JPR ONE THE TOP PICK AT PLUMPTON

By Nick Robson, PA

JPR One can stamp his class on the £100,000 BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Chase Handicap Chase at Plumpton.

While Joe Tizzard's eight-year-old falls just short of the very best two-milers, when conditions allow he has shown himself to be a very decent horse.

A smart novice last season, he was in the process of winning a Grade Two at Cheltenham in November 2023 when coming a cropper at the last and never had his favoured good ground after that.

He got it first time out this season in the Haldon Gold Cup, though, when he beat Djelo off a mark of 149, giving 2lb to the now 162-rated Venetia Williams runner.

Again, since then he has never really had proper good ground; he was not disgraced when third to Jonbon in the Tingle Creek but got stuck in the ground in the Game Spirit and then found top weight in the Grand Annual a stiff ask, although he could have got placed but for a mistake two out.

This race is not as competitive, he should get his ground as long as they do not over water and he is just 6lb higher than when winning the Haldon Gold Cup.

The Jane Williams-trained Excelero will arrive fresher than most in the Southern Cranes Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Williams is a canny operator and having seen the big prize pot on offer for this race, she no doubt put the lightly-raced five-year-old away.

He only scrambled home when odds-on at Bangor but his win at Exeter, with the now 137-rated Timmy Tuesday of Gordon Elliott's back in third, reads particularly well.

Dan Skelton can get on the board with Gwennie May Star in the Cappagh Browne Utilities Ltd Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, having won two of his last three.

He won very easily at Bangor most recently and the penny looks to have really dropped of late.

Tim Easterby has started the turf season in red-hot form and looks sure to be among the winners at Redcar.

Perhaps his best chance is Barley, who has the benefit of having had a run already this year.

The six-year-old won off a mark of 86 in April 2022, and while his last success came off 73, he did go on to get placed off marks in the 80s last season.

He shaped well on his reappearance when fifth of 12 and has had another pound knocked off his back ahead of the Marske Fabrication & Engineering Handicap.

It will be fascinating to see how Harry Charlton's Okeechobee gets on in the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.

The six-year-old has not been easy to train by any stretch of the imagination and will be having just his seventh outing, but when we last saw him he looked as good, if not better than ever.

He looked useful at three before injury kept him off for the best part of two years but he returned in this race 12 months ago and chased home the classy Dubai Honour.

Seen once more, he beat the Royal runner Desert Hero in the Gordon Richards Stakes, with subsequent Royal Ascot winner Israr back in third.

Real Stone can add a few more valuable pounds to the pot for Skelton in the Tip Top Clean Convenience Handicap Chase at Chepstow.

While he may be 10, he has never been over-raced. He impressed at Wetherby in February but always looked to be going half a stride too fast at Kelso last month, so going back up in trip will definitely help.

Over in Ireland, it is Boylesports Irish Grand National day at Fairyhouse, where Rebecca Curtis' Haiti Couleurs looks hard to get away from in the big one.

The National Hunt Chase winner appeared an obvious selection at Cheltenham and justified favouritism, with the result never looking in doubt at any stage.

He will race off a 6lb higher mark in Ireland but it will take a good one to stop him.

SELECTIONS:

CHEPSTOW: 1.49 Gaelic Rambler, 2.24 Inside Man, 2.59 Gower Prince, 3.34 Real Stone, 4.07 Another Fine Mess, 4.44 Ri Na Cuirte, 5.19 Kiss Gold, 5.55 Zamek.

CORK: 1.15 Good N' Kind, 1.50 The Vegas Raider, 2.25 Golden Joy, 3.00 Eyes Off Annie, 3.35 Arkhill, 4.10 Lifetime Ambition, 4.45 Clay Pigeons, 5.20 Dora d'Or.

FAIRYHOUSE: 2.05 Wonleg, 2.40 Wendrock, 3.15 Clodders Dream, 3.50 Kopeck De Mee, 4.20 Blood Destiny, 5.00 Haiti Couleurs, 5.40 Folly Master, 6.10 Shuttle Diplomacy.

FAKENHAM: 2.13 Champagnesuperover, 2.48 Dambuster, 3.23 Sawpit Sienna, 3.58 Diamond Koda, 4.33 Ronnies Reflection, 5.08 Claim Du Brizais.

KEMPTON: 2.20 Ernst Blofeld, 2.55 Okeechobee, 3.30 Sky Safari, 4.05 North View, 4.40 World Of Darcy, 5.15 Keybaar, 5.50 Chilly Breeze, 6.20 Legacy Power.

PLUMPTON: 2.00 Gwennie May Star, 2.35 JPR ONE (NAP), 3.10 Norn Iron, 3.45 Excelero, 4.19 Sea Invasion, 4.55 Moonshine Man, 5.35 Le Beau Madrik.

REDCAR: 1.25 Jenubiyah, 1.55 Ustath, 2.30 Stroxx, 3.05 Marbuzet, 3.40 Cruyff Turn, 4.15 Barley, 4.50 Groundhog, 5.30 Perfidia.

WOLVERHAMPTON: 1.35 Love Olivia, 2.10 Starfighter, 2.45 What A Nation, 3.20 Rogue Dancer, 3.55 Rosenpur, 4.30 Outreach, 5.05 Embarked, 5.45 Life On The Rocks.

DOUBLE: JPR One and Okeechobee.