Left handed, tight and undulating. Despite the undulations, it's essentially a course which favours handy sorts thanks to the sharp turns. Races on the hurdles course often begin in earnest early on the final circuit, the complexion changing quickly at this point. Ranks high for casualties on the chase course, a figure which probably reflects the low standard of horses rather more than the stiffness of the fences. Beware those horses who stick to the inside on the hurdles track when the ground is testing, better going often found by racing wide.

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.

View from the saddle: Mick Fitzgerald