FORWARD PLAN and Ben Godfrey shared the biggest win of their careers with a decisive victory in a Class 2 £50,000 Handicap Chase at Doncaster on Saturday in the colours of The Steeple Chasers.
It was the second leg of another double for the yard with NORTON HILL successful half an hour earlier under top weight in a long distance handicap hurdle at Hereford.
Those two winners took our score for the season to 25 with prize money of almost £275,000.
Forward Plan was really progressive over fences last season and ran well on his return at Wincanton five weeks ago before tiring in the closing stages on ground much softer than he prefers.
He maybe needed that outing more than we thought. We like to give him time between races and he was pleasing again at home over the last week.
Good to soft ground on a flat track like Doncaster are ideal conditions for Forward Plan who was given a fine ride by Ben Godfrey in a race when all the fences in the straight were omitted because of low sun.
Ben waited patiently before bringing him through to lead almost three furlongs from home and they kept on well to readily see off the challenge of Mister Coffey.
We will see how the handicapper reacts but the next obvious target for Forward Plan would be a return to Doncaster for the £100,000 Skybet Chase on January 27.
On a day when we had chances at all three jumps meetings it was good to see Norton Hill double his score for the season with a clear cut triumph at Hereford ridden by Daryl Jacob.
His jumping was much better this time and he won readily.
A hectic day for the team ended with Good Luck Charm finishing a close third in a competitive mares handicap hurdle at Cheltenham racing off a 10lbs higher mark following her success at Wincanton.
Coquelicot found things happening a bit too rapidly for her in the same race and will be more at home stepping back up to three miles at Ascot in a month’s time.
Next weekend we are looking forward to Blackjack Magic tackling the Howden Silver Cup at Ascot. It is encouraging that the form of his win in the Badger Beer Chase at Wincanton is working out so well.
