Free horse racing selections for Sunday January 6
Knocknanuss is David Clough's best Sunday bet -and he has a tip for every race in the UK and Ireland.
NAP: Knocknanuss 1.10 Plumpton
Next best: Galileo's Spear 1.00 Newcastle
A rare international challenge is about to descend on Plumpton, but home hope Knocknanuss can put up a stout and successful defence of his Sussex territory on Sunday.
The big-money bonus potentially on offer to the winner of the Follow At The Races On Twitter Novices' Chase has attracted a high-profile contender from both France and Ireland.
Between them, by the time they get to post, Guillaume Macaire's prolific five-year-old Master Dino and Gordon Elliott's Cheltenham Festival runner-up Glenloe will have travelled around 1,000 miles for the privilege - from France's Atlantic coast and County Meath respectively.
By contrast, Knocknanuss will have clocked up just under 20 from Gary Moore's yard at Lower Beeding.
It is a moot point whether the nine-year-old's journey time of just half-an-hour gives him an edge on his rivals as they bid to give themselves a shot at the bonus payment should they win here and then do so again in any race at Cheltenham in March.
What is not in doubt, however, is Knocknanuss' relevant experience.
The prides of France and Ireland may well prove his superior in time, Master Dino with his nine Auteuil victories up to Grade One level and Glenloe as a hurdler who went within a nose of beating his high-class stablemate Delta Work in last year's Pertemps Hurdle final.
Yet neither has so far jumped a British fence and in fact can together boast just a single chase start - Master Dino's 30-length romp as a long odds-on favourite two months ago.
Knocknanuss, meanwhile, has won his last two novice chases by a combined 38 lengths - most recently taking a useful Newbury field apart at the end of November.
He is a tearaway who fell on his own chase debut, but is also talented, has his favoured good ground and an undeniable experience advantage.
Like him, The Two Amigos is likely to try to lead all the way - in his case over more than three and a half miles - in the Sky Sports Racing Sussex National Handicap Chase.
To do so, Nicky Martin's prolific ex-pointer will have to defy top-weight after going up a whopping 25lb since resuming his career under rules with the first of two victories in three attempts at Newton Abbot in October.
Nonetheless, at seven, he remains highly-progressive and likely to win again here.
Shimba Hills perhaps has less obvious claims in the preceding Download The At The Races App Handicap Hurdle.
But the eight-year-old has previously shown handy form off a 10lb higher rating and, after looking a little rusty and sure to improve on his seasonal return here last month, he should be effective at this level.
Ireland stages Grade One action and several very well-touted contenders feature among a nine-strong field for the Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle.
None more so than Battleoverdoyen on the back of his three victories - by increasing margins - in a point-to-point, bumper and maiden hurdle.
His Navan victim Momus failed to frank the form, distant third as an odds-on favourite at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day.
That is not Battleoverdoyen's fault, though, and he may well prove to be the real deal for Elliott's hugely powerful stable.
At more than 10 times his odds, Sams Profile has superior form - second to subsequent Grade Two winner Derrinross - but Mouse Morris' five-year-old may prefer a little further, specifically three miles at Cheltenham in a couple of months' time.
Campeador is clumsy, to both maddening and frightening degrees, but if the grey stands up he should take care of market rival Articulum in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase.
There is Flat action on the Tapeta surface up at Newcastle, where Galileo's Spear may just have a favourite's chance of winning at last - for the first time in his last 24 attempts - in the opening Betway Handicap.
Sporting Life selections:
NAAS: 12.50 Final List, 1.20 Campeador, 1.50 Battleoverdoyen, 2.20 Quamino, 2.50 British Art, 3.20 Meri Devie, 3.50 Long March.
NEWCASTLE: 1.00 Galileo's Spear, 1.30 Rainbow Lad, 2.00 Trautmann, 2.30 Elysees Palace, 3.00 One Vision, 3.30 Portledge.
PLUMPTON: 12.40 Brandon Castle, 1.10 KNOCKNANUSS (NAP), 1.40 Third Wind, 2.10 Shimba Hills, 2.40 The Two Amigos, 3.10 Le Capricieux, 3.40 Oden.
DOUBLE: Knocknanuss and Galileo's Spear.
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