Double Dizzy lands Sussex National and connections eye Cheltenham

By Sportsmail Reporter Updated: 13:00 EST, 2 January 2012

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Trainer Bob Buckler has the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival as the target for Double Dizzy after the Andrew Glassonbury-ridden 8-1 shot led home only three finishers when scoring a 15-length win in an incident-packed Sussex National at Plumpton on Tuesday.

Andrew Glassonbury went on some way out on the 11-year-old, who steadily pulled clear to win from Justabout.

'He's a real amazing horse. He has a mind of his own a bit and I always said one day he was going to win a decent race,' said Buckler.

Over the last: Andrew Glassonbury and Double Dizzy take the Sussex National

'I did have my heart in my mouth when one tangled up in front of him and for a second or two after that he didn't seem to be travelling.

'You can never work out what he's going to do. I was a bit worried here because they pass the stables a few times as he might think about.

'Once he was out in front he was still travelling. He's had 62 races for me. I'm delighted for the owner that the old horse has come right in the end.'

Connections of Kumbeshwar have their eyes on an attractive bonus after the five-year-old justified his short price in the At The Races Virgin 534 Novices' Chase.

Sussex sunset: Double Dizzy leaps the last fence at Plumpton

An SIS-sponsored initiative rewards any horse winning a nominated novice chase at Plumpton and going on to win at Cheltenham in March.

And Kumbeshwar, trained by Alan King, staked his claim for a place there by making all the running in a three-horse affair.

Wayne Hutchinson set out to make it a true test on the 4-11 shot, who jumped tidily except for a slight mistake at the last fence.

Criqtonic could never get close enough to mount a serious challenge and was out-pointed from the final turn, being 16 lengths down at the line.

Leap of faith: Glassonbury's mount made few errors

'Cheltenham? If you put a gun to my head now I'd probably say the Grand Annual. I don't want to be taking on Sprinter Sacre (in the Arkle),' said King.

'I'll probably give him plenty of entries to try and win this bonus - £60,000 is not to be sniffed at.'

Paddy Power inserted Kumbeshwar at 14-1 for the Grand Annual over two miles.

'It was just what we were looking for,' said Hutchinson. 'I probably didn't ride him aggressively enough at Ascot (second to Zaynar). I know it was a different race today but he enjoys being ridden that way.

'He's done it very nicely and coped with the conditions. He'll go on any winter ground. He's a big, strong individual, he's got scope and he's got a gear.'