The Sussex Grand National headlines today’s action on Sky Sports Racing, with Unanswered Prayers and Dom Of Mary well-fancied for success.
2.40 Plumpton – Dom Of Mary and Unanswered Prayers clash in Sussex National
David Bridgwater’s Dom Of Mary was successful in this race twelve months ago but was disappointing on his reappearance when pulling up at Ascot last time. He is now rated 7lbs higher than that 2023 success and will need to pull off a career best to land this.
Chris Gordon took this race back in 2022 with Go Whatever and he will be hoping for a repeat this year with Unanswered Prayers who holds excellent claims. He finished third last time and already has a win to his name this season and has every chance with Chris’ son Freddie taking off a handy 3lbs.
Eight of the last 10 winners have been aged seven or eight, which is a positive for Evan Williams’ seven-year-old Minella Blueway. He had a good prep run at Windsor and rates as a big danger.
2.05 Plumpton – Monmiral and Transmission headline
Top weighted Monmiral takes the drop back into handicap company here having recently ran a solid race to chase home Strong Leader in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle and that form could be enough to land this.
Transmission was a remarkable winner of this last year with Joe Anderson losing his irons early on but still managed to get him up to win. Neil Mulholland’s eight-year-old has been campaigned over fences this season and it is interesting to see him back over hurdles as he bids to defend his title.
Lewis Stones (3lb claimer) gets the leg up Kilbarry Hill who has been progressing nicely this season and it would not be a surprise to see him relish this step up in grade and go close.
12.35 Plumpton – Mark Of Gold looks to follow up on Ascot success
Mark Of Gold was the outsider of four when running out a surprising winner of the Grade 2 Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot last time but showed a great attitude to wear down the leader and is fancied to follow this up.
Joe Tizzard won this race last year with Scarface and saddles Lord Of Thunder here who has the first time tongue-tie applied. He will need to improve his jumping and get bounce back to form to win here.
Classic Anthem showed ability over fences on his chase debut but could not back that up with finishing ninth at Newbury. Harry Cobden takes over and has his first ride for Jim Boyle, and they’ll be hoping it’s a winning one.
Best of the rest
In the 12.15pm at Chepstow, Katate Dori will look to carry a 7lb penalty to victory but is set to face still opposition in the form of Fortunefavorsdbold and Shot Boii.
Over at Plumpton, Risk It All runs in the Harry Redknapp colours for the Gary and Josh Moore partnership at 1.15pm, with last time out winner Vorderman also in the mix for Roger Teal. Half an hour later, The Bluesman goes for the hat-trick for Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat team, with champion jockey Harry Cobden booked.
Meanwhile, last time out winners Our Dylan (2.55pm) and Theonlywayiswessex (3.15pm) headline the remainder of the card at Chepstow.
