Yesterday finished in decent profit when Cold March won at Musselburgh and Doctor Harperwent down by a head at Cheltenham. Whataknight was a non runner.
Today's Selections:
2.50 - Plumpton:
Mysteree. 2.5 pts win. Available at 9/2.
Onderun. 2 pts win. Available at 6/1.
The Sussex National and, with underfoot conditions as they are, this will be a dour test of stamina. There are plenty of established handicappers on show but it's the lightly raced Chasers that make most appeal. These include Cailleach Annie, Sartorial Elegance, Mysteree and Onderun and it's the last two named that make most appeal. They head the market but on recent efforts deserve to do so. Mysteree has won three of his six starts over fences and has already proved to be much better over fences than he was over hurdles. He returned from a long absence to win on his Chasing debut last season and produced a career best when winning on his reappearance last time out at Haydock. That victory came on heavy ground over today's sort of trip and was achieved by a quite comfortable three and half lengths. His 44 day absence since should be viewed as a positive and four of his five victories have come in soft/heavy ground. A nine pound rise in the weights demands more of him but he is relatively lightly raced for a nine year old and extreme tests of stamina look to be his forte. The retention of Richard Johnson, who rode him for the first time last time out, is a bonus. The yard are in form (three winners and two second placed from their last ten runners) and they have a very profitable 19% strike rate with their handicappers over fences in recent seasons. Onderun makes just his fifth start over fences and tenth start overall. He has had his problems according to his Trainer but he looked to have put them behind him when getting his head in front for the first time at Lingfield on his reappearance last month. That victory came in decisive fashion over an extended 23 furlongs and the further he went the better he looked. He had finished second in the same race last season from today's mark in heavy ground and he could be ready to make up for lost time. Two attempts at beyond three miles have seen him under-perform but he is bred for the job and he represents a yard who have some well handicapped inmates after a relatively disappointing campaign last season.
3.50 - Plumpton - Catchin Time. 0.75 pts e/w. Available at 20/1.
An open looking handicap over hurdles concludes Plumpton's card and it could be worth taking a chance on Catchin Time at a big price. In recent seasons he has taken two or three races to find his peak form and he makes his third start of this campaign today. All four of his wins have come between December and February, three of them came in heavy ground and one over this C/D. He is six pounds above his highest winning mark but that victory was gained in decisive fashion at Uttoxter this time last year. He gets on well with today's three pound claimer and his return to the saddle is a positive. A return to deeper ground after two outings on G/S this season will suit and, although yet to win in this grade, he has got competitive and this race is not very deep.