Aucunrisque Can Take Sussex Champion Title

Aucunrisque can get back on the winning trail in the Betgoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle at Plumpton.

The seven-year-old has enjoyed a fine campaign, winning on his chasing debut at Uttoxeter in the autumn before successive runner-up finishes at Newbury and Kempton.

He subsequently reverted to the smaller obstacles to provide trainer Chris Gordon with one of the biggest successes of his career in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February before being readied for an appearance at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

Aucunrisque failed to fire in the County Hurdle, finishing 18th of 24 runners, while the Betfair Hurdle runner-up Filey Bay finished third.

It is not too difficult to find a valid excuse for Aucunrisque’s below-par performance as the rain-softened ground in the Cotswolds did not play to his strengths.

Back on a sounder surface and dropping in class for a race sponsored by hisowners, everything points to a big performance, with the booking of talented 5lb claimer Caoilin Quinn another positive.

Gary Moore loves a winner at Plumpton and has every chance of adding to his tally with with Love Is Golden in the

William Hill Epic Value Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Rated in the high 80s on the Flat with Mark Johnston, the five-year-old changed hands for 40,000 guineas in October and was swiftly gelded ahead of a career over jumps.

He made an excellent start with a sixlength success on his hurdling debut at Newbury in February and while had to make do with minor honours when third at Doncaster next time, a return to Newbury yielded a return to the winner’s enclosure a fortnight ago as he drew 39 lengths clear of his toiling rivals.

Love Is Golden enters the handicap sphere off a mark of 125 and should prove hard to beat.

Olly Murphy has his string firing on all cylinders and saddles a major contender for the opening race at Ffos Las in The Same.

The point-to-point graduate was odds-on for his hurdling and rules debut at Market Rasen last month and dominated from the front before passing the post with 11 lengths in hand.

He proved at Market Rasen he handles soft ground and he should be capable of defying a penalty in the As Leisure New & Used Caravan Sales Novices’ Hurdle before perhaps going novice chasing next term.