By Will Lefebve
County stables from Horsham and Lewes could provide two of the winners at Plumpton’s annual Bob Champion Cancer Trust fixture today.
In turn, the father-and-son combination of Gary and Josh Moore, then Sheena West, have live chances of grabbing the spoils in two of the two-mile hurdle races on the 68-runner eight-race programme.
It has been extended by the division of the Mighty Trotter Novices’ Hurdle.
The Moores will be over the moon if Luna Effect can step up on an encouraging fourth on his jumps debut at Fontwell behind Queen Camilla’s Reach For The Moon earlier this month, and the previously winnerless four-year-old – once trained by man of the moment Roger Varian – could finally break his duck at the 16th attempt, following three seconds, two thirds, a fourth & 3 fifths.
The Lewes celebrations would be down to Sheena West’s Marc Goldstein-ridden Gearing’s Point in the Mighty Trotter (yes, he’s still about!) Handicap Hurdle. The locally-trained six-year-old is fit from the Flat, having three times run promisingly last month at Windsor, Bath and Brighton.
In contrast to my two local fancies, how about Wales, Holland and Jersey (yes, Jersey) playing a part? The “boys from the valley” could similarly be “over the moon” in the concluding long-distance handicap hurdle – staged in memory of the legendary Josh Gifford.
Luna Run makes the trip from Fingerpost Farm in the Vale of Glamorgan for the father-daughter duo of Evan and Isabel Williams. It could be a rewarding visit. The Welsh raider was knocking on the door several times this year.
The Holland connection? It’s actually Neil Mulholland, who brings five of his 99 horses from Avon (Somerset) and I can see him scoring with Guinness Lad, Man Of The Sea and Hobb’s Delight.
Much-travelled Man Of The Sea, originally from Ireland and an occasional starter in Wales, has competed 24 times at Les Landes in Jersey, both Flat and jumping, and boasts four wins and a second from six starts since June.
Selections: 1.55 Guinness Lad, 2.25 Luna Effect, 2.55 Jack Doyen, 3.25 Gearing’s Point, 3.55 Menaggio, 4.25 MAN OF THE SEA (NAP), 4.55 Hobb’s Delight, 5.30 Luna Run.
