Racecards
15:55 Plumpton
totepool Sussex Champion Hurdle (Handicap) (Class 2)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £19,494
- 2nd: £5,724
- 3rd: £2,862
- 4th: £1,431
- Form 5-38327
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey P Bohan
towards rear, dropped to rear and mistake 3rd, tailed off 5th, pulled up after next
- Form 26-1162
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
raced wide, took keen hold, headway chasing leaders when hit 4th, challenged 3 out, led soon after, clear before 2 out, stayed on strongly, ridden out
- Form 1U3/25-3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Mr H Derham
chasing leaders when fell 6th
- Form 80/0-353
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Miss S Smith
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up towards rear, steady progress when badly hampered 6th, rallied and disputing 3rd when fell 2 out
- Form P41F10
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey L Treadwell
held up towards rear, headway on outside approaching 6th, weakened 3 out
- Form 7-0469P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
chased leader, led briefly 3 out, chased winner, ridden and well held approaching 2 out, lost 2nd post
- Form 221-513
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer Miss S West
- Jockey M Goldstein
led until 3 out, weakened soon after, poor 8th when fell heavily 2 out
- Form 2-F0277
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey Tom Cannon
chased leaders, pushed along after 5th, ridden after next, weakened under pressure soon after 3 out, pulled up before next
- Form 314F35
- Age 6
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
took keen hold, held up in mid-divsion, pushed along after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, driven and left in modest 5th and hampered 2 out, went 4th flat, never on terms
- Form 54-4162
- Age 5
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer M H Tompkins
- Jockey C Bolger
chased leaders, slightly hampered 6th, hit 3 out, weakened soon after, left in modest 4th 2 out, weakened into 5th flat
- Form 02322
- Age 4
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
held up towards rear, headway on wide outside before 3 out, chased leading pair from 3 out, hit last, went 2nd post, no chance with winner
In depth
Verdict
Local Hero ran well over a trip too far at Cheltenham and isn't out of this. Vulcanite came right back to form at Stratford and Fergall was second in a Grade 2 at Kelso last month. Paul Nicholls runs the lightly-raced Dildar while Saint Jerome steps out of novice company in search of a four-timer. Leviathan has won at Stratford and Haydock this season but would have preferred more give in the ground. It's a while since TED SPREAD got his head in front but Suzy Smith's charge is starting to look well treated as a result and was given plenty to do when a staying-on third at Newbury last time. He gets the nod as The Green Ogre will find easier opportunities to break his duck.
Formwatch
Local Hero (GER) 33-1 (11-1) Held up, headway 3 out, every chance on the bend after 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 24, 24l behind Don Poli (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Mar.
Fergall (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Led, driven 2 out, headed before last, kept on same pace, ridden and no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Clever Cookie (11-8) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Dildar (IRE) 8-1 (9-13) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on to 3rd before last, never going pace of leading duo, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Pine Creek (10-4) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
Ted Spread 7-1 (11-4) Held up in touch in 5th, closed 3 out, switched left after next, pressing for 2nd when edged left flat, stayed on same pace final 150 yards, 3rd of 6, 5l behind Volnay De Thaix (11-12) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Mar.
Leviathan 33-1 (10-7) With leader, blundered 5th, ridden after 4 out, soon lost place, 21st of 22, well behind Court Minstrel (11-12) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gs.
Dan Breen (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, ridden and lost place after 6th, behind next, soon pulled up, in a race won by Kaylif Aramis (10-7) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Alfraamsey 5-2 (11-0) Led, ridden over 1f out, soon headed, one pace and no chance with winner, no extra and lost 2nd final 100 yards, 3rd of 5, 5l behind Earls Quarter (11-0) at Lingfield 2m n h flat (4) std in Feb.
Specialagent Alfie 12-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, pushed along when badly hampered 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 10, 34l behind Three Kingdoms (11-8) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Zarzal (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Mid-division, blundered 1st, ridden 4 out, unable to get on terms, blundered 2 out, 5th of 8, 7l behind Sonofagun (9-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Mar.
My Guardian Angel 16-1 (11-6) Led, joined 5th, ridden and headed last, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Fujin Dancer (10-11) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
The Green Ogre 25-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, effort 2 out, stayed on well after last, nearest finish, 2nd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Raven's Tower (11-9) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Vulcanite (IRE) 10-3 (11-11) In touch, tracked leading pair 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on to lead approaching last, driven out flat, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Mar beating Gifted Leader (10-6) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Tzora 33-1 (10-7) Mid-division, chased leaders briefly 2 out, weakened before last, 21st of 28, 43l behind Lac Fontana (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Saint Jerome (IRE) 8-13fav (11-6) Made all, soon clear, unchallenged, won at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd beating Rascal (10-13) by 22l, 12 ran.