William Hill Sussex Champion Chase (Handicap)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 4m 54.8s

Mercian Prince^p1¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 143| D

2/1

Impressive 17L winner over an extended 2m4f at Kempton (good) in January and highly tried in two subsequent starts including over the Grand National fences at Aintree last time out. Bold show expected with cheekpieces tried for the first time.

Form: 5-67180

Romain De Senam^h,t¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141

4/5

Winner of two of his last three starts including by 1L in a four runner contest over an extended 2m5f at Fontwell (good) nine days ago. Useful conditional in the saddle once more and strong claims despite a 4lb rise in the weights.

Form: 3UP141

Militarian²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: Andrew Martin| OR: 139| D

9/2

Three time winner this season including over 2m at Leicester (good) in February. Struggled in two subsequent starts however including back over hurdles at Ludlow (2m, good) three weeks ago.

Form: 1141P6

Non-Runners

Not Another Muddle¹⁰

Weight: 11-1| Age: 8

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Romain De Senam (4/5), Not Another Muddle (13/8), Mercian Prince (2/1), Militarian (9/2)

The application of cheekpieces for the first time can see MERCIAN PRINCE defy top weight to return to the winners enclosure. The selection should appreciate the return to regulation fences and he can see off recent winner Romain De Senam who can confirm Fontwell running with Not Another Muddle with the pair capable of finishing second and third in this contest.