13:50 Sandown

Saturday 23 April 2022

All13:5014:2515:0015:3216:0716:4017:15

bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 3m 50.3s

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Selected odds by:

Knappers Hill⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| D

3/1

3-3 in bumpers, including Grade 2, and stretched unbeaten record to 5 with novice hurdle wins in autumn. Solid efforts in much stronger events at Ascot and Newbury prior to folding tamely in EBF Final here. However, didn't take long to get back on track when landing the odds in Newton Abbot novice.

Form: 113601

Doctor Parnassus³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| D

11/2

Failed to win on the level for David O'Meara but is a half-brother to useful hurdler Metier and created a good impression when winning first 2 starts in this sphere. Far from disgraced stepped up to a Grade 1 when seventh in Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival since. Makes handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 117

Head Law^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126| D

6/1

Bumper winner who is going the right way over hurdles, completing the hat-trick under a penalty in good style at Southwell 18 days ago. Remains one to follow with further progress to come.

Form: 1-54111

Whizz Kid^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 126| BF| D

4/1

Useful on Flat (stays 1½m) in Germany. Set stiff task on hurdling debut but has bolted up on better ground next 2 starts. Found his hurdling inexperience costing him when a strong favourite on handicap bow at Aintree 2 weeks ago but still ran well to finish fourth of 16. Has more to offer still.

Form: 5114

Zacony Rebel³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes| OR: 125| D

33/1

Winner of novice events either side of finishing second in a Huntingdon handicap in January. Not in same form next 2 starts, however, and this a tough race to bounce back in.

Form: 5-121P2

Dibble Decker⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 122| D

8/1

Point winner who stepped up considerably on hurdle debut third when making all at Huntingdon (2m) 3 weeks later. Improved again switched to handicaps next 2 starts, quickly resuming winning ways at Taunton 6 weeks ago, showing a good attitude to beat a subsequent winner. Respected.

Form: 163121

Boombawn¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Andrews⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 121| D

11/1

Impressed with his jumping when landing the odds in novices at Ffos Las and Southwell (under this rider) last 2 starts. This much more competitive but his opening mark is a fair one and his jumping is a key asset.

Form: 233211

Privatory²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 120| BF| CD

28/1

Made a winning debut in a French newcomers race for David Cottin and followed up after 3 months off on yard debut in C&D novice last month. Unable to defy double penalty at Stratford since but remains unexposed now handicapping.

Form: 112

Alto Alto²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: C Gordon| OR: 110| D

18/1

Unseated on his hurdles bow but he posted fair form when third in novice (33/1) at Taunton (16.5f) before improving again to land 5-runner Plumpton novice, readily beating a subsequent winner. Not taken lightly now handicapping.

Form: 35-5U31

Red Vision³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110

28/1

Half-brother to high-class chaser Traffic Fluide. Irish point winner last autumn and better with each start over hurdles for new yard, winning novices at Bangor and Sedgefield. Not to be underestimated off what looks a fair opening mark.

Form: 227311

Hasty Parisian^p1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Reed| T: M F Harris| OR: 112| CD

18/1

Lightly-raced sort who won 4-runner juvenile hurdle (13/8) over C&D last month and good second in another small field in Ffos Las novice 16 days ago but struggled in a much more competitive event at Ascot in between. Headgear applied. 4 lb out of the weghts.

Form: 3231U2

Stanley Pincombe^t1³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 104| D

50/1

Lightly-raced hurdler who upped his game to get the better of a progressive rival at Warwick. However, dropped away quickly in bigger field at Chepstow since and up against it from 4 lb out of the handicap here. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 934310

Non-Runners

Salsada¹⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: B Ellison J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Knappers Hill (3/1), Whizz Kid (4/1), Doctor Parnassus (11/2), Head Law (6/1), Dibble Decker (8/1), Boombawn (11/1), Alto Alto (18/1), Hasty Parisian (18/1), Salsada (20/1), Red Vision (28/1), Privatory (28/1), Zacony Rebel (33/1), Stanley Pincombe (50/1)

HEAD LAW is improving in leaps and bounds, completing the hat-trick under a penalty with plenty in hand at Southwell 18 days ago, and could still be ahead of his mark off 10 lb higher. Whizz Kid is another who looked ahead of his mark for much of the way before finding his hurdling inexperience counting against him at Aintree, so he is well worth another chance, while Red Vison appeals at bigger odds now switched to handicaps.