March 10 / 15.00 Plumpton

15.00

Good

Celebrating Sussex Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 3f 164y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
SKY
View Course
Celebrating Sussex Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £8.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 1-374

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Point/bumper winner on slow ground; yet to build on a promising hurdle debut but connections wasting no time getting her over fences and she makes her handicap debut at a modest level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

15th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 3

18:55 Aintree

Taxus Baccata

10st 10lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Has improved since undergoing wind surgery for her new trainer this year and went back-to-back at Leicester (2m4f, good to soft) and Wincanton (3m1f, good); last run was too bad to be true but she did go up 7lb for that last win in a race that fell apart.

10/1

3rd

1

4th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

16:17 Huntingdon

Taxus Baccata

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Won a bumper and over fences for Matt Crawley last season but has improved since undergoing wind surgery for her new trainer this year; appreciated the step up in trip when winning for the second time in succession at Wincanton (3m1f, good) 12 days ago; up 7lb but should be hard to beat.

5/4

1st

3

23rd Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

16:22 Wincanton

Taxus Baccata

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Built upon a satisfactory stable debut when scoring by a neck at Leicester (2m4f, good to soft) this month and is now 2-7 over fences; only 2lb higher here and will be suited by the faster ground; strong claims if stamina holds out over the new trip.

6/4

13/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 6-8435 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Course winner over hurdles; he hasn't run badly in two chase starts this year but more will be needed for him to come out on top.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

31st Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:45 Wincanton

Birdman Bob

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Andy Irvine

in rear, not fluent 4th

11/2

33/1

  • Place: £4.60

Form: 46-PP8

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Little in the way of solid form and today's change of headgear isn't enough to tempt; 7lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:17 Fontwell

Elzaaro

10st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Karen Jewell

prominent, in touch with leaders from 6th, headway 4 out, left in third 3 out, lost position approaching last, weakened final 110yds

16/1

5th

10

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:17 Fontwell

Elzaaro

10st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Karen Jewell

prominent, in touch with leaders from 6th, headway 4 out, left in third 3 out, lost position approaching last, weakened final 110yds

16/1

3rd

9

10th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Elzaaro

10st 2lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Karen Jewell

Little in the way of solid form and today's change of headgear isn't enough to tempt; 7lb out of the weights.

33/1

Form: 545344

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 2lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Won a handicap hurdle at Fontwell in December 2019 but that is his only success from 40 starts; chance on last winter's best but he hasn't got going this time around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

11th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Clondaw Robin

10st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Andy Irvine

led, not fluent 2 out, headed just before last, soon no extra

13/2

2nd

4

11th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Clondaw Robin

10st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Andy Irvine

led, not fluent 2 out, headed just before last, soon no extra

13/2

4th

7

3rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 214y

Class 5

13:55 Plumpton

Clondaw Robin

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Andy Irvine

led, headed before 5th, lost ground 7th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off

12/1

Form: P65143

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Off the mark with an easy win at Huntingdon in January (2m, good to soft); another good run at that track 18 days ago, making the running and jumping the last in front but tiring on the run-in, passed by Pescatorius in the final 100yds; should run well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

10th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

JHabite En France

11st 2lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Ben Case

Off the mark with an easy win at Huntingdon in January (2m, good to soft); another good run at that track 18 days ago, making the running and jumping the last in front but tiring on the run-in, passed by Pescatorius in the final 100yds; should run well again.

3/1

3rd

4

20th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

14:15 Huntingdon

JHabite En France

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Ben Case

Went up 10lb for winning over 2m here in January and never really threatened to follow up at Market Rasen (can be inconsistent); even if back on song he might be on a tough mark; probably stays this far.

5/1

4th

6

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

12:50 Market Rasen

JHabite En France

11st 3lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Ben Case

midfield

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: 77-446

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Yet to fire over fences but his best hurdle efforts would make him of interest off his reduced mark; better ground could help, as could blinkers, and he's one to watch in the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

10th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Celtic Ned

11st 9lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Yet to fire over fences but his best hurdle efforts would make him of interest off his reduced mark; better ground could help, as could blinkers, and he's one to watch in the market.

4/1

6th

2

23rd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

14:30 Fontwell

Celtic Ned

11st 10lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Soundly beaten in the autumn on his two chase starts but didn't run badly when fourth of six at Wincanton last time in a race that has worked out well; this lightly raced 7yo is on a handy mark on last season's best hurdle form and today's race may not take much winning; interesting.

