shout too though. The 6 year old mare pulled up on her last start but that was a tough affair on soft ground over 3 miles and she previously won well at Wincanton over this trip. She's been given a 37 day break from that and finished 3rd in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham back in October and she looks well weighted on that form. She's won here in a bumper and looks set to go well under a good 7 pound claimer. At slightly bigger odds Tennessee Tango can be forgiven a poor run last time out in a big field at Sandown as it was a very hard race on heavy ground. He'd previously looked good when winning here and he will enjoy returning to a nicer surface.
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16:25, BetGoodwin Sussex National Handicap Chase
Sea Invasion 4/1, 1.5pts win
Perhaps not the strongest Sussex National ever run but a really open one which seems like a nice betting heat. Havaila deserves to be favourite and must have a good chance after winning very easily at Newbury last month. He likes the track, is progressive and will have been aimed at this. The market has him however. Transmission and Rivers Corner both come into this in top form but now have tough marks to defy whilst last year's winner Invincible Nao hasn't been in great form lately and this ground may be lively enough for him. Preference is for Anthony Honeyball's Sea Invasion. The 8 year old gets in here off a lovely low weight and won twice at the track last Spring. He ran a cracker at Kempton in January where he looked like this step up in trip is worth a go and he's only had a spin over hurdles since. He looks well handicapped and should go well.
