13:25 Sandown

Saturday 3 February 2024

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 5m 8.4s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Jingko Blue⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 124

16/5

Won sole start in Irish points in February and has made a promising start under Rules, displaying a good attitude when landing 12-runner novice hurdle at Newbury (20.5f, good to soft) 63 days ago. Goes handicapping with the scope for better still, so should go very well again.

Form: 1-21

Classic Anthem²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: J R Boyle| OR: 122| BF| C

5/1

Expensive recruit from the Irish pointing field who made a successful switch to handicap company over 2m here in December. Backed it up with a very good second in 2m4f Plumpton novice so needs considering with more to come.

Form: 1/5-2312

Alfie's Princess^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 120

14/1

Point winner who has made a promising start over hurdles, landing novices at Chepstow and Exeter. Posted a good fifth in listed hurdle at Haydock (18.9f, heavy) last time so is very much one to consider now handicapping.

Form: 1/28-115

Onethreefivenotout³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 118

4/1

Made a winning bumper debut at Worcester in October 2021. Not seen again until this winter but progressing well and comes here on the back of an excellent second in 2m novice hurdle at Kempton 39 days ago. Starts off in handicaps on a handy mark so a bold showing is on the cards.

Form: 1/P22

Rock Danse²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Daire Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| D

33/1

Point scorer who struck at the third time of asking over hurdles in 2m4f Hexham maiden in December. Good fourth in Plumpton novice following month. Possibilities now venturing into handicaps.

Form: F7/8214

Magical King³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 118

15/2

Fairly useful maiden hurdler who recorded a good third of 6 in novice at Cheltenham (20.2f, soft) 33 days ago. Can give another good account back in handicap company.

Form: 3-2253

Zain Nights^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 115

15/2

Fairly useful Flat stayer for Harry & Roger Charlton. Changed hands for 75,000 gns and got off the mark over hurdles in 2m4f maiden at Market Rasen last month. May do better still on handicap debut. Considered.

Form: 341

Diplomatic Ash¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: David Noonan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 115

28/1

Progressive sort who posted an excellent third of 7 in novice hurdle over C&D (soft) 15 days ago. Can go on again on his first go in handicaps.

Form: 832

Titan Discovery⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 111

6/1

Runner-up in 2 bumpers last spring and going the right way over hurdles, making a successful switch to handicaps at Ascot (2m, good to soft) in December. Raised 7 lb but there could easily be more to come.

Form: 22-421

Mumford's Magic⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 110| BF

40/1

Fair maiden hurdler who was running well until coming in only fourth of 7 in novice at Huntingdon (25f, good) 70 days ago. In excellent hands and worth another chance on his handicap bow.

Form: 3-63324

Forecasts

Jingko Blue (16/5), Onethreefivenotout (4/1), Classic Anthem (5/1), Titan Discovery (6/1), Zain Nights (15/2), Magical King (15/2), Alfie's Princess (14/1), Diplomatic Ash (28/1), Rock Danse (33/1), Mumford's Magic (40/1)

A case can be made for all of these but the most persuasive one is for the improving ONETHREEFIVENOTOUT who looks to have got in lightly for his handicap bow and can edge out Nicky Henderson's likeable Newbury scorer Jingko Blue. Alfie's Princess, Titan Discovery and Diplomatic Ash all have better days ahead of them too and need factoring into this intriguing contest.