Tuck into Salty snack for tasty Sussex jackpot
Salty Boy (2.25) can give us a big run for our cash in today’s Sussex National.
David Bridgwater’s slogger can have conditions to suit at Plumpton as he aims to take the big prize.
Salty Boy looks the type who will appreciate the marathon examination of this event and was only getting going halfway up the straight last time out when running third in the Tommy Whittle at Haydock behind Sam’s Adventure.
The assessor has left the eight-year-old’s mark unchanged after that effort, which is a nice boost given it was another encouraging step in the right direction.
Gary Moore’s unexposed Benevolentdictator does jump off the page a bit as he seeks a hat-trick having hosed up at this venue earlier in the season.
However, unlike Salty
Boy he’s been clubbed almost a stone for that.
Moore’s charge might be good enough to overcome the hike but it’s not going to be easy and Salty Boy appears a little bit better value at the likely prices for an each-way punt.
Local trainer Moore may well end up in the winner’s circle at some point with
AR MEST (12.48) having a strong chance.
The eight-year-old ran with some promise on seasonal reappearance at Ascot a fortnight ago and that will have put him spot on for this event.
Catterick also stages a jumps card and the best chance of a winner might come in the very first contest in the shape of BAREBACK JACK (12.27).
Donald McCain’s horses are in flying form, as was noted on New Year’s Day when the handler sent out a memorable treble at Musselburgh.
It was also at the East Lothian venue where Bareback Jack got his rules career off to a smooth start with a convincing success at the beginning of November and the five-yearold can go in again.
In the following race FIRST ONE D’ANA
(12.57) has good claims, having come third behind nice horses from the Dan Skelton and Rose Dobbin teams when last seen at Ayr.
David Jeffreys is a very shrewd handler and he’ll have taken his time to pick out the right test for the six-year-old on his second run of the term.
Joanne Foster’s SIGURD (3.07) bolted up at the track six days ago under similar conditions for Gavin Sheehan. Brian Hughes takes over in the saddle and that’s no setback.
Over at Fairyhouse, there are nice horses on show with GINTO (3.50) the pick of the crop, having been bought for almost 470,000 Euros by the Morans and sent to Gordon Elliott.
The gelding won’t really be a price but he’ll be firmly in the Champion Bumper picture if successful.
In terms of picking a winner on the day, the nod goes to DELVINO (1.10).
Dermot McLoughlin is taking on the might of the Elliott and Willie Mullins yards in this mares’ hurdle but he looks to have a good one on his hands judged on victoryy at Naas last time.
Down at SSouthwell, tthere’s an aall-weather ccard and (33.15) is worth an interest for ththe shrewd IvIvan Furtado.