5/1

4th

1

21st Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

13:15 Wincanton

Celtic Ned

12st 0lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

raced in fourth, lost position but in touch with leaders from 5th, headway 13th, went third 4 out, weakened before 2 out

9/2

Form: 771U42

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
On the up over fences, winning at Catterick in December (near 2m, good) and just missing out at Huntingdon 18 days ago (2m4f, good to soft); just 1lb higher today and he's a major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

25th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 4f 205y

Class 5

19:15 Stratford

Pescatorius

11st 3lb

J: James Best

T: Rob Summers

Won last autumn on final two runs for Olly Murphy (3m2f/2m5f, good to firm/good to soft) and he took a step back in the right direction when third of six at Warwick (3m, good) in June when last seen; runs off his last winning mark and he might not be far away.

7/1

3rd

3

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Warwick

Pescatorius

11st 4lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Rob Summers

Left Olly Murphy for 5,500gns and pretty much tailed off in four handicap chases since.

25/1

5th

2

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

15:43 Stratford

Pescatorius

11st 9lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Rob Summers

Won twice for Olly Murphy in the autumn and subsequently sold for 5,500gns; hasn't been in the same form in three runs for his current trainer; cheekpieces worn on his last three starts are dispensed with on this step up in trip; still has time on his side but all of a sudden has a bit to prove.

8/1

Form: P5-537

Last run: 90 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Hasn't lived up to market expectations since switched to handicap hurdles; not bred for fences but he must be thought capable of better and this isn't strong; cheekpieces tried after one run in blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

10th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Spicy Nelson

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Hasn't lived up to market expectations since switched to handicap hurdles; not bred for fences but he must be thought capable of better and this isn't strong; cheekpieces tried after one run in blinkers.

10/1

7th

11

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Spicy Nelson

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Yet to play a serious part in four handicaps, despite being a short price for the latest two; interesting to see if his supporters keep the faith now blinkers are added; 8lb wrong.

8/1

7th

11

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Spicy Nelson

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Yet to play a serious part in four handicaps, despite being a short price for the latest two; interesting to see if his supporters keep the faith now blinkers are added; 8lb wrong.

8/1

Form: 66/7P8

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 2lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
His only placing in 27 starts came in an AW handicap in September 2017; poor form since returning from a mammoth absence in October and makes his chase debut at the age of 13; can't be recommended.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

12

27th Mar 2025

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:57 Warwick

The Last Melon

10st 5lb

J: Will Featherstone

T: James Bennett

No worthwhile form over fences and hurdles since returning from a long absence; a 13yo now.

100/1

8

10th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

The Last Melon

10st 2lb

J: Will Featherstone

T: James Bennett

His only placing in 27 starts came in an AW handicap in September 2017; poor form since returning from a mammoth absence in October and makes his chase debut at the age of 13; can't be recommended.

100/1

8th

9

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

12:40 Huntingdon

The Last Melon

10st 2lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: James Bennett

Teenager with 0-26 strike-rate under all codes; pulled up when 100-1 for handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter in December and can't be recommended here; 4lb out of the weights.

50/1

Form: -P4PP7

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Unplaced in all ten starts and hard to recommend from out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

10th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Cant Buy Time

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Cynthia Woods

Unplaced in all ten starts and hard to recommend from out of the weights.

66/1

7th

12

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

13:10 Huntingdon

Cant Buy Time

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Cynthia Woods

Has a modest completion record and unconvincing form when getting round; opposed.

40/1

7th

12

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

13:10 Huntingdon

Cant Buy Time

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Cynthia Woods

Has a modest completion record and unconvincing form when getting round; opposed.

40/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.40
Straight Forecast £33.47
Tricast £393.60
Trifecta £307.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Pescatorius

Daily Mail:

J'Habite En France

D Express:

Celtic Ned

RP RATINGS:

Pescatorius

POSTDATA:

Pescatorius

The Times:

Pescatorius

Telegraph:

Pescatorius

The Guardian:

Pescatorius

Daily Mirror:

Pescatorius

The Sun:

Pescatorius

Daily Record:

Pescatorius

The Star:

J'Habite En France