Racecourse Guide

Plumpton
National Hunt

East Sussex · one of the shortest run-ins in British jump racing

⬤ National Hunt
Turf
Left-Handed
Tight, Uphill Finish

Shape

Left-Handed, Tight Oval ~1m1f

Track Type

Undulating, Uphill Run-in

Fences

7 per circuit

Hurdles

5 per circuit

Run-in

~200yd uphill, unusually short

Direction

Left-handed

Course Highlight

AP McCoy’s 3,000th Winner 2009

Ownership

Independent Savill & Pratt, since 1998

Course Overview

What is Plumpton like as a jumps track?

Plumpton is left-handed, a tight, sharp, undulating circuit of about 1 mile 1 furlong with four turns, including two tight bends at the top and bottom of the track. Its defining feature is the gradient: a steep descent down the back straight levels out before a “liberal hill” on the far turn, followed by a sustained uphill climb the entire length of the home straight to the line. The run-in itself is genuinely unusual — only around 200 yards, uphill all the way, among the shortest in British jump racing. The track suits handy, nippy horses that climb and turn well, rather than out-and-out gallopers. The chase course carries 7 fences a circuit (one source gives 6), with the fences either side of the hill particularly testing for novices given the gradient changes around them. The water jump was removed after its final use on 5 April 1999 — the same card as a “Joker Jack Retirement Chase,” honouring a horse that ran 34 of his 99 career races at this one track. The hurdle course has 5 flights a circuit.

Plumpton opened as an enclosed hare-coursing venue on 28 December 1876, with horse racing following in 1884. Alexander Popham ended coursing in 1889 and established a steeplechase circuit in 1890; coursing itself continued in reduced form until its final meeting in 1908. Racing was suspended through both World Wars, resuming in 1919 and 1946. Isidore Kerman bought the course in 1961 and invested heavily in its facilities. Plumpton has been independently, privately owned since 1998 by Peter Savill and Captain Adrian Pratt via Plumpton Racecourse Ltd — not Jockey Club Racecourses or Arena Racing Company. In November 2024, Savill announced Plumpton’s withdrawal from the Racecourse Association, criticising it for overlooking smaller tracks, and founded the Professional Racing Association to push for a greater prize-money share for trainers. In 2025, Plumpton became the first smaller “gaff” track admitted to the BHA’s Premier-fixture trial, with Sussex National raceday prize money rising 86% to £195,000 as a result.

If you’re on a good jumper at Plumpton, you need to employ that asset to the maximum. The fence at the top of the hill can catch a horse out, particularly a novice, and, if you’re on one that’s jumping nicely, there’s no point sitting in behind. Ideally, you need to steal a few lengths at that point and again at the bottom of the hill, where there’s another obstacle. On a good jumper there you can afford to be aggressive, whereas, on one that’s a bit tentative, you always feel you’re dabbing at the brakes.Mick Fitzgerald, former top jump jockey — At The Races

Course Facts

Founded 1876 as a hare-coursing venue; horse racing since 1884
Ownership Independently owned by Peter Savill and Captain Adrian Pratt since 1998 — not Jockey Club or Arena Racing Company
2025 milestone First smaller “gaff” track admitted to the BHA’s Premier-fixture trial

The Circuit

Shape Left-handed, tight, ~1m1f, four turns
Gradient A steep back-straight descent, then a sustained uphill climb the entire home straight
Run-in ~200 yards, uphill — among the shortest in British jumps racing

Notable Races

When does Plumpton race?

Class 2

Sussex National Handicap Chase

Run over 3m4½f, held in First Sunday in January. Established 2001, run over 20 fences. Dunbrody Millar won in 2007 before going on to land the Topham Chase at Aintree.

Conditions

Sussex Champion Hurdle

Run over 2m, held in Easter Sunday. Court Minstrel and Diego Du Charmil both won here before later Graded success at Cheltenham and Aintree respectively.

Conditions

Sussex Champion Chase

Run over 2m1f, held in Easter Monday. A fast, tactical renewal that rewards prominent racing on Plumpton’s tight circuit.

