14:55 Sandown

Saturday 4 February 2023

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:03

Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 6m 8.1s

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Selected odds by:

Flight Deck^p³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 144

11/1

Progressive last season and he got back on the up with success in 10-runner handicap hurdle at Chepstow (23.6f) 39 days ago by 4¼ lengths from Bells of Peterboro. Needs considering despite 7 lb rise.

Form: 151-P21

Call Me Lord³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| C

11/1

Course winner who scored at Kempton in November and should have followed up here next time (young rider mistook the winning post, headed by Dolphin Square). Below form fifth of 10 in handicap at Cheltenham (24f) 34 days ago but the sort to bounce back.

Form: 6P3-125

Dolphin Square^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 143| CD

20/1

C&D winner in December (fortunate from Call Me Lord) and not disgraced when fourth of 10 in handicap at Cheltenham (24f) 34 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up off an unchanged mark.

Form: 1911-14

Remastered^t³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 142

9/2

Smart chaser who is enjoying an excellent season, scoring at Aintree over hurdles in November and back over fences in 3m Kempton handicap 39 days ago. Has a fine attitude and big shout reverted to this sphere off a 4 lb lower mark.

Form: 249-121

Party Business^p²⁷³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 140| BF

20/1

Signed off last term with victory in 3m handicap at Aintree but off since finishing lame in similar company at Haydock in May. Needs to hit the ground running on his return.

Form: 1F551-4

Wilde About Oscar^t1³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton| OR: 136

22/1

Endured a disappointing 2021-22 campaign but proved better than ever when just failing over C&D in December (behind Dolphin Square and Call Me Lord). Possibly found the run coming too quickly when pulled up at Cheltenham last time and can bounce back fitted with a tongue tie here.

Form: 747-03P

Stellar Magic^p⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135

20/1

Back to best when second of 11 in 3m Wincanton handicap on Boxing Day. 4 lb higher now though and winless since early 2021.

Form: 2P44-P2

Green Book³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 134| CD

6/1

On the up last season, gaining last of his three wins in this contest. Well-held sixth after 9 months off/wind op at Chepstow on his return but no surprise to see him take a big step forward here for his in-form yard.

Form: U1459-6

Storm Nelson^t³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 134

10/1

Has resumed better than ever this term after 11 months off/wind op, bagging handicaps at Carlisle (25f) and Ayr (3m). Another bold bid is expected despite having a career-high mark to overcome.

Form: 11/82-11

Bothwell Bridge⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 131| C

40/1

Impressed when winning on his chase debut here in December 2021, but he has failed to complete in four runs since, pulled up at Ascot on his return. Back over hurdles now with lots to prove.

Form: P/1FPP-P

Jet Of Magic^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| BF

4/1

Has returned an improved model for his new yard this season, scoring at Hereford and posting excellent second placings at Taunton and Cheltenham since. Well in the mix again.

Form: 11-0122

Coquelicot^b,t³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 127| C

10/1

In top form this season, landing mares' handicaps at Ascot and here (2m4f). Runner-up at Kempton (24.6f) last time and can make her presence felt once more.

Form: 4/12-112

Bells Of Peterboro³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 126

11/1

Consistent sort who made the frame again when returned to hurdles in 3m1f handicap at Chepstow over Christmas, running game race behind Flight Deck. Weighted to go well again.

Form: 3-42232

Schalke³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Aaron Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 124| D

20/1

Arrives on the up, bagging 12-runner handicap hurdle at Kelso (22.7f) 37 days ago. Hiked up 8 lb but still one for the shortlist.

Form: 14-6421

Non-Runners

Indefatigable⁵⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 10

T: P R Webber J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Jet Of Magic (4/1), Remastered (9/2), Green Book (6/1), Coquelicot (10/1), Storm Nelson (10/1), Call Me Lord (11/1), Bells Of Peterboro (11/1), Flight Deck (11/1), Schalke (20/1), Party Business (20/1), Dolphin Square (20/1), Stellar Magic (20/1), Wilde About Oscar (22/1), Indefatigable (25/1), Bothwell Bridge (40/1)

Plenty are in with a shout. REMASTERED is enjoying a fine season and is worth siding with given he can race off a 4 lb lower mark than when successful over fences at Kempton last time. The reliable Bells of Peterboro is another weighted to have a big say, while in-form duo Jet of Magic and Storm Nelson, along with last year's winner Green Book, complete the shortlist.