14:20 Plumpton

Sunday 2 January 2022

All12:0812:3813:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Sky Sports Racing Sussex National Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 7m 52.0s

Al Roc^h1,t1⁵⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 135

80/1

Smart chaser in France but well below par in 3 runs for Dr Richard Newland. Needs a big revival starting out for another new yard. Hood/tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 6125-80

Christmas In April^p²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 134| CD

25/1

Useful chaser who won this in 2020 and capitalised on a reduced mark at Newton Abbot in the spring. Good second at Carlisle on reappearance but appeared to down tools at Sandown 4 weeks ago.

Form: PP4-12P

Via Dolorosa^b,t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 130

22/1

Useful in France and shaped well when fourth in the Grand Sefton at Aintree. Giving it another good go over those fences until exiting in luckless fashion 4 weeks ago. Stamina to prove.

Form: 27-314U

Salty Boy²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 125| D

6/1

Useful ex-Irish hurdler/chaser who confirmed himself a thorough stayer when grinding out victory in Southern National at Fontwell. Shaped as if still in top form at Sandown since. Player.

Form: 363-315

Eclair De Guye^p²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 125

9/2

Scored at Huntingdon last December and was a good third at Sandown on return last month, a late wobble ruining his winning chance after he'd done plenty of running to hit the front. Respected.

Form: 2P12P-3

I See You Well²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Houlihan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 124| C

5/1

Course specialist whose last 3 wins have come here, all at 25.7f, including a strongly-run handicap chase 3 weeks ago. Must be respected back up in trip.

Form: 1241-61

Seaston Spirit^b²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood| OR: 122| CD

18/1

Lost his way towards the end of last season and well held both starts this term, but did win this under similar conditions last year off 3 lb higher so hard to dismiss completely.

Form: 11P5-P8

Abaya Du Mathan^t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 118

50/1

Fairly useful chaser in France but predictably struggled from 18 lb out of the handicap on first outing for this yard at Aintree last month. Should do much better racing off his proper mark here.

Form: 12312P

Game Line^b⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 117

28/1

Much improved for this yard, bagging third win at Fakenham (29.1f, good to soft) in May. Good second to a subsequent winner at Cartmel following month but well held at Fontwell on return.

Form: 131-128

Pemberley²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 116

5/1

Lightly raced over fences and showed improved form to get off the mark at Warwick last month, battling well. He's a likeable stayer and should be suited by this marathon trip.

Form: 43/32-21

El Paso Wood^t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 115

33/1

Notched up 4-timer in the French Provinces this autumn. Had wind op before unseated rider second on yard bow at Aintree (25.8f) before respectable fifth at Ffos Las. Stamina a concern.

Form: 1111U5

Blame The Game^v1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: C Gordon| OR: 115| C

25/1

Bright start over hurdles last term, winning twice at up to 21.7f (including here). Not fired over fences this season, though, and headgear now given a whirl.

Form: 315-P86

Go Whatever^v1²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 113| C

5/1

Successful pointer/dual hurdles winner (including at this venue). Lightly raced in recent times (just 4 starts over fences) but back on track tried in cheekpieces when third here. Visor now applied.

Form: 13/49-P3

D'jango^p,t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 112

15/2

Form: 8407F4

Eragon De Chanay^v²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 112

18/1

Well treated on the pick of his hurdling form but is a far from natural chaser and was again held back by his jumping here last time. Others preferred.

Form: 2P-053P

Non-Runners

Coup De Pinceau¹⁷

Weight: 11-2| Age: 10

T: H Brown J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Eclair De Guye (9/2), Go Whatever (5/1), Pemberley (5/1), I See You Well (5/1), Salty Boy (6/1), D'jango (15/2), Eragon De Chanay (18/1), Seaston Spirit (18/1), Coup De Pinceau (20/1), Via Dolorosa (22/1), Christmas In April (25/1), Blame The Game (25/1), Game Line (28/1), El Paso Wood (33/1), Abaya Du Mathan (50/1), Al Roc (80/1)

PEMBERLEY is a staying chaser on the up and should be well suited trying a marathon trip over fences for the first time. Southern National winner Salty Boy shaped as if still in top form at Sandown and he remains on a competitive mark, so rates the chief threat. Eclair de Guye shaped well in the same race at Sandown on return and is another to consider, along with course-specialist I See You Well.