16:15 Plumpton

Sunday 31 March 2024

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 3m 39.7s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Aucunrisque⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 137| CD

15/2

Betfair Hurdle winner in 2023 and good third in this last year. Few efforts of note since (well held in Lanzarote at Kempton latest) but is well treated if staging a revival in a race the stable is no stronger to success in.

Form: 3-035P0

Too Friendly^p¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 136| D

12/1

On the up for current yard during the summer, winning three 2m handicap hurdles. His progress over hurdles stalled at the end of 2023 but returned from a break to win on AW Flat at Kempton recently. Not discounted.

Form: 2112P6

Gin Coco^t¹⁰⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 136| D

9/1

Lightly-raced 8-y-o who showed benefit of his reappearance when taking 2m Ascot handicap hurdle in November. Freshened up since finishing down the field at Doncaster the following month but others more appealing on balance.

Form: 120-510

Knickerbockerglory^p1²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| D

17/2

Typically went with plenty of zest when an impressive winner on Ascot return in November. Has run creditably on 2 of 3 starts since, no extra only from last when fifth of 16 in Imperial Cup at Sandown latest. Cheekpieces on first time. Top yard always to be feared in valuable handicap hurdles.

Form: 29-1765

Parramount^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 132| D

33/1

Had an excellent first season over hurdles, winning 3 times. Probably best to overlook final 2 starts at Aintree/Haydock and comes here on the back of 2 placed efforts on AW Flat this year.

Form: 12110-P

Teddy Blue^p,t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: G & J Moore| OR: 131| CD

7/1

Free-goer who won this last year before finishing second in the Swinton. Back on form in competitive events over longer trips on his last 2 outings and more than capable off this mark if on a going day.

Form: 2U9964

Brookie^b1,t⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 131| D

22/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser in Ireland and won handicap hurdles on 2 of his 3 starts for Anthony Honeyball. Not in the same form when a well-held fourth at Kempton over Christmas and has first-time blinkers added to his tongue strap on this first outing since.

Form: 4-41014

Mr Freedom¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 128| CD

12/1

Most consistent sort in the main who produced another likeable display when landing 6-runner C&D handicap at the start of the month. It was always going to be a big ask for him under a penalty in the County at Cheltenham since and he hasn't finished out of the first 3 in his 4 outings over C&D.

Form: 33U210

Moveit Like Minnie^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122| D

16/1

Posted significant improvement when winning 2m handicaps at Ludlow and Huntingdon. Good fourth to Lucia in a warm race at Ascot before Christmas but he needs to bounce back from a lesser run in the Betfair at Newbury.

Form: 751149

Our Champ^t⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 122| CD

4/1

Winner of handicaps over C&D and Cheltenham on first 2 outings for Chris Gordon. His progress has stalled since but he made a sound return from wind surgery (also tongue tied) when seventh of 21 in Betfair at Newbury and his stable's good record in this affords him plenty of respect.

Form: 115537

Rare Middleton^t¹⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 121| D

9/2

Firmly back on the up in a first-time tongue tie (retained) when impressive winner of 2m Doncaster handicap (good to soft) in December. Might have been kept fresh for a spring campaign since and his top trainer does well in this race.

Form: 134-81

Tapley¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 119| CD

16/1

Returned to form with a bang when bagging 2m Kempton handicap in November and has remained in good form since, resuming winning ways at Fakenham (2m again) 16 days ago. No reason why this former C&D winner won't give his running but he is 5 lb higher in a stronger race now.

Form: 713421

Inferno Sacree^b²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 112| CD

25/1

Three of his 5 wins in the first half of 2023 came here. Respectable in-frame efforts on his last 2 outings and he has dropped back to his last successful mark.

Form: 0043P3

Non-Runners

Aurigny Mill⁵⁰

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: V R A Dartnall J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Our Champ (4/1), Rare Middleton (9/2), Teddy Blue (7/1), Aucunrisque (15/2), Knickerbockerglory (17/2), Gin Coco (9/1), Mr Freedom (12/1), Too Friendly (12/1), Aurigny Mill (14/1), Tapley (16/1), Moveit Like Minnie (16/1), Brookie (22/1), Inferno Sacree (25/1), Parramount (33/1)

A really good renewal of this valuable handicap. RARE MIDDLETON had plenty in hand at Doncaster when last seen in December and is taken to provide Paul Nicholls with a fourth win in this race since 2015. Chris Gordon is another who has a fine record in this and his Our Champ heads the many dangers along with Knickerbockerglory and last year's winner Teddy Blue.