Pace Bias

Do front-runners win at Plumpton?

Plumpton has a strong, well-established reputation for rewarding prominent, front-running tactics — the direction is not in dispute, driven by its tight turns and the short, uphill run-in that makes a lead hard to overhaul in the closing stages. No quantified A/E index or win-rate percentage has been published for this course, however — treat this as a genuine, well-sourced qualitative reputation rather than a statistic.

Run Style Bias — Qualitative Only

▲ Front-runners/Prominent

No quantified data — a genuine, well-established reputation only

▼ Held-up

A lead is hard to overhaul on the short, uphill run-in

Statistics · Since 2010

Which trainers and jockeys win most at Plumpton?

Trainer	Runs	Wins	Win%	Places	Place%	A/E	P/L
1 Moore, Gary and Josh	934	159	17.02%	357	38.22%	0.83	-221.96
2 Gordon, C	625	116	18.56%	247	39.52%	0.98	-16.53
3 King, A	188	55	29.26%	88	46.81%	1.10	-9.42
4 Mullins, J W	426	51	11.97%	122	28.64%	0.90	-123.71
5 Honeyball, A J	190	47	24.74%	83	43.68%	1.00	-17.00
6 Nicholls, P F	143	41	28.67%	73	51.05%	1.08	+24.15
7 Mulholland, N P	292	39	13.36%	110	37.67%	0.79	-74.58
8 West, Miss Sheena	271	34	12.55%	91	33.58%	0.96	-4.60
9 Pipe, D E	176	34	19.32%	77	43.75%	0.90	-32.11
10 Henderson, N J	113	32	28.32%	57	50.44%	0.90	+1.42
11 Smith, Miss Suzy	164	30	18.29%	49	29.88%	1.39	+77.88
12 Gifford, N J	262	28	10.69%	77	29.39%	0.78	-102.34
13 Williams, Miss Venetia	150	28	18.67%	55	36.67%	0.85	-50.84
14 King, N B	172	27	15.70%	60	34.88%	0.96	-54.80
15 Davison, Miss Z C	243	26	10.70%	54	22.22%	1.37	+19.35
16 Longsdon, C E	139	26	18.71%	49	35.25%	1.03	-27.99
17 Bridgwater, D G	185	25	13.51%	50	27.03%	0.85	-40.28
18 Greatrex, W J	151	21	13.91%	57	37.75%	0.71	-49.02
19 Tizzard, Joe	94	21	22.34%	30	31.91%	1.10	-1.30
20 Skelton, Daniel	113	20	17.70%	43	38.05%	0.72	-46.69

Plumpton NH, since 2010. The Gary and Josh Moore yard has the most winners (159 from 934) but returns A/E 0.83 and £221.96 down, the biggest deficit on the page. Alan King is the pick at 29.26% from 188 runners and A/E 1.10, with Chris Gordon effectively level (A/E 0.98) and Anthony Honeyball exactly so. Below the table, Mrs Caroline Keevil has returned +£45.38 from 43 runners at A/E 1.74 — the sharpest figure here — and Harry Fry +£20.43 from 56 at 1.39. Oppose R Rowe (222 runners, A/E 0.60) and Warren Greatrex (151, A/E 0.71).
plumpton NH · Current trainers, since 2010

Jockey	Runs	Wins	Win%	Places	Place%	A/E	P/L
1 Cannon, Tom J	616	104	16.88%	212	34.42%	0.98	-12.28
2 Goldstein, Marc	508	54	10.63%	129	25.39%	1.08	+58.15
3 Cobden, Harry	153	43	28.10%	69	45.10%	1.12	+9.44
4 Sheehan, Gavin	214	38	17.76%	86	40.19%	0.92	-18.80
5 Powell, Brendan	308	34	11.04%	78	25.32%	0.77	-111.54
6 Twiston-Davies, Sam	147	33	22.45%	62	42.18%	1.04	-20.48
7 Dingle, Rex	162	22	13.58%	52	32.10%	0.76	-13.71
8 Quinn, Caoilin	136	21	15.44%	41	30.15%	0.95	-53.74
9 Gordon, Mr Fred	88	21	23.86%	38	43.18%	1.10	+2.58
10 Bannister, Harry A A	73	20	27.40%	36	49.32%	1.52	+29.34
11 Bowen, Sean P	100	18	18.00%	35	35.00%	0.88	-23.44
12 Davies, James	212	15	7.08%	47	22.17%	0.74	-54.00
13 Houlihan, Niall F	181	15	8.29%	33	18.23%	0.64	-121.34
14 Boinville, Nico	75	15	20.00%	28	37.33%	0.98	+8.88
15 Frost, Bryony	60	14	23.33%	23	38.33%	1.24	-5.93
16 Burke, Jonathan	48	14	29.17%	27	56.25%	1.60	+0.46
17 Bass, David	88	13	14.77%	26	29.55%	0.91	-15.64
18 Nolan, Michael G	84	13	15.48%	21	25.00%	1.55	+9.04
19 Skelton, Harry	75	13	17.33%	30	40.00%	0.73	+5.12
20 Bellamy, Tom	89	12	13.48%	27	30.34%	0.83	-30.32

Plumpton NH, since 2010. Marc Goldstein is the standout for return — 54 winners from 508 at a modest 10.63% strike, but A/E 1.08 and +£58.15, the biggest rider profit on the page, so his winners arrive at long odds. Harry Cobden is sharpest on value at A/E 1.12 and also in profit. Tom Cannon rides the most winners (104) at a fair A/E 0.98. Below the table, Harry Bannister has returned +£29.34 from 73 rides at A/E 1.52, Jonathan Burke 1.60 from 48 and Michael G Nolan 1.55 from 84. Oppose Niall Houlihan (181 rides, A/E 0.64) and Brendan Powell (A/E 0.77).
plumpton NH · Current riders, since 2010

Sire Statistics · Since 2010

Which sires do best at Plumpton?

Sire	Runs	Wins	Win%	Places	Place%	A/E	P/L
1 Milan	205	38	18.54%	72	35.12%	1.04	-21.45
2 Midnight Legend	196	37	18.88%	77	39.29%	1.03	-44.95
3 Kayf Tara	238	33	13.87%	92	38.66%	0.77	-73.10
4 Presenting	209	27	12.92%	70	33.49%	0.73	-52.43
5 King’s Theatre (IRE)	129	25	19.38%	47	36.43%	0.99	-18.18
6 Flemensfirth (USA)	187	24	12.83%	62	33.16%	0.75	-51.85
7 Beneficial	137	22	16.06%	44	32.12%	0.89	+5.56
8 Shirocco (GER)	119	22	18.49%	45	37.82%	1.06	+30.76
9 Mahler	118	21	17.80%	44	37.29%	1.02	+2.70
10 Doyen (IRE)	86	18	20.93%	34	39.53%	0.96	-27.81
11 Westerner	136	17	12.50%	46	33.82%	0.83	-36.06
12 Getaway (GER)	147	16	10.88%	43	29.25%	0.73	-61.39
13 Oscar (IRE)	147	15	10.20%	44	29.93%	0.67	-46.80
14 Sixties Icon	121	15	12.40%	45	37.19%	0.85	-45.89
15 Yeats (IRE)	109	15	13.76%	42	38.53%	0.71	-36.79
16 Walk In The Park (IRE)	71	15	21.13%	32	45.07%	0.88	-26.62
17 Old Vic	66	14	21.21%	29	43.94%	1.09	+5.98
18 Stowaway	84	13	15.48%	38	45.24%	0.85	-30.25
19 Karinga Bay	62	13	20.97%	22	35.48%	1.46	+67.08
20 Authorized (IRE)	57	13	22.81%	23	40.35%	1.17	-6.02

