Plumpton Racecourse will host a seven-race National Hunt card on Sunday, 20 September, with racing beginning at 2:08 PM and continuing through to 5:08 PM. The programme features a mixture of mares’ and open handicap hurdles, maiden hurdle races and a National Hunt Flat race.
The opening race is a Class 5 mares’ handicap hurdle over 1 mile 7 furlongs 163 yards. Open to horses aged four years and older, the race carries a prize of £7,650 and is restricted to runners rated 0–100. The relatively short distance places emphasis on efficient jumping and maintaining a strong rhythm throughout.
The second race is a Class 4 maiden hurdle over 1 mile 7 furlongs 163 yards. The contest is open to four-year-olds and older and offers £10,000 in prize money. As a GBB Race, it forms part of the British breeding programme. With no previous hurdle winner among the eligible runners, jumping technique and race experience could be important factors.
The third race moves up in distance to 2 miles 4 furlongs 72 yards. This Class 4 maiden hurdle is also a GBB Race for horses aged four years and older, with £10,000 available in prize money. The longer trip is likely to test stamina as well as jumping consistency, particularly through the latter stages.
The fourth contest is a Class 5 handicap hurdle over 3 miles 163 yards. Open to four-year-olds and older horses rated 0–100, it offers £7,650 in prize money. The extended distance makes stamina a major consideration, while runners will need to maintain concentration over the hurdles and final stages of the race.
The feature event of the afternoon is scheduled for 4:08 PM. This Class 3 handicap hurdle is run over 1 mile 7 furlongs 163 yards and carries a significantly higher prize of £23,825. Open to horses aged three years and older rated 0–130, it brings together runners from a higher grade and is expected to provide the most competitive contest on the card.
The sixth race is a Class 5 handicap hurdle over 2 miles 4 furlongs 72 yards. The race is open to horses aged three years and older and is restricted to runners rated 0–100. With £7,650 in prize money, the contest requires runners to combine jumping accuracy with sufficient stamina for the middle-distance trip.
The day’s final race is an Open National Hunt Flat Race over 2 miles 1 furlong 125 yards. This Class 5 contest is for four- and five-year-olds and carries £4,999 in prize money. Listed as a Category 1 Elimination race and a GBB Race, it provides younger National Hunt prospects with an opportunity to gain experience on the flat before progressing further in their careers.
Sunday’s Plumpton programme offers seven races across a range of distances, from 1 mile 7 furlongs to more than three miles. The card includes four handicap hurdles, two maiden hurdles and a concluding National Hunt Flat race. The £23,825 Friends & Family Remembering Norman Sharpe Handicap Hurdle at 4:08 PM is the highest-value contest, while the day’s varied distances should test both speed and stamina.
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