Don’t miss a moment of jumps action from Plumpton alongside all-weather flat racing at Newcastle.
2.20 Plumpton – Nardaran seeks hat-trick in feature
Nardaran bids for a third straight win in the Old Gold Racing Handicap Hurdle, which carries £22,500 and has drawn major yards to the Sussex course. Paul Nicholls’ bay gelding, owned by Martin Broughton and ridden by Harry Cobden, landed a facile nine-length success at Plumpton over two miles on October 20 before following up at Sandown. After that Sandown victory Cobden eased him clear by just under three lengths while Nardaran carried an 8lb penalty; the handicapper has added a further 7lb for that run, but Nicholls will hope the mark still leaves him competitive.
He meets nine rivals, including the experienced ten-year-old Faivoir, whose last success came in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2023 — form that gives him every chance of ending Nardaran’s streak. Tristan Durrell takes 3lb off Listentoyourheart for the in-form Skelton yard; that mare now stands 1lb below her last winning mark. Nicky Henderson fields Goblet Of Fire, while the improvement shown by Gold For Alec on his latest start makes him one to note.
3.19 Plumpton – Ballynaheer bids to defy 6lb rise
In the Arc Supports Charlotte Savill Memorial Raceday Handicap Chase, Ballynaheer attempts to overcome a 6lb penalty. David Dennis’ charge arrives on the back of a clear victory at Warwick earlier this month, where he won by just under five lengths in the PricedUp The Jumps Handicap Chase. The extra weight is a concern, but the style of that Warwick success suggested there may be more to come.
Top-rated Ballyfinn renews after an underwhelming hurdle run at Fontwell in May and makes his chase debut here for the in-form pairing of Rex Dingle and trainer Anthony Honeyball.
3.35 Newcastle – Teumessias Fox heads 0-105 handicap
Teumessias Fox tops the weights in the opening Midnite A Next Generation Betting App Handicap at Newcastle. Andrew Balding’s gelding, owned by King Power, claimed his first win at this track on his third start in March 2022. He arrives having produced some modest efforts lately but was behind Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Ethical Diamond at the Royal meeting in June, hinting his form may be better than recent results suggest. William Carver takes the ride.
Second highest rated is Frances Ethel, who ran nine times in Hong Kong before joining William Haggas in October. He finished last of nine in the Newmarket Pony Academy Pride Stakes on his debut for the yard but brings a record of four wins from Hong Kong and should be given time to settle, with improvement expected.