'It's my birthday on Sunday, we'll find out if there is a God or not!' - which trainer is hoping to celebrate with a Sussex National winner?

Watch the replay of last year’s race and you’ll find it hard to oppose Dom Of Mary, who hit the front with a mighty leap at the second-last and proceeded to slam Tommie Beau – a three-time winner since – by ten lengths.

David Bridgwater’s chaser is now 7lb higher, but a reproduction of that performance would surely make him devilishly difficult to beat.

Although he performed below expectations at Ascot on his reappearance in November, it’s likely this race has been the target since the start of the campaign. Cheekpieces, which were left off last time, are refitted.

It will also be his second start since undergoing wind surgery, and everything looks set for him to make a strong defence of his crown.

Minella Blueway, the youngest of the eight runners, comes into the contest thoroughly unexposed at trips in excess of 3m.

The seven-year-old, who will be having only his fourth start over fences, produced a career-best performance at 3m when second to Ballycamus at Windsor last time.

With the promise of even more to come now his stamina is drawn out, Minella Blueway rates a must for any shortlist. 

It’s possible Unanswered Prayers could also have a bit more improvement in his locker as two recent runs over marathon trips have seen him in a most favourable light.

The Chris Gordon-trained nine-year-old stayed on strongly to beat Feivel in Fontwell’s Southern National in November on his preferred good ground prior to taking third behind Mr Vango in the London National at Sandown on soft going.

Animal, seven-length runner-up to Movethechains in the Surrey National over 3m5f at Lingfield last January, is 3lb lower now.

However, he lacks a run this term, and was last seen when disappointing behind Take Your Time at Ffos Las in April. 

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Broken Halo
He was a tad disappointing last time as he was travelling ever so well jumping the last down the back straight but stopped quickly after the Pond fence. I'm not totally sure why. If he runs to his best he'd have a little chance, but we wouldn't want too much rain.

Chris Gordon, trainer of Unanswered Prayers
He really enjoyed the step up in trip at Fontwell and Sandown. We’ve always felt him to be better on good ground but he ran really well on soft at Sandown. Even so, I’d be happier if it didn’t rain as much as it is forecast to do. He’s in good order.

David Bridgwater, trainer of Dom Of Mary
He won the race last year and is a bit higher in the weights now. He wasn’t right at Ascot last time. I don’t know if we had a mild bug at around that time. Nothing showed up, but I was disappointed with him. We’re putting the cheekpieces back on at Plumpton, and he seems fresh and well now. He bolted up last year and if I could guarantee he was in the same form he would win it again. It’s my birthday on Sunday – we’ll find out if there is a God or not!

Evan Williams, trainer of Minella Blueway
If he stays he’ll run a big race. I have thought he has shaped like a thorough stayer several times in the past, and he ran very well at Windsor last time out.

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