Go Whatever lands Sussex National for Chris Gordon and adventurous owner

Plumpton: Sunday

Owner Anthony Ward-Thomas was so impressed by Go Whatever's Sussex National victory that he threatened to ride him next time.

The eight-year-old pinged the last to land the 3m4½f contest by seven lengths from Pemberley, with 28-1 shot Game Line in third.

"It's great to start the new year like that, especially for Anthony, who is a good mate," said Chris Gordon.

"The only problem is he wants to ride him next time and he makes David Maxwell look like Tony McCoy.

"It means a lot to win this. I found last year really hard. We had a lot of placed horses, but struggled for winners so this is great, especially as it's my old local track – I'm a Sussex boy so this is just fantastic."

The trainer added: "The horse is going to be suited to these types of races but he'll need a bit of a break after this. He goes in winter ground and stays all day. He winged the last and I think he might improve on a galloping track."

Ward-Thomas said: "I'm delighted. He's such a lovely horse and he finished strongly. He travelled really well with the visor and Tom gave him plenty of daylight – it was a lovely ride. I've sent horses to Chris since he started and had King Edmund, who was a really nice horse."

Go Whatever secured a double for the trainer and jockey Tom Cannon, who teamed up to capture the 2m novice hurdle with Aucunrisque, a narrowly beaten favourite over course and distance last month.

Aucunrisque bounces back from last month's course-and-distance defeatCredit: Edward Whitaker

The six-year-old, who runs in the colours of Goodwin Racing, bounced back from that December defeat and made no mistake when stretching seven lengths clear of Mark Of Gold.

"That was a huge relief as he was a bit unlucky last time and it was very painful," said Gordon. "We thought we'd keep it simple this time and pop out in front. He's straightforward and is a good jumper. He might jump a fence but if he doesn't, he'll be a smashing hurdler."

Festival options

Elixir De Nutz survived a mid-air collision to win for the first time since landing the 2019 Tolworth Novices' Hurdle in the 2m3½f novice chase.

The eight-year-old, who was denied by a nose at Exeter last time, made all and came home three-quarters of a length clear of Nassalam, who bumped into him when jumping left at the fourth-last fence.

Elixir De Nutz strikes for the first time over fencesCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He deserves it," said assistant trainer Joe Tizzard.

"He's been fragile since he won the Tolworth and was unlucky last time. It turned into a slog as the first two got racing at the top of the hill. He's had a few little setbacks, which is why we haven't seen him too often, but hopefully the wheels are back on and we can keep going with him.

"We'll try to get another run into him and might look at a handicap at the Cheltenham Festival, perhaps dropping to two miles as he was at the end of his tether there. A fast-run Grand Annual might suit."

The yard went 29 days without a winner, but Tizzard felt the horses had turned a corner, and added: "That was a welcome winner after a tough few weeks. The horses hadn't been sparkling but we scoped them and seem to be coming out the other side."

Remembering Davison

The track ran the closing handicap hurdle in memory of local trainer Zoe Davison, who died of cancer last year.

An emotional Andy Irvine (left) is hugged by winning trainer Toby Lawes after the Zoe Davison Memorial Handicap HurdleCredit: Edward Whitaker

It was claimed by the Toby Lawes-trained Nashville Nipper and featured three runners for Davison's husband Andy Irvine, who inherited the licence.

Results, replays and analysis

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday