A very decent card at Plumpton on Sunday as they embark on their premier race day, where we have £195k of prize money across all of the seven races on the day, attracting some decent runners.
Although a few small fields, the prize money is there to see so there are no excuses really.
1.15pm Plumpton - BetGoodwin Mike Cattermole Novices Limited Handicap Chase
However the first race I am taking a look at is a pretty decent Class 3 handicap chase, and I am going to side with a very much in-form runner here for Venetia Williams, who has also been in good form so far this season.
Oxygen was a winner in France over hurdles, and finished his French campaign off with a decent second before getting taken on by new connections and Venetia Williams.
Although a hurdle winner in France, he did struggle to land a blow in any of his runs over the smaller obstacles for new connections in the UK, but in typical Venetia Williams fashion, she obviously purchased this horse with a chasing career in mind, as he has had three chase runs so far, two of them resulting in victories.
Now he did have a run over fences in France for the previous trainer on his last run with them, which was a very decent neck runner-up in what looked to be a good contest, so it was clear from then onwards that going over a fence was his bag.
Arriving a little lower than most of these in the ratings (117) he does get to carry joint bottom weight here, with a few rivals in the race rated up to 130+.
However, they are slightly out of form and on recovery missions, and Oxygen has won his last two races, so has very much found the winning thread recently.
He has improved 14 pounds with both of those wins, and although he would probably have to put in a career-best showing here, Venetia wouldn't pitch him into a contest like this if she didn't feel he was up to it.
A horse in real good form and looks all the better for jumping a fence, I think he can land the hat-trick and take another step forward, and like a few of Venetia’s novice chasers this season, who all tend to improve, I can see this lad doing so as well.
- Selection - Oxygen
2.00pm Naas - Grade 1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle
This is a real cracking contest, and a proper treat for all of us Sunday racing fans. There are some superb looking horses in this contest, and while all eyes will be on the main two or three at the head of the market, I have looked a little further down the betting for a horse who is unbeaten, well bred and looks to be a really nice prospect for the future.
Mystical Power is the horse, impeccably bred and owned by JP McManus, the Magniers and the Riccis, I do find it somewhat a little surprising that this horse is this big in the betting for this market.
Granted he does have the least amount of experience compared to the rest of the field, but if he is good enough and talented like his breeding might suggest, then a race of this nature is very winnable.
There is a chance to be taken here with selecting him, as he does lack experience and does come off a 160-day break after just one bumper and a novice hurdle run, both of which were winning efforts. He is the unknown quantity in this race that could easily improve into a very nice type now stepped up in trip.
He is the first foal out of five-time Grade 1 winning hurdler Annie Power, who was also a winner of a Champion Hurdle and other multiple top hurdling contests, a truly great mare for Willie Mullins.
Plus his sire is probably one of the best known to man in Galileo, who, as we all know, has produced some of the world's best racehorses. So Mystical Power is pretty much perfectly bred, built to jump a hurdle as well as having the speed and staying abilities for the flat - the perfect recipe to make a top quality racehorse.
Now having a look at Willie Mullins's comments on Mystical Power's chances heading into this grade 1 contest on Sunday via the Sporting Life, he didn't exactly seem like this horse would be hacking up.
However, in usual Mullins fashion, he did state that Mystical Power has improved tremendously since the Galway run and this will be a perfect tester to see where he is at before they move onto the rest of the season. Keeping his cards close to his chest, given the background of this horse, it could be a good thing to keep the hype away.
I think the fact Willie has pitched him into this Grade 1 race on just his third ever run after such a lengthy break suggests he must be showing something sparkling at home, and no matter how Sunday goes, with his pedigree he is firmly one to keep an eye on going forward.
I am very excited to see how Mystical Power gets on with this step up up in trip and grade into the highest level company possible.
- Selection - Mystical Power
Race previews and tips provided by @ Jake Russell