Plumpton passes 7am inspection and Sussex National goes ahead

The last remaining jump racing in Britain on Sunday at Plumpton survived a morning inspection. The track hosts the At The Races Sussex National, won in spectacular fashion by Gary Moore’s Well Refreshed last season.

The course cannot take any more significant rainfall but the forecast is for it to remain dry until later this afternoon. The first fence in the home straight will be omitted due to the heavy ground.

Nine runners have been declared for the three-mile five-furlong marathon with Tony McCoy partnering Smoking Aces for Jonjo O’Neill. The 10-year-old was having his first start for 18 months when a modest sixth at Chepstow last month.

The son of Old Vic has run well over extreme distances in the past, notably when winning at Fairyhouse in 2011. If he has improved for his comeback run, he must come into the reckoning on his favoured surface.

Gary and Joshua Moore teamed up successfully with Well Refreshed last season and have another interesting candidate in Reblis, a 10-length course winner last month. He was pulled up in this race 12 months ago and lost his form completely before his recent victory.

Adrenalin Flight has by far the most consistent form on show having only been out of the first three once in his last ten starts. His most recent effort was a fine second in the Southern National at Fontwell behind Boyfromnowhere and he looks sure to give his supporters a run for their money.

The veteran Mortimers Cross is another who needs to improve on his comeback effort in December but he has shown winning form on soft ground. Leg Iron just got up under a strong ride from Marc Goldstein to win at Warwick last time out but ran poorly on his only previous start in heavy ground.

The top weight Monkerty Tunkerty has won in this ground but looks as though he needs to come down the handicap a little. Ballybough Gorta arguably has the best recent form having finished fourth in the Becher Chase at Aintree behind Chance Du Roy.

The form received a boost when third home Mr Moonshine won well at Musselburgh but he is also unproven on heavy ground. Reblis just gets the vote over the consistent Adrenalin Flight.