Plumpton, Monday 6 April 2026: Tips and Best Bets
Plumpton on good ground in April is a different proposition to the mud-heap it can become in midwinter. The track rewards bold jumpers, pace-setters who stay, and horses fit enough to handle the undulations. Today's card is built around two decent handicap chases and a competitive novice handicap hurdle. Three races stand out, and the value is there if you look hard enough.
2:35 โ BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Handicap Chase (2m1f, 5 runners)
Small field, proper horses, and a puzzle worth unpicking. The favourite here is Secret Des Dieux at 2/1, and you can see why: six-year-old, novice who has won two on the bounce including at Kempton on good ground, and form figures reading 134611 suggest a horse on the climb. James Owen's yard has been quiet recently at 3/43 in the last 14 days, which is a flag worth noting against a short price.
The selection is Matterhorn Each-Way at 8/1 with Coral or Ladbrokes. Paul Nicholls has had five winners from 25 runs in the past fortnight, which suggests the yard is ticking over nicely. Matterhorn was second in this exact race last year, and his only blot is a pulled-up effort at Ascot on ground that clearly failed to suit. Before that, he was winning convincingly at Uttoxeter over 2m4f on good ground in May. Today's conditions tick every box. The 2m1f trip is likely within range for a horse who won over 2m4f, and on a flat enough track compared to some he faces, Jay Tidball should get a good tune out of him. Eight to one looks generous for a horse who has course form, trainer form, and going form all working in his favour.
Scorsese at 3/1 deserves mention. The 7lb penalty for a horse who has been placed on his last two runs over longer trips is a concern, but the drop back in trip is a genuine angle Neil Mulholland clearly fancies. He won over 2m3f at Sedgefield on Boxing Day making all, and this track could suit that style. Value is thin at the price, but he is very much involved.
3:45 โ Southern Cranes Novices' Handicap Hurdle (2m4f, 12 runners)
Twelve runners, four places, and a race with several unexposed types. This is where some real value lurks.
The selection is Minella Jury Each-Way at 10/1 with Coral, Ladbrokes, or Spreadex. The case here is compelling. He won on debut for the Twiston-Davies yard at Uttoxeter in December, was disputing the lead and clear of the field when falling at the last at Doncaster, and the horse who beat him that day has since followed up off a mark 6lb higher. Minella Jury has been raised only 4lb for a race he was almost certainly going to win. That is a gift from the handicapper. Sam Twiston-Davies knows this horse intimately. Good ground at 2m4f at Plumpton is untested territory, but the pedigree suggests he will stay, and his Uttoxeter win on heavy ground shows he handles the mud too. At 10/1 in a wide-open four-place race, this is the best each-way bet on the card.
Easy Love at 13/2 is the each-way alternative worth considering. Anthony Honeyball's mare bolted up on handicap debut at Windsor on good ground on New Year's Day and her subsequent flops have both come on heavy or soft going. Today she returns to good ground and drops back into a handicap. The yard has only one winner from 16 runs in the past fortnight, but a course bumper winner returning to her conditions is worth a small play each-way at that price.
High Fibre at 7/1 has form credentials after two sharp runs recently at Kempton and Ludlow, but Harry Fry's yard has been firing at 3/8 in the last 14 days, which is an outstanding ratio. Watch the market here. Stepping back up in trip after two flat-track two-milers could be the making of him today over 2m4f at a track with more of a test.
4:25 โ BetGoodwin Sussex National Handicap Chase (3m4f, 11 runners)
This is the feature race of the day in terms of prize money and spectacle. Eleven runners over three and a half miles on good ground at Plumpton. Tizzard's yard has won two of the last six runnings, and their runner Rivers Corner has obvious claims after winning at Exeter recently despite a bad mistake. But the price at around 17/2 is already fairly firm.
The selection is Havaila at 3/1 with Bet365 or William Hill. Gary and Josh Moore have had six winners from 38 runs over the past fortnight, which is a solid enough strike rate. More importantly, Havaila won over the course and distance on good ground last March, which is exactly replicated today. He came back from a lesser run to score convincingly at Newbury last month over 2m7f, and a 9lb rise is the only question. The form of that Newbury win reads strongly. At 3/1 he is the most likely winner in the race on the available evidence.
Planned Paradise Each-Way at 8/1 with Coral or Ladbrokes is the value play in an 11-runner field paying three places. Christian Williams has three winners from 14 runs in the last fortnight. Planned Paradise won at Bangor in February and then won with plenty in hand at Hexham just 12 days ago over four miles on soft ground. He handles any ground according to the form book, and a horse in that kind of rude health rising 10lb still warrants respect in a staying handicap this competitive. Eight to one each-way in a three-place race is a fair return.
Transmission is fascinating at 13/2. The visor worked immediately at Musselburgh, and Neil Mulholland continues to run his horses in form. He has Plumpton hurdle wins in his record and handles good ground. The 8lb rise is a legitimate concern, but do not dismiss him.
Today's NAP
Odds: 10/1 โ Coral (others: 10/1 Ladbrokes, 10/1 Spreadex)
The handicapper has let this horse off the hook. He was cruising to victory at Doncaster when falling at the last flight on his handicap debut, the winner has since franked that form by scoring off a 6lb higher mark, and Minella Jury is raised a mere 4lb. Sam Twiston-Davies rides for his family yard and this is a horse they clearly hold in high regard. Good ground at 2m4f in a 12-runner novice handicap paying four places at 10/1 is outstanding each-way value.
Each-Way Recommended โ 4 places at 1/5 odds