Poulton back to winning ways at Plumpton

Jamie Poulton sent out his first winner since returning to his old yard near Lewes when Wheres Johnny took advantage of the final-flight fall of Fix The Rib in the Carlsberg Maiden Hurdle at Plumpton today.

For much of the journey, it looked unlikely that Wheres Johnny and Mattie Batchelor would trouble the long-time leader Canalturn, but up the home straight they gradually ate into that one's advantage and were bearing down on him at the time of his departure.

Poulton said of the 7-2 favourite: "Mattie said he was picking up and would have got there and that the ground was stickier than ideal.

"My feeling is that he will improve again for better ground and he'll definitely get three miles over fences. He is basically a staying chaser in the making.

"It's nice to have a winner at my local course so soon after returning to Lewes from Whitcombe."

Pentasilea gave Sarah Humphrey her first winner since obtaining her full licence when romping home in the first division of the Blackmore Borley Maiden Hurdle.

Confidently ridden by the promising claimer Aidan Coleman, the mare was in charge early in the home straight and fairly flew up the hill to score by nine lengths from Eastwell Smiles, with Dream Catcher three-quarters of a length back in third.

The 9-2 chance had shown promise when second on her jumps debut at Southwell and Mrs Humphrey observed: "She ran very well that day and it seems because it was The Grey Berry that beat her everyone said she was flattered.

"She'd been working very well at home and I came here confident she would go very close."

Buckland Gold ran out a decisive winner of an incident-packed race for the Whippers Delight Novices' Handicap Chase.

The Gardie Grissell-trained gelding responded to the fitting of cheekpieces to gain command before the second-last fence and come home with an eight-length cushion over Noble Bily.

However, his task was made easier when the improving Silver Serg fell five out and hampered the 7-4 favourite Massini Sunset, who unseated his rider as a result.

Grissell will now look for a similar race for his 5-1 winner and said: "He's rated a lot lower over fences than over hurdles and I'm just sad that his owner Ros Hepburn will soon have to go into a care home which means this fellow will be for sale."