By Peter Moore at Plumpton Monday 10th February 2025
The rescheduled renewal of the BetGoodwin Sussex National produced a thrilling finish to the 3m 4 1/2f event with Invincible Nao and last year’s winner Dom Of Mary fighting out the finish, with Invincible Nao just getting up on the line to win by a neck for the Moore’s with Caollin Quin in the plate.
There was drama at the start of this famous race when both Supervisor and Unanswered Prayers unseated their riders at the first fence, reducing the field to nine.
Entering the home turn with two fences to jump Dom Of Mary threw down a challenge and looked like holding on to win, before Invincible Nao picked up nicely to thwart the chances of Dom Of Mary winning the race for the second year running.
The victory brought up a double for training duo Gary & Josh Moore who saddled Walks Like The Man to win the 2m 3f handicap chase with champion jockey Harry Cobden aboard.
Appreciating the drop down in trip, Cobden dropped back to the rear of the field before patiently bidding his time to produce the seven-year-old to go on and win by 3 lengths from Bentley’s return.
It was just the third time that Cobden has ridden for Gary Moore, riding two winners for him.
Chris Gordon and Plumpton is the perfect partnership with the Winchester trainer landing a treble at the Sussex track.
Previous CD winner San Pedro started the ball rolling by taking the opener. The eight-year-old had been dropped below his last winning mark to keep on well in the run in to win by half a length.
Confinentic defied top weight under Freddie Gordon to win the 2m 4f handicap hurdle.
Approaching the last it was between Confinentic and Telhimlisten to see who would come out on top. But a super jump at the last flight was enough to see the five-year-old win by ¾ length.
Alto Alto simply loves Plumpton. With all four wins coming at the Sussex track.
The eight-year-old was looking to make it five from eight and duly obliged making all to repeat his success in this race twelve months ago by 3 ¾ lengths.
Chris Gordon was denied a four timer when Little Soiree was narrowly beaten by a head from the Anthony Honeyball trained Getmetothemoon.