The BetGoodwin Sussex Nationwide Handicap Chase is stronger than ever this 12 months, wrapped up within the Premier banner.
The double-figure discipline is all throughout the handicap correct, but with diverse approaches, has a lot to select aside, so let’s set about it with a deep dive into every of the eleven.
Watch the BetGoodwin Sussex Nationwide from Plumpton reside on Sky Sports activities Racing on Sunday, January 7 at 2.50pm.
1) Tommie Beau
Coach: Seamus Mullins; Jockey: Micheal Nolan
A “National” treasure hunter having already received the Norfolk, Durham and Southern incarnations of the Nationwide, the first-named some 20 months in the past however the final two on his most up-to-date begins, and within the type of his life proper now.
Within the 22-year historical past of the Sussex Nationwide there was just one top-weight winner (subsequent Welsh Nationwide hero The Two Amigos, in 2019), and this discipline is much stronger than Fontwell final time when his foremost rival turned out to be the 13-year-old Max Dynamo.
It is asking a whole lot of Tommie Beau to present weight throughout, although he is two from three in chases at Plumpton.
2) Sidi Ismael
David Pipe; Fergus Gillard
Received the Lincolnshire Nationwide in 2021 and overwhelmed solely by Truckers Lodge within the West Wales Nationwide final April, however this marketing campaign has been a story of woe, since a wind op, ending final on his comeback and failing to finish in two begins since.
It is a leap of religion to assist him right here, in a race during which he was fifth (at 10/1) final 12 months, and Jack Tudor prefers Iceo Madrik.
3) Rose Of Arcadia
Joe Tizzard; Freddie Gingell
The BHA Handicapper recorded a efficiency ranking of 130 for her at Newbury for snapping on the heels of Pink Legend and Galia Des Liteaux, however, free from punishment in circumstances races, she’s in a position to race off 128 right here, much less Freddie Gingell’s 5lb declare, and he has received 3 times on her.
She’s arguably in pole place from a handicapping perspective however this will likely be her first marathon, whereas all of her chase wins have are available in discipline sizes of six or fewer.
4) Iceo Madrik
David Pipe; Jack Tudor
Grade One-placed in his time with David Cottin in France, not that you just’d have guessed it from his three lifeless efforts since switch to Britain, although the upshot is a hasty drop of 13lb within the handicap.
Was within the Welsh Nationwide till a really late stage and that is a minimum of so much simpler than Chepstow would have been, nevertheless it’s full guesswork with him for now.
5) Foxboro
Robert Walford; Harry Kimber
Will need to have thought at Exeter that he’d been losing his life as a result of that thirty eighth begin was his first past three miles and it proved to be proper up his road, profitable by 20 lengths.
Even permitting for the threadbare discipline and the omitted fences (low solar), it is one thing of a shock that he was reassessed solely 5lb increased for such a margin of victory.
There was type if not the substance to that win, and who’s to say he will not increase his recreation once more now he is discovered what he is good at? Needs to be on any short-list.
6) Sporting Ace
Neil King; Jack Quinlan
Making an attempt to take a leaf out of Atakan’s ebook from final 12 months and win this on simply his third begin over fences.
The grinding means he did it final month at Chepstow – the place he went off 6/1 however hit 43/1 in-running – suggests he’ll keep all day, although expressing it on this atmosphere is one other matter, and it is simply price remembering that this mark proved a bit past his means as a hurdler.
7) Dom Of Mary
David Bridgwater; Caoilin Quinn
Has seemed an improved mannequin this season and completed forward of Rose Of Arcadia when the pair have been mid-field in a greater race than this at Cheltenham.
Each his wins over obstacles have been in cheekpieces and so they’re again on for the primary time this time period, suggesting this has been the goal all alongside.
He has lengthy seemed to have the instruments for an excessive take a look at, and it helps that his common pilot Caolin Quinn is using on the crest of a confidence wave.
8) Blame The Sport
Chris Gordon; Rex Dingle
Crushed only a neck in second when favorite for this race 12 months in the past, however coming in chilly this time as compared and nonetheless 3lb increased, plus the steady stays quiet (one win from final 50 runners).
Possibly new jockey Rex Dingle will likely be a motivating affect however there are too many hovering query marks to be backing the horse for now.
9) Gold Clermont
Andy Irvine; Philip Armson
Relished the endurance take a look at when making brief work of Eceparti over this type of journey at Fakenham, and her 6lb rise has been theoretically halved by the reserving of 3lb conditional Philip Armson, although Sean Bowen was particularly good on her at Fakenham.
This degree of handicap is totally alien to her, however the course is not, her report at Plumpton studying 112, and he or she’s peaking at simply the precise time.
10) Eceparti
Venetia Williams; Charlie Deutsch
A case of this far and no additional for the resurgence that received him back-to-back wins at Chepstow within the autumn, as a result of Gold Clermont proved too scorching for him to deal with at Fakenham, which additionally steered {that a} marathon like it is a bit past his limits, having spent his life over shorter.
If it is a shock that Venetia Williams has but to win a Sussex Nationwide it is a better shock at how few runners she’s had in it, Gorgehous Lliege (fourth) the final in 2015.
11) Particular Acceptance
Paul Webber; Gavin Sheehan
Runner-up within the 2021 version of the Sussex Nationwide however not on the similar degree now, albeit ending second on each begins this season, in 0-120s, and if he could not win both of these it is exhausting to see how he can come out on high right here, even with Gavin Sheehan aboard.
Jamie Lynch’s verdict…
From the provincial Nationwide specialists like Tommie Beau to a new-kid-on-the-block novice equivalent to Sporting Ace, there’s an intriguing combine for this 12 months’s Sussex Nationwide, nevertheless it seems to be to have been a long-term goal for DOM OF MARY who’s a assured choice with the cheekpieces again on, having lengthy since promised to turn out to be a marathon runner of distinction.
Watch the BetGoodwin Sussex Nationwide from Plumpton reside on Sky Sports activities Racing on Sunday, January 7 at 2.50pm.