16:05 Plumpton

Sunday 20 April 2025

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 3m 39.64s

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Selected odds by:

Daddy Long Legs³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151| D

10/1

Handicap hurdle winner at the Punchestown Festival last season and bagged a 2m Grade 3 at Tipperary in October. Creditable 6¼ lengths ninth of 16 to Kargese in County Hurdle at Cheltenham (17f, good to soft) 37 days ago but a couple of these were ahead of him.

Form: 013529

Absurde³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: H Cobden| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148

9/4

Smart under both codes. Enjoyed a stellar 2024, winning the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and Listed race at Chester before an excellent fifth in the Melbourne Cup. Reappeared with a fine third of 16 in this year's County at Cheltenham last month. Leading claims.

Form: 16P41-3

Sir Gerhard^p1⁶⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: W P Mullins| OR: 147| D

20/1

Smart hurdler/chaser. Hasn't been at that level over the smaller obstacles this season but did travel well for long way when 9¼ lengths third in Gowran Grade 3 last time and possible first-time cheekpieces will put an edge on him.

Form: 134-633

Tounsivator³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| D

12/1

Won Grade 2 Royal Bond novice hurdle at Fairyhouse (2m, good) in December. Better than result in competitive handicaps since, with 2½m seemingly stretching his stamina in Martin Pipe at Cheltenham. Respected back at 2m.

Form: 151970

Knickerbockerglory⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 139| D

10/1

Enhanced fine record when fresh by landing a heavy-ground Sandown handicap on return in December. Creditable fifth of 17 in Imperial Cup there (2m, good to soft) last time. Likely to be in the mix for Dan Skelton.

Form: 65P-135

Aurigny Mill⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 139| BF| D

22/1

Better than ever for new yard this season, winning handicaps at Newbury (2m) and Taunton (19f). Fine second back at Taunton (2m) last time and merits consideration from an unchanged mark.

Form: 4-P1612

Hansard^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 139| CD

12/1

Winless since bagging the 2023 Gerry Feilden at Newbury. Some creditable efforts this season but he was behind a few of these in the County at Cheltenham. Failed to stay 2½m at Aintree since.

Form: 5-48309

Our Champ^t³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Freddie Gordon⁽³⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 135| CD

7/2

Back to his best to win 2m Ascot handicap in November before very creditable third in the Gerry Feilden later that month. Not in the same form on next 2 starts but back on song when sixth of 16 in County Hurdle at Cheltenham (17f, good to soft) 37 days ago. Another who has to enter calculations

Form: 613586

She's A Saint¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 133| D

9/1

Hasn't stood much racing in recent times but returned from another 10 months off with a career best to win a 17-runner conditional jockeys' handicap at Aintree (2m, good) under Tristan Durrell 16 days ago. The quick turnaround is perhaps more of a concern than the 9 lb rise.

Form: 2122/21

Spirit D'aunou^b1³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 128| D

12/1

Good 3¾ lengths fifth (Absurde third) of 16 to Kargese in County Hurdle at Cheltenham (17f, good to soft, 25/1) 37 days ago. Should be very competitive if in similar form. First-time blinkers replace cheekpieces.

Form: 5-F6435

Afadil^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Freddie Gingell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123| D

14/1

Back to form when placed in competitive 2m handicaps in recent months, latterly the Imperial Cup at Sandown. Ran poorly with a tongue tie added to his regular cheekpieces at Aintree recently and that aid is quickly discarded. Capable of bouncing back.

Form: 456230

Forecasts

Absurde (9/4), Our Champ (7/2), She's A Saint (9/1), Daddy Long Legs (10/1), Knickerbockerglory (10/1), Hansard (12/1), Tounsivator (12/1), Spirit D'aunou (12/1), Afadil (14/1), Sir Gerhard (20/1), Aurigny Mill (22/1)

Willie Mullins saddles 4 as he bids to land a significant blow in the trainers' title race. ABSURDE made an encouraging return to action in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and is narrowly preferred to stablemate Tounsivator, who failed to stay 2½m in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham and is interesting back at 2m having been eased another 2 lb. Spirit d'Aunou wasn't far behind the selection in the County and also makes the shortlist along with Robert Walford's Aurigny Mill.