Flat Season Kicks Off in Sussex Style
Well now, Plumpton decided to remind us all why we love this quirky little Sussex track with a proper mixed bag of flat racing on Monday afternoon. Seven races ranging from Class 3 down to Class 6, and fair play to them for getting the flat season rolling with a bit of substance rather than the usual early-season dross we're often served up elsewhere.
The ground rode good to firm with good patches, which is about as perfect as you'll get for late April. None of that jarring firm nonsense that has the horses bouncing off the deck, but quick enough to separate the wheat from the chaff. And by God, there was plenty of chaff to separate today, though some genuine quality shone through the murk.
The Plumpton racecard might not have screamed Royal Ascot, but there were enough intriguing angles to keep the grey matter ticking over, and a few performances that'll have me reaching for the notebook when these horses pop up again.
Feature Race: New Image Headlines Class 3 Contest
The 15:42 racingtv.com Handicap Stakes was the obvious standout of the afternoon, a Class 3 affair over seven furlongs and change that brought together some proper performers. New Image, carrying top weight off a mark of 90, was the headline act for David Nolan, and you'd have to fancy anything Nolan sends down from his Yorkshire base is there to do a job.
But the one that caught my eye was Jolly Roger on 89 under Harry Davies. This lad has been knocking on the door in better company, and dropping back to this level with Davies taking off a handy 5lb could be the perfect storm. There's something about a horse rated 89 in Class 3 company that gets the pulse racing – either they're regressing fast or they're about to remind everyone why they earned that rating in the first place.
Skipper for James Doyle was another with serious credentials, rated 88 and carrying the silks that suggest connections mean business. When you see Doyle making the trip to Plumpton on a Monday afternoon, you know there's more than prize money at stake – this could be a prep run for something bigger down the line.
Ones to Follow: Quality Hiding in Plain Sight
The novice stakes at 16:20 over a mile and two furlongs threw up some fascinating angles. Bay of Myths with Hollie Doyle aboard immediately jumps off the page – when Doyle is booked for a novice event, you can bet your last tenner there's ability lurking beneath the surface. The fact this one carries no rating yet suggests we're looking at a lightly raced type with scope for improvement.
Mr Colonel, rated 97 and ridden by Shane Gray, was the form horse in the field, but sometimes these experienced campaigners in novice company are there for the taking by a progressive sort. The trip should suit, and if Bay of Myths has been working well at home, this could be the perfect opportunity to strike.
Down in the handicap ranks, Nicator in the 16:50 contest over the extended mile and a quarter looked interesting off a mark of 75. Benoit de la Sayette doesn't often make the journey to tracks like this without good reason, and this horse has been consistent enough to suggest there's a big run in him somewhere.
Don't sleep on Mafting either – James Doyle taking the ride suggests this one from the in-form yard has been showing something at home. Rated 75 and carrying the 'C,D' markers, this could be a horse coming back from a break with improvement to find.
Jockey Watch: The Big Guns Turn Up
Speaking of the riding talent on show, it was impressive to see the likes of Hollie Doyle, James Doyle, and Oisin Orr all making the trip to Plumpton. When jockeys of that calibre are prepared to travel for what looks like modest prize money on paper, it usually means the horses they're partnering have been working better than their ratings suggest.
Doyle senior had three rides on the card, including that intriguing Skipper in the feature race and Mafting later on. That's not coincidence – that's a man who knows where the winners are lurking. Similarly, Hollie Doyle picking up rides on Bay of Myths, One of Our Own, and Not Me suggests she's been busy on the phone with trainers who have horses ready to strike.
Oisin Orr was another making his presence felt with multiple bookings, and his partnership with Character Testing in the mile-and-a-quarter handicap could be one to note for future reference.
Looking Ahead: Where Next for the Stars?
The beauty of a card like this is that it often serves as a launching pad for horses targeting bigger prizes through the summer. New Image, assuming he ran well in the feature, could be one for the better handicaps at the summer festivals. There's always room for a consistent performer rated around the 90 mark in the competitive handicaps at Glorious Goodwood or York's Ebor meeting.
For the novices, particularly anything that showed promise in that 16:20 contest, the path leads toward the traditional novice races at the major meetings. Bay of Myths, if she's got the ability her connections clearly think she has, could be one for the fillies' novice stakes at the bigger tracks.
The handicappers who ran well today will likely pop up at similar venues – your Brightons, your Chepstows, your Windsors – where they can continue their campaigns against similar opposition. But keep an eye on the ratings adjustments after today's action, because that's where the real value often lies for punters willing to do their homework.
Final Verdict: Substance Beneath the Surface
All in all, Plumpton served up a decent afternoon's entertainment with enough quality sprinkled through the card to keep things interesting. The feature race had proper depth, the novice contest threw up some intriguing prospects, and there were enough competitive handicaps to separate the men from the boys.
It's easy to dismiss these Monday afternoon cards as also-ran affairs, but that's where the smart money often finds its opportunities. When top jockeys are prepared to travel and quality horses are dropping down in class, there's usually profit to be made for those paying attention.
The flat season is up and running, the ground is riding perfectly, and there are horses out there just waiting to show their true colors. Monday at Plumpton might not have been Newmarket's Guineas meeting, but for those of us who appreciate racing's bread and butter, it was a fine way to spend an afternoon.
