16:05 Plumpton

Sunday 5 April 2026

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:10

BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 3m 41.30s

Serious Challenge³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 135| C| D

7/1

Borderline smart on Flat in Ireland and has won 4 times since switching to hurdles for Fergal O'Brien, including a 2m Haydock handicap just after Christmas. Improved again when second of 17 in Morebattle at Kelso 5 weeks ago, impressing with his rapid forward move from the rear. Big player.

Form: 14-4P12

Mondo Man²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 133| CD

1/1

Smart on the Flat in France (purchased for €520,000) and it's really clicked with him over hurdles in recent months, following C&D maiden win with an impressive front-running performance in the Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m, soft). Raised 10 lb but could still be ahead of the handicapper.

Form: 39-2411

Helnwein^p1¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 132| BF| D

5/1

Strong-travelling sort who finished second in the Swinton at Haydock and Greatwood at Cheltenham last year. Another good effort when second of 7 at Newbury (2m, good) last month and first-time cheekpieces won't need to give him much extra.

Form: 72-2252

Intellotto²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Robbie David⁽⁵⁾| T: Daisy Hitchins| OR: 132| D

40/1

A useful winning hurdler/chaser at his best for Joseph O'Brien but well beaten in the Kingwell at Wincanton and Martin Pipe at Cheltenham since joining Daisy Hitchins.

Form: 3-13340

Hamlet's Night^h³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: James Owen| OR: 132| D

33/1

Ran a blinder behind Rubaud in Grade 2 Elite at Wincanton and having again displayed his speed when successful on all-weather, there's plenty of mitigation for his below-par effort in the Morebattle at Kelso on soft.

Form: 211220

Inside Man¹⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 124| BF| D

33/1

Resumed his progress after 5 months off when cosily bagging 5-runner handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot (17f, good to soft) in September. Not in the same form when seventh of 13 at Newbury in November but given a break since and has shown he goes well fresh.

Form: 1421-17

Indemnity⁹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Jones| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 124| BF| D

15/2

Winner on the Flat for Roger Varian and successful 3 times over hurdles for Emma Lavelle in 2025. Also good placed efforts in 2m handicaps at Ascot and Newbury (form worked out well) in November but ended the year with a lesser run at Kempton over Christmas. Freshened up since. Could bounce back.

Form: 1-11234

Fasol^t,p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Miss O Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 120| D

11/1

Won a 2m Wincanton novice in November and followed up in 2½m Musselburgh handicap on New Year's Day. Has recorded 3 creditable efforts in defeat over 21f at Kempton since. Back down in trip. No reason why he won't give his running again but suspicion he might be vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 511447

General Briar²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: N de Boinville| T: C Gordon| OR: 118| CD

22/1

Opened his account in C&D novice (soft) in December and followed up in a Newbury handicap (2m, good to soft) in January. Pulled up in the Imperial Cup at Sandown won by Mondo Man since but he's better than that.

Form: 6-F311P

Gentleman Joe¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: M Crawley| OR: 118| D

50/1

Fairly useful Flat/hurdles winner for Henry de Bromhead. Well held on AW Flat for new yard in February but performed better when fourth of 7 back hurdling at Newbury (2m, good) 16 days ago, although the reopposing Helnwein was 9 lengths ahead in second.

Form: 7U128/4

Half A Chance^p⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 116| D

50/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2024. Beaten 23½ lengths when fourth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Naas (2m, heavy) 57 days ago, finding little. This Irish raider's claims aren't obvious.

Form: 232534

Nap Hand²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 114| BF| D

18/1

Three-time winner on the Flat who got off the mark over hurdles in a 2m Stratford novice last summer. Runner-up in a C&D handicap in the autumn and matched that form when third over 2m at Fakenham last month. More will be required in a race as hot at this, though.

Form: 5-12243

Aj's Diamond^h¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Bryan Carver| T: C Gordon| OR: 113| D

25/1

Looked some way ahead of her opening mark when seeing off 5 rivals at Warwick (2m, good to soft) 10 days ago. 11 lb higher in a much stronger race now but there's almost certainly more to come.

Form: 304631

Soleil D'arizona^h,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 108| D

50/1

Three-time hurdle winner from the front for the Skeltons in 2025. Below par on first 2 starts back from a break in February but took a step back in the right direction when fifth of 11 in 2m Stratford handicap last month. Capable of building on that.

Form: 141085

Forecasts

Mondo Man (1/1), Helnwein (5/1), Serious Challenge (7/1), Indemnity (15/2), Fasol (11/1), Nap Hand (18/1), General Briar (22/1), Aj's Diamond (25/1), Hamlet's Night (33/1), Inside Man (33/1), Intellotto (40/1), Half A Chance (50/1), Soleil D'arizona (50/1), Gentleman Joe (50/1)

MONDO MAN would have been an easier winner of the Imperial Cup but for Caoilin Quinn losing his irons after an awkward landing at the last and there's a possibility even a 10 lb rise could underestimate this 5-y-o who was smart on the Flat in France earlier in his career. Serious Challenge shaped very well in the Morebattle at Kelso and is feared most ahead of Helnwein, who has shown he has what it takes to go close in a good 2m handicap. Indemnity completes the shortlist.