16:40 Sandown

Saturday 9 March 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

betting.betfair.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:41 | Winning time: 5m 21.3s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Can You Call^t³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: Evan Williams| OR: 126| D

11/1

Hurdles/chase scorer who bounced right back to best following 8 months off when second over fences at Chepstow (19.5f) in October. Respectable third at Taunton next time but disappointing when well held third at Ludlow last month.

Form: 194-233

Sheldon²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 124| D

15/2

Has often been prone to mistakes but more assured of late, making it 2 wins from last 3 starts when landing 7-runner Wincanton handicap (20f, heavy) 3 weeks ago. Edged up 5 lb for that but his chance may well again hinge on keeping the errors at bay.

Form: F6P131

Jet Plane^t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124

22/1

Started the season with back-to-back wins over 3¼m at Ludlow and Newton Abbot but has lost his way since, the marked drop back in trip failing to spark a revival when fifth of 6 in handicap at Leicester in January.

Form: 114P75

Es Perfecto⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: A King| OR: 123

6/5

Point/hurdles winner who has been lightly raced in recent years but plenty to like about his exploits over fences this term, shaping well when third in Timeform novices' handicap (strong form) at Cheltenham (20.6f) in January. Big shout of same mark with sights lowered.

Form: 1/3-3233

Imperial Bede⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123| D

13/2

French bumper/hurdles winner who run out a ready winner on chase debut at Southwell (20.4f) last month. Got no further than the second at Kelso 7 days ago but interesting connections turn him out quickly and he remains less exposed than most.

Form: P-3431F

Nocte Volatus^t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: T Lacey| OR: 123| BF| D

8/1

Losing run is mounting up but good placed efforts first 3 outings this campaign, latterly when third at Newcastle (20f) in December. Not helped by some indifferent jumping when fourth at Leicester (20f) 38 days ago but better anticipated here.

Form: 42-2334

Hudson De Grugy^v²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 122| CD

6/1

7-y-o with a good record at this venue, adding to his tally from a 1 lb higher mark over C&D at this meeting 12 months ago. Jumping has typically lacked fluency in 2 outings this season but stable's runners always command respect here and visor goes back on.

Form: 731P-3F

Belargus^p1,t1⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 119| CD

16/1

Dual course winner who returned to form when third in this race 12 months ago. No real encouragement to glean from 2 starts this time around so hopes pinned on a return to this track sparking a revival with cheekpieces/tongue tie now enlisted.

Form: 0/6P3-5P

Forecasts

Es Perfecto (6/5), Hudson De Grugy (6/1), Imperial Bede (13/2), Sheldon (15/2), Nocte Volatus (8/1), Can You Call (11/1), Belargus (16/1), Jet Plane (22/1)

ES PERFECTO remains very low-mileage as a 9-y-o and ran another fine race when third in what rates one of the strongest handicaps of the campaign so far at Cheltenham 6 weeks ago. He's fancied to prove tough to beat operating from the same mark, with Imperial Bede next best if putting his recent Kelso spill behind him. Hudson de Grugy and Nocte Volatus are others considered.