Plumpton NH, since 2010. Milan (A/E 1.04) and Midnight Legend (1.03) lead and are around fair; King’s Theatre is level at 0.99. Nothing on the page turns a level-stakes profit. Presenting is the clearest to oppose at A/E 0.73 across 209 runners, with Flemensfirth at 0.75 and Kayf Tara 0.77. The value is on short books below the table: Motivator has returned A/E 1.57 from 51 runners, Papal Bull 1.56 from 68 and Winker Watson +£27.25 from 44 at 1.49. Plumpton’s stiff climb to the line is a stamina test that the fashionable staying sires nonetheless fail to profit from here.
plumpton NH · Since 2010

How to read these tables. The figures are a first-party pull for this course and code covering runs since 1 January 2010, taken as a snapshot rather than updated live. A/E compares actual wins with the wins implied by starting price, so a figure above 1.00 means the group has won more often than its SP suggested. P/L is profit or loss to £1 win stakes at starting price.

Insider Knowledge

Betting Angles

📏

One of the Shortest Run-ins in British Jump Racing

Barely 200 yards, and uphill all the way.

⛰️

A Sustained Uphill Climb Defines the Home Straight

The entire run to the line climbs, on top of a “liberal hill” on the far turn.

🏇

Handy, Nippy Types Are Built for Plumpton

The tight turns and relentless uphill finish reward sharp, agile horses that climb and turn well rather than long-striding gallopers — and with barely 200 yards to close from the last, prominent racing is favoured.

🌧️

On Heavy Ground the Fresh Strip Is Out Wide

When the ground goes heavy at Plumpton the better racing surface is on the outside, so horses want coming away from the inner rail rather than hugging it. Watch the replay and note who was ridden up the inside on deep ground: that is usually a riding error rather than a bad horse, and the effort is worth marking up against anything that swung wide for the fresher ground.

🏇

Gary Moore Is the Local Specialist to Follow

The local trainer’s 200th course winner came in January 2022.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Misreading Plumpton’s direction from a listing that calls it right-handed. It’s left-handed — get the handedness wrong and you’ll misjudge whether a horse’s course form actually transfers here.
Demanding a precise front-runner win percentage at Plumpton. No such quantified data has been published — the reputation for rewarding prominent tactics is genuine and well established, driven by tight turns and the short, uphill run-in, so back the shape rather than a number.
Treating the hill fences as routine for an inexperienced jumper. The obstacles either side of Plumpton’s hill are particularly testing for novices, precisely because of the gradient changes around them — jumping experience here matters as much as form.
Backing Gary Moore at Plumpton purely as the local specialist. He leads the page on volume but the market already prices it in (A/E 0.83) — Miss Suzy Smith (A/E 1.39), Miss Z C Davison (A/E 1.37) and Alan King (29.26% from 188 runners, A/E 1.10) are the real value signals, with W J Greatrex (A/E 0.71) the one to oppose.

Common Questions

Plumpton Racecourse FAQs

Is Plumpton left-handed or right-handed?

Left-handed. Some listings incorrectly show it as right-handed; the course’s own material confirms left-handed.

Does Plumpton have any Graded races?

No, but Court Minstrel, Diego Du Charmil and Voy Por Ustedes all won here before later Graded success at Cheltenham and Aintree.

Who owns Plumpton Racecourse?

Peter Savill and Captain Adrian Pratt, independently, since 1998 — not Jockey Club Racecourses or Arena Racing Company.

Is there a pace bias at Plumpton?

A strong, well-established reputation for favouring front-runners and prominent racers exists, driven by tight turns and a short uphill run-in, but no quantified statistic has been published. On heavy ground, note that the better surface is out wide: horses ridden up the inside are giving away real ground quality, and their efforts are worth marking up.

Explore

Other Jumps Tracks

Fontwell Park

One of Britain’s two figure-of-eight chase courses (Windsor is the other), also in Sussex.

Lingfield Park

Left-handed, sharp and undulating, shares its turf course with the Flat programme.

Sandown Park

Right-handed, home of the Railway Fences and the bet365 Gold Cup.

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