It’s rare for the Sussex National to attract anything less than a double-figure field as has happened this time, sadly a sign of the times.
At least what’s coming is becoming, their similarities drawing them together, but the runners are at different stages of their season or indeed career, making for a complex puzzle. Let’s try to decipher it.
1. Broken Halo
T: Paul Nicholls J: Harry Cobden
Something of an all-or-nothing character but this is the grade in which the ‘alls’ have tended to come, in contrast to his tries in 0-150s which have amounted to nothing, including his needy reappearance at Sandown. This is also his time of year, all six of his wins registered between January-March, and the only time that Harry Cobden has ridden him in the last two seasons generated a lifetime best from Broken Halo when successful at Taunton at this level and this trip.
In short, these are the circumstances in which he shows up, and he has carried huge weights to victory in the Military races, though in the 23-year history of the Sussex National there has been only one top-weight winner, in 2019, namely subsequent Welsh National hero The Two Amigos.
2. Unanswered Prayers
T: Chris Gordon J: Freddie Gordon (3lb)
He’s new to marathons but has raised his game for them, supplementing his success in the Southern National at Fontwell with a fine third in the London National at Sandown, though he was at the end of his tether by the end on that stiff track, besides which his mark seems a tipping point for him (0/6 when rated 130+), and Freddie Gordon can claim only 3lb and not 5lb this time.
From just a handful of runners, Chris Gordon has finished first (Go Whatever) and a close second (Blame The Game) in recent Sussex Nationals, and Unanswered Prayers has got gold, silver and bronze on his three visits to Plumpton.
3. Jerrash
T: Peter Bowen J: Charlie Todd
This will be his 10th race since joining the Bowens in April and very nearly won the Durham National at Sedgefield in October but did less well over the same sort of trip at Newcastle last time, hinting that he’s handicapped to the hilt. It’s 40 runners since the yard’s last winner, on November 10, but Jerrash at least has a good record in staying hurdles around here from his time with Gary Moore.
4. Dom Of Mary
T: David Bridgewater J: Caoilin Quinn
Silky-smooth winner of this race in 2024 when looking destined for bigger and better things, but it proved a summit rather than a springboard, and in truth his reappearance was rather off-putting at Ascot even allowing for rustiness, the first beaten. He ought to be all the sharper this time, aided by refitted cheekpieces, clearly a plan in place, but he’s still effectively 10lb higher in the handicap (Caoilin Quinn claimed 12 months ago), and it’s somewhat disconcerting that he was the stable’s last winner.
All the same, it’s hard to forget just how good Dom Of Mary was that day.
5. East Street
T: James Owen J: Mr Alex Chadwick (5lb)
Yet another transformer for James Owen, no sooner joining the yard than completing an eight-day hat-trick with some perceptive placement. However, the handicapper reacted and maybe over-reacted, as East Street was overwhelmed (and pulled up) in the Tommy Whittle at Haydock from his revised mark in the 120s, and this isn’t much easier, just a fortnight on.
Dangerous to dismiss a horse from this stable, and a switch in headgear (to blinkers) could conceivably do something for him, but his last run can’t be overlooked completely and this trip is a step into the unknown.
6. Animal
T: Miss S Smith J: Gavin Sheehan
In the form of his life around this time last year and went close in two regional Nationals, beaten heads and necks in the Lincolnshire version and second only to course specialist Movethechains in the Surrey rendition at Lingfield. Appealingly, he’s lower in the handicap now than for either of those efforts and, though this is obviously a big ask for his reappearance, he has a fair first-time-out record (form figures of 1262), and his trainer had one returning winner this winter with Tapley and the gambled-on Superstylin should have been two.
Perhaps he’ll come on for the run but what’s for sure is that Animal has the tools for this job as well as an assistive mark.
7. Minella Blueway
T: Evan Williams J: Adam Wedge
When Atakan won this race in 2023 it was only his third chase, and so there is a precedent for the novice Minella Blueway whose third start over fences was his best, chasing home Ballycamus at Windsor last month.
He shaped like a stayer over 3m that day, but this is a different ball game, faced with such an endurance test, and there are a few too many factors for comfort to take on trust with him.
8. Gold Clermont
T: Andy Irvine J: Philip Armson (3lb)
Finished eighth in this last year when only 11/2 because she was coming in hot, unlike this time, pulled up on her latest start (in a race she’d won the year before), while the stable has had just the one winner since May. Plenty to prove, for all a revival would be easily explained in her reduced mark and the setting (dual course winner).
Jamie’s verdict
With questions over everything to a lesser or larger degree, this looks a race to risk something rather than trust the top of the market and, as such, it may be worth chancing the fitness of ANIMAL on his first start of the season, as he’s a very likeable type and lower in the handicap than when going close in two equivalent events last winter.
Source : Sky Sports
