16:45 Sandown

Friday 17 February 2017

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:4516:1516:45

Oxshott Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:48 | Winning time: 5m 20.65s

Wicked Willy³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 118

5/2

Rattled off two wins in five days last month and a 5lb rise in the weights looks more than fair. Needs to be delivered late and with Paddocks Lounge likely to ensure a good pace, the race looks as though it will be run to suit.

Form: 311233

Dun Bay Creek²⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 118

20/1

Beat a subsequent winner when last seen in May. That was a marked improvement on anything he had shown previously. Remains to be seen if he acts on soft ground. Stable have a good record here with their hurdlers.

Form: 094P/17-

Paddocks Lounge^h,t¹⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 115

6/1

Steps up in class having made all under today's rider to land two plating class races at Leicester. Could take some catching again but it looks more likely he will set this race up for at least one of his rivals.

Form: 114413-

Justification²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: A Glassonbury| T: G & J Moore| OR: 113

5/1

Winner on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien who has shown enough in four starts over hurdles to suggest a race of this nature is there for the taking. He will strip fitter for two runs this term following a near three year absence. One to note in the market for a yard with an excellent record around here.

Form: 34/

Mixchievous¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 111

7/2

Finished ahead of Justification here last time having shown signs of temperament at the start and after getting detached on the final circuit. Looks a risky proposition off a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 5404-65

Trans Express¹⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 111

7/2

Good second here in December in a race that has worked out well. Duly obliged next time before finding the trip beyond him last time. Another who may find Paddocks Lounge setting the race up for him.

Form: 721850-

Sunday Central⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: T H Weston| OR: 110

20/1

Stayed on past beaten horses on his handicap debut last time and looks up against it here.

Form: 425

Non-Runners

Debece⁹⁰

Weight: 12-1| Age: 6

T: Tim Vaughan J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Wicked Willy (5/2), Mixchievous (7/2), Trans Express (7/2), Justification (5/1), Debece (5/1), Paddocks Lounge (6/1), Sunday Central (20/1), Dun Bay Creek (20/1)

Wicked Willy is going to attract most attention in his hat-trick bid but this may require more than either of those victories and preference is for JUSTIFICATION. A fair performer on the Flat he has had his training problems but has shown enough in two starts this season to suggest he would soon be winning. Both those runs have followed a lengthy absence and he should be cherry ripe for this. Trans Express will find this trip more to his liking and he looks booked for a place. 1. Justification 2. Wicked Willy 3. Trans Express