Sussex Stayers triumph adds to Skelton prize money haul

Tranquil Sea coasts to Stayers victory

Champion Trainer Elect Dan Skelton eschewed his local track, Stratford, to send runners to Plumpton in pursuit of his £5m prize money target for the season, and a short-priced double has him within £130,000 of that milestone before the season concludes on Saturday.

The £65,000 Sussex Stayers Hurdle is a race for smart handicap hurdlers. Tranquil Sea, running from the bottom of the handicap, looked to have a little in hand in winning this by 5l from higher-rated animals, and one suspects this may have been his target all along, as he hasn't shown much in runs through the winter. Sent off favourite by Skelton followers, he was one of five favourites to go in, leaving bookmakers down in the mouth by the close.

Ballyeaston first leg of Skelton double

Tranquil Sea's Stayers victory was the second leg of a golden hour in Sussex for the Alcester stable, as Ballyeaston put a string of second placed efforts behind him for his new stable, having proved frustrating for Fergal O'Brien all winter.

Double-up Harry Skelton, rider of the maiden hurdler, saw very little of the other six runners, making the pace throughout, with only Gary & Josh Moore's Shutfrontdoor lying up from 3 out. Favourite backers were pushed to celebrate his 3l win however, with a prohibitive SP of 2/7. Still, a winner is a winner.

Honeyball doubles up too

Skeltons weren't the only partnership to double up on our final Sunday of the term.

Anthony Honeyball teamed up with Sam Twiston-Davies to score twice also, with Sea Invasion in the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Handicap Chase and Posh Chick in the BetGoodwin bumper.

The drop back in class was sufficient to earn a victory for the nine year old chaser in the handicap chase, his last run a 19l fifth to Havaila here in the Sussex National over Easter. The drop back in trip left him flat-footed half a mile out, but he rallied under pressure in tandem with Enjoy d'Allen, hoping to continue Neil King's hot streak. In the event, Sea Invasion was able to prevail, a half length the winning margin.

Posh Chick was also a half length winner, but in different circumstances. Winner of a Point-to-Point at Buckfastleigh this February, the novelty of a race a mile shorter and without obstacles had caught her out at Wincanton on April Fools Day, but there was no mistake here. She had something in hand to fend off Golden Sandjida, despite conceding 8lb.

Owen maintains impressive strike rate at Plumpton

James Owen has enjoyed his best season numerically, and may yet produce a career best Jumps tally before the season concludes on Saturday. Plumpton is a happy huntng ground with a 25% strike rate these past 5 seasons,
and six year old Market House made good on his length beating here over Easter to land the odds in the 2m handicap hurdle.

Sean Bowen, enjoying his 233rd winner of the term, makes up in quantity what his portfolio of rides misses in quality. Tony McCoy's 289 in 2001/2 suddenly looks a vulnerable target, provided Bowen can steer clear of injury.

Goodwin delivers for Plumpton sponsor

Chris Gordon is always well represented here at Plumpton, and produced another winner for his stable sponsor and largest patron, Goodwin Racing in the middle distance Kalm Club Keep Calm & On Handicap Hurdle to deny Bowen and Owen a double.

Rider Tom Cannon had to use all his experience to coax Goodwin home, who oscillated from the rear to the vanguard throughout, led three out, was headed and came back again to win by 2 3/4l. Three of his 5 hurdle victories have been over the undulations of Plumpton, so he's becoming a course specialist.

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