17:20 Sandown

Saturday 27 April 2024

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 4m 50.65s

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Selected odds by:

Red Risk^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| D

33/1

Won twice back hurdling in 2022 and good second to Botox Has in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby in November. However, he was a well-held fourth behind the same rival in a Haydock Grade 2 and fared little better back in a competitive handicap at Aintree 2 weeks ago.

Form: 0-62840

Mark Of Gold⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 141| D

40/1

Added another victory to his tally in a 7-runner event at Kempton (for the second successive season) in February. Did that easily but was found out from a career-high mark in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, beating only 2 home.

Form: 7-54F10

Icare Allen^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 140

66/1

Smart hurdler at his peak. Caught the eye when a running-on third of 11 in 3m course handicap in November but pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival 4 months later and ran even worse on first outing since leaving Willie Mullins at Aintree. Tongue tie back on.

Form: 4353PP

Sa Majeste⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138| D

5/1

Off the mark on second outing in France for Y. Fouin and got back on the up after 8 months off when beating former Grand National winner Noble Yeats at Limerick (20f) in December. Not in same form in Coral Cup at Cheltenham Festival 11 weeks later but he should have learnt from the experience.

Form: 3/16-10

Lookaway¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 137| D

15/2

Likeable sort who completed a hat-trick in Cheltenham Grade 2 in October and ran another cracker when second in Challow at Newbury (20.5f) in December. Wasted no time bouncing back from a below-par display in Betfair Hurdle when third in Grade 1 novice at Aintree last time. Player back up in trip.

Form: 112203

Mahons Glory^p,h¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: P Neville| OR: 136| D

100/1

Useful effort to win a 21f Kempton handicap on Boxing Day on only his second outing for Patrick Neville. Faced very stiff task when tailed-off last in Aintree Hurdle subsequently.

Form: 153-518

Will Carver^t¹²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134| DWS

25/1

Very low-mileage 9-y-o who proved better than ever when making a winning return at Taunton (19f) in November, leading before 2 out and winning easily. Shaped as if amiss when pulled up at Kempton the following month and has since had a breathing operation.

Form: 211/3-1P

Emailandy^p,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134

11/2

Has developed into a useful novice, building on his fourth in the EBF Final when resuming winning ways in 9-runner handicap at Plumpton (20.5f, good to soft) 27 days ago, finding extra. Up 5 lb and warrants respect.

Form: 132231

Authorised Speed⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: David Noonan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 134| C| D

16/1

2-timer course winner over hurdles who would surely have made the perfect start over fences but for departing 2 out at Ascot (17f) on return. Jumped poorly when third at Plumpton next time prior to falling early in the Arkle. Back over hurdles.

Form: 518-F3F

Monviel^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 129| C

12/1

Course winner who again ran well with cheekpieces retained when third of 8 in handicap at Wincanton (19.8f, heavy) 19 days ago. Likely to remain competitive but remains vulnerable to better treated ones.

Form: 5-24823

Pic Roc⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 128

7/2

Placed twice in bumpers last spring and progressive form over hurdles this term, winning a 19f Ascot novice prior to an excellent second in EBF Final over C&D. Likely has more to offer and has to be taken seriously.

Form: 32-5212

Bad^p,t1⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 125| BF

17/2

Winner in France. Placed in 4 handicap hurdles this season, going with far more zest in first-time cheekpieces following a breathing operation when finishing runner-up at Ascot in February, albeit rather worried out of it. Ran poorly at this course last time, however. Tongue strap now goes on.

Form: 6-32320

Ike Sport^p,t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Adam Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 124| D

22/1

Improved model during second half of last year, resuming winning ways in a Worcester novice (20f) in July and fairly bolted up returned to handicap company at that venue in September. However, ran out before the fifth in his hat-trick bid at Wincanton last week.

Form: 6-2211R

Kamaxos^h³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Lily Pinchin| T: R A Teal| OR: 124| C

14/1

Made light of a long absence to comfortably see off 6 rivals in 2m Sandown handicap in February. Couldn't overcome an 8 lb rise at Newbury since, though.

Form: 3512/14

Classic Anthem⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: R T Dunne| T: J R Boyle| OR: 121| C

12/1

Expensive recruit from the Irish pointing field who made a successful switch to handicap company here (2m) in December. Good second in 20.5f novice at Plumpton next time but below par when only seventh in C&D handicap since.

Form: 5-23127

Classic Lord⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: James Best| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 119| C

66/1

Useful on Flat and came good over hurdles for his new yard when landing a brace of novices at Fontwell (2¼m) and Bangor (2m) before Christmas. Posted a good second over C&D in February but proved to be a disappointment (not jump well) at Plumpton last time. Back up in trip.

Form: 311526

Arqoob^p1¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 119| C

11/1

Second win over hurdles for his current yard here in November. Wasted no time getting back to form faced with a far more suitable test than at Doncaster when runner-up at Ascot (21.6f, good) in March and ran to a similar when eighth of 15 at Cheltenham since. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 533528

Non-Runners

Gold Dancer²⁷

Weight: 11-1| Age: 5

T: W P Mullins J: D E Mullins

Forecasts

Pic Roc (7/2), Sa Majeste (5/1), Emailandy (11/2), Lookaway (15/2), Gold Dancer (8/1), Bad (17/2), Arqoob (11/1), Classic Anthem (12/1), Monviel (12/1), Kamaxos (14/1), Authorised Speed (16/1), Ike Sport (22/1), Will Carver (25/1), Red Risk (33/1), Mark Of Gold (40/1), Icare Allen (66/1), Classic Lord (66/1), Mahons Glory (100/1)

A competitive handicap that may go the way of PIC ROC, an improving novice from the Ben Pauling stable, who could easily have more to offer on the back of his excellent second in the EBF Final over C&D. Lookaway is a likeable sort who ought to give his running once more, while Emailandy and Gold Dancer are two others who warrant plenty of respect.