Horse Racing - National Hunt Courses - Plumpton

Racing has taken place at Plumpton since 1884 and the East Sussex course holds meetings throughout the winter, the highlight of which is the Sussex National Handicap Chase. Staged every January and run over three miles and five furlongs, the contest often has been won by horses that have progressed to win some big races including 2007 winner Dunbrody Millar, who went on to win the Topham Chase over the Grand National fences at Aintree later that season.



Plumpton also stages a decent Novices Chase, run over two miles and one furlong in December. The 2005 renewal went to the Paul Nicholls-trained Voy Por Ustedes, who later won an Arkle, a Champion Chase, a Desert Orchid Chase, the Ascot Chase and two Melling Chases. History was made at Plumpton in February 2009 when Champion jockey Tony McCoy rode a record-breaking 3000th career winner aboard Restless D'Artaix in a two mile and one furlong Beginners’ Chase.

Characteristics

Left handed, tight and undulating. Despite the undulations, it's essentially a course which favours handy sorts thanks to the sharp turns. Races on the hurdles course often begin in earnest early on the final circuit, the complexion changing quickly at this point. Ranks high for casualties on the chase course, a figure which probably reflects the low standard of horses rather more than the stiffness of the fences. Beware those horses who stick to the inside on the hurdles track when the ground is testing, better going often found by racing wide.

Left handed
Tight
Undulating (very)
Uphill

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