13:20 Sandown

Saturday 6 January 2018

All12:1512:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:35

32Red Handicap Chase (Qualifier)

Off time: 13:20 | Winning time: 5m 27.35s

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Selected odds by:

Theo's Charm^b¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: N J Gifford| OR: 132| BF

4/1

Brought down early at Ascot last time but a good run was expected as he was made favourite. Previous third to Sam Spinner looks all the better now, seems to handle bad ground and trip fine, so if avoiding errors, no reason not to run his race.

Form: 730-33B

Chef D'Equipe^h²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 127

7/1

Not been with the yard long, has shown ability and a decent fourth to Pete The Feat here last time, looking like this drop back in trip may benefit him. Handled soft ground in France and may improve again here, although yard form still patchy.

Form: 2-21365

Perfect Pirate³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 126| D

5/2

Good looking individual that's twice a winner at Towcester, so track should suit, and looked a horse with potential over fences when taking care of Hogan's Height last time. Handles heavy ground fine, in at the deep end here but could be up to it.

Form: 9124-1

Lord Ballim^t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 125| D

25/1

Twice a winner around this trip last year but recent form suggests he's rather gone off the boil, with a poor effort at Exeter last time out. Ground here likely to be plenty soft enough as well and not hard to look elsewhere for the winner.

Form: 1U1-60P

Little Jon^p³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 123| D

10/1

Often makes mistakes but in fairness, jumped better when fifth at Newbury last time out.Might be match fit after a couple of runs now but overall win record (just 3-30) is offputting, and although ground will be fine, he clearly comes with risks.

Form: 535P-55

Bekkensfirth³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 123| D

7/1

Useful novice chaser a couple of seasons back, clearly had issues and had been off for almost two years before appearing at Newbury last month. Ran bit better than finishing position suggested and should have races in him, but ground a concern.

Form: 33912/6

Le Curieux⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: B G Powell| OR: 123

66/1

First run for new yard (formerly with John Kiely) but only really has one half-decent piece of form to his name, and hard to find too many positives. Needs to have been perked up by change of scenery or he faces another uphill struggle.

Form: 40/6-050

Never Up¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 117| D

14/1

Won in heavy ground at Carlisle in October, so neither the trip nor track should pose any problem, but it's been downhill since that win and turned in a laboured effort at Newcastle last time. Hard to fancy after that and others make more appeal.

Form: 43-214P

Masterplan^p1²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 116| D

7/1

Made all to win at Towcester last April (good to firm) and ran well on comeback at Doncaster last month, rallying well to run the improving The Tailgater close, but the big worry would be this ground, with best form coming on much quicker.

Form: 0/6561-2

Go West Young Man¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 115

40/1

Has as much temperament as ability, certainly capable off this sort of mark if he gets out of bed the right side but another poor effort at Haydock last time only highlights his inconsistency. Hard to make a solid case for.

Form: 42-47UP

Amber Gambler⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: Ian Williams| OR: 113

20/1

Rattled off the wins last year and looked progressive in lower grade than this, but a bit disappointing on Stratford reappearance in November and now needs improvement upped in grade. Shrewd yard but others still make more appeal.

Form: 1111P-6

Forecasts

Perfect Pirate (5/2), Theo's Charm (4/1), Chef D'Equipe (7/1), Masterplan (7/1), Bekkensfirth (7/1), Little Jon (10/1), Never Up (14/1), Amber Gambler (20/1), Lord Ballim (25/1), Go West Young Man (40/1), Le Curieux (66/1)

This should be run at a good pace, with Masterplan and Never Up the most likely to take them along. That should suit PERFECT PIRATE, a really good-looking, athletic individual that scored with a bit in hand at Towcester and his proven stamina will come in handy up this hill. Top weight Theo's Charm may give him most to think about, and if Little Jon can stick a clear round in, he might be able to take some prizemoney home.