'He's unbeaten since graduating to handicaps' - can Grenadier Jed continue his climb up ladder in Plumpton feature?

An interesting handicap hurdle featuring a mixture of rapid improvers and more exposed performers who have dropped in the weights.

Jackstell, winner of his last three races, including one over course and distance, still looks fairly treated on a mark of 116, but is unproven on soft ground.

The more rain the better for Grenadier Jed, another who has landed his last three starts – he's unbeaten since graduating to handicaps – in the manner of a horse who will climb much higher than his current mark of 113.

He is essentially a strong stayer and went from looking a most unlikely winner at the top of the straight at Fontwell on his reappearance to a comfortable conqueror of Keep Running.

The step up in trip is almost certain to produce further improvement and although he’ll need another career-best to cope with a subsequent 10lb rise, he looks a five-year-old to keep onside.

Royal Way hasn’t lived up to early expectations but, as a result of drawing a blank last season, he competes off a mark 7lb lower than when winning at Ascot in March 2024.

There is a question mark over the trip but, equally, you could argue he might take a big step back in the right direction given the opportunity to tackle it.

Rian Corcoran’s 10lb claim is an immensely valuable weapon in David Pipe’s arsenal and the trainer's American Sniper also looks attractively treated taking that into consideration.
Race analysis by Richard Birch

Going report

The ground was good to soft, good in places on the chase course and good to soft, soft in places on the hurdles track on Sunday. Clerk of the course Marcus Waters said: "We're having a dry day, but we're forecast rain in the morning. It's not as bad as we originally thought, so somewhere between 3-8mm. It'll dry off by the afternoon."

What they say

James Owen, trainer of Sixty Plus
He's had a great run for us through the summer. We had a bit of a break and he needed his first run back after it at Kempton. We wouldn't want too much rain. I'd like to think there's still a bit more improvement to come with the right conditions.

Alan King, trainer of Believitanducan
I was very happy with his first run of the season. He's up in distance here but that should suit him nicely as he's a proper stayer on the Flat.

James Couldwell, racing manager of Value Racing Club, owners of Jackstell
He's in great form and he's come back a different horse this season. He was running well last season but he seems to be sparkling a bit now. He liked the step up in trip when he won here last time but he'll have to handle softer ground, which hopefully should be fine. It would place a bit more emphasis on stamina too, which would work in his favour.
Reporting by James Stevens

By Chris Cook

Buick is back

William Buick is back in action, a significant thing at this time of year. The 37-year-old jockey had just two rides in Britain during November, both short-priced winners, and hasn't ridden here since his Chantilly success on Al Zanati a couple of weeks ago. He has three rides at Kempton, notably Holloway Boy in the Listed Hyde Stakes for Karl Burke. Having missed almost the whole turf season, the chestnut was beaten only a neck under top weight in the Balmoral Handicap, a personal best. Buick has ridden Holloway Boy twice, including his most recent win, in a Haydock Group 3 last year. Buick also rides a couple of two-year-old debutants for Charlie Appleby, who has won 20 races from 41 runners with his youngsters since the start of October. 

Bridgwater looks to build on recent winner

David Bridgwater broke a 22-month losing spell when Avada Kedavra won at Taunton on Thursday and it could be worth taking an interest in his next handful of runners, because it might be that his string are in better shape than they've been for a while. The Stow-on-the-Wold trainer has two at Plumpton, where My Lovely Horse is probably up against it in a novice hurdle. Kitsilano, however, would have a chance if any sharper for his reappearance over hurdles three weeks ago. It was his first run for two years, since his time with John Joseph Murphy, for whom he won a couple of points. The eight-year-old now has his first start in a handicap over fences, from a rating that would be very fair if he could get back to something like his best form. 

Elliott heads to Scotland

Gordon Elliott's fine recent form includes wins at Newbury and Ascot, as well as Three Card Brag's second in the Coral Gold Cup. He sends four to Ayr, where he has a 27 per cent strike-rate in recent seasons, and perhaps the most interesting is King Gris in division two of a handicap hurdle. This five-year-old was one of only a couple of jumpers with Patrick Morris last season, when he ran three times in novice hurdles, showing little. Now the grey steps into handicap company for the first time and should appreciate the step up in trip.

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