Racecards
14:30 Plumpton
Sky Bet Sussex National (A Handicap Chase ) (Class C)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 3m 5f
- Going: Good to Soft (Chase - Good, Good to Soft in places)
- Form 13-0200
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
reluctant and always detached in rear, tailed off
- Form 51P0-41
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey T Siddall
tracked leaders, jumped right and lost place 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 5P10-61
- Age 9
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up, steady headway to track leading trio from 15th, went 2nd on bit after 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, stayed on strongly
- Form 211323
- Age 10
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey J Tizzard
held up in 6th, mistake 6th, blundered and behind from 12th, tailed off when pulled up 15th
- Form 15300-5
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Trainer L Wells
- Jockey Mr J Morgan
tracked leader, not fluent 4th, jumped slowly 6th, pushed along from 12th, lost 2nd under pressure 15th, soon well behind, tailed off
- Form P422F-2
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer K Reveley
- Jockey Jim Crowley
tracked leaders, went 2nd 15th, ridden and one pace from 2 out
- Form 56P2-31
- Age 7
- Weight 10-1
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey A O'keeffe
led, mistake 16th, ridden and headed when mistake 2 out, weakened
- Form 1P13-2U
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Miss S Smith
- Jockey C Bolger
held up in 5th, good headway from 14th, effort 16th, chased winner from 2 out, stayed on same pace
- Form 556U0-0
- Age 10
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Jamie Poulton
- Jockey B Hitchcott
held up, effort 15th, weakened before 4 out
In depth
Verdict
Count Campioni gets the nod over French Executive, Garolsa and Radcliffe to name but three. This stamina-sapping affair should bring out the best in Count Campioni who will be making his seasonal reappearance. Mark Pitman's 10-year-old bolted up at Chepstow on his final outing last season, and begins this term potentially well handicapped. Any more rain would be in his favour, and he looks set to run a big race before being prepared for the Welsh National. French Executive is a course specialist and should have had a crack at this race last year, but his attempt has been delayed by 12 months. He showed his well being by beating Count Campioni's stable mate Smarty on his return to the fray in October and is expected to run well. The consistent Garolsa is another with course form and hails from the stable that collected last year with Jeremy Spider, while Radcliffe's task was made easier when his nearest market rival fell at Leicester. he looks at the right end of the weights still though and can reach the frame at least. For the winner we return to Count Campioni.