More local success for Gary Moore? Trainer runs two in bid for repeat success

2.58 Plumpton
Follow The Road To Cheltenham @timeform.com Handicap Chase | 4yo+ | 0-100 | Sky

If I didn’t know where this race was taking place I reckon there’s a good chance I could work out that it might be at Plumpton just by looking up who trained the last ten winners.

Anna Newton-Smith, Zoe Davison and Gary Moore feature on the recent roll of honour and all three Sussex-based trainers have runners again, with Davison and Moore double-handed.

Moore, successful last year with Flaminger, saddles Gentleman’s Dream and Chain Smoker and Gentleman’s Dream has a remarkably similar profile to last year’s winner.

Like Flaminger, Gentleman’s Dream is a novice who comes into the race having been beaten on his only chase start. He could make a major step up at one of Moore’s favourite tracks.

The phrase "jumped left" featured no less than four times in his Racing Post in-running comment on his chasing debut at right-handed Hereford last time but he was still beaten less than ten lengths by the winner and should be capable of a lot better at this left-handed track.

Davison, who won this with Finnegan’s Garden in 2017, is represented by Brother Bennett and Impulsive Leader.

Impulsive Leader carries the same colours as Finnegan’s Garden, but Brother Bennett looks the stable’s best chance racing off a mark only 1lb higher than when last successful.

That victory came at Fontwell in January and he has been below form on three subsequent starts, but his latest fourth of eight over course and distance was his best effort since that victory and he has dropped 2lb. This dual course winner saves his best for Plumpton.

The same can be said for likely favourite Hab Sab, who is bidding for a course-and-distance hat-trick off a mark 11lb higher than when starting the sequence.

His trainer Linda Jewell is based less than 50 miles from Plumpton, and there is a strong chance the prize will stay local once again.

Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Johnny Farrelly, trainer of Krujers Girl
She ran encouragingly last time out. It was her first time over fences but she travelled and jumped quite well so fingers crossed. The ground should be fine for her.

Chris Gordon, trainer of Commandant
He’s in grand form at home, but every drop of rain would be going against him. He’ll bowl along in front but with the way the weather is, I do worry that it could go against us. Ordinarily I wouldn’t run him but his owner is 93 and Plumpton is her nearest track so occasionally these horses have to be here to entertain.

Linda Jewell, trainer of Hab Sab
We’re happy with him going into the race, he seems quite versatile ground-wise so that shouldn’t be a problem and he seems to get on well with his jockey Dave Crosse. I think he’ll get further eventually but he’s done well over this trip recently so we’ll keep him going and aim for the hat-trick.

Gary Moore, trainer of Gentleman's Dream and Chain Smoker
They've both got reasonable chances. Chain Smoker hasn't had a run yet this year and may just benefit from it, but Gentleman's Dream has been going quite well for all he's got his fair share of weight. I wouldn't want too much more rain.

Reporting by Sam Hendry

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