15:00 Sandown

Saturday 11 March 2017

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Matchbook Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 1  |   1m 7f 216y  |   Soft (Good to Soft in places in back straight)  |   13 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:00  |   Winning time: 4m 5.1s
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The word Betfair in black.
The words Paddy Power in green.
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
1
Horse silk
Fixe Le Kap360
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR:  138
5/1
Ran to a decent level of form in France and successful on his first two outings for this stable last season. Beaten odds-on favourite when a close second to the classy Frodon at Haydock subsequently and well beaten in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham 12 months ago when last seen. Likely to be fit for his return and a leading contender here.
2
Horse silk
Kayf Blancoh1,t128
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-9| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR:  135
7/1
Dual soft ground winner earlier in his career and ran well over C&D behind Champion Hurdle contender Brain Power in December. Suffered two defeats since including in a valuable race at Newbury last time out and vulnerable to one or two less exposed horses here.
3
Horse silk
William H Bonney28
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-8| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR:  134
11/2
Winner at Cheltenham on his penultimate start but well beaten when carrying a penalty at Newbury subsequently. Races off a 2lb higher mark than for that Cheltenham success and of interest in just his third handicap outing.
4
Horse silk
Bigmartre42
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-8| J: J McGrath| T: H Whittington| OR:  134
16/1
Kempton winner on his seasonal debut but well beaten behind William H Bonney off a 3lb higher mark at Cheltenham subsequently. Interesting to see how he fares off a mark just 1lb higher than for the Kempton victory.
5
Horse silk
Gassin Golfp,t28
Age: 8|  Weight: 11-7| J: R Patrick(7)| T: Kerry Lee| OR:  133
8/1
Raced keenly in tongue tie and blinkers prior to falling early on at Newbury last month. No win since victorious at that track off a 2lb higher mark in March 2015 and cheekpieces replace the blinkers for this.
6
Horse silk
Max Do Brazilt142
Age: 5|  Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR:  128
14/1
Placed in a couple of competitive handicaps in France for previous stable but disappointed when pulled up behind William H Bonney at Cheltenham on debut for this yard. Cost connections £160,000 in December and remains of interest in a first time tongue tie.
7
Horse silk
London Prize25
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR:  128
10/1
Finished runner-up in a valuable Flat handicap at Newcastle when last seen out a month ago. Prior to that had been travelling well enough before falling at Musselburgh in a Listed handicap and he remains unexposed over hurdles though any rain would likely hinder his chances.
8
Horse silk
Spice Fair7
Age: 10|  Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Zac Baker(7)| T: M D I Usher| OR:  127
20/1
Consistent sort who finished runner-up at Newbury earlier this month. Hasn't raced over this trip over hurdles since finishing third in this contest in 2016 and races off a 3lb lower mark here with a useful amateur jockey taking an additional 7lb off.
9
Horse silk
Prairie Townp20
Age: 6|  Weight: 11-1| J: Lee Edwards| T: A W Carroll| OR:  127
40/1
Runner-up in a three runner novice chase at Market Rasen last month and filled the same berth at Sedgefield previously. Most recent hurdles efforts have been disappointing however and interesting to see if cheekpieces (tried with no success once on the Flat) work here.
10
Horse silk
Disputedh5
Age: 7|  Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR:  125
10/1
Finished in the first three in six of his last eight outings including when runner-up in a four runner affair at Lingfield earlier this week. Last win came off a 7lb lower mark at Plumpton 12 months ago but yard are in flying form at present with a 43% strike rate (6/14) in recent times.
11
Horse silk
Darebinv17
Age: 5|  Weight: 10-11| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR:  123
25/1
Has been racing on the Flat of ate winning a 1m4f maiden by a neck at Kempton on his penultimate outing and beaten a head in handicap company next time out. Winner off a 6lb lower mark in first time blinkers at Lingfield in November and visor (worn once previously) replaces them here.
12
Horse silk
Chieftain's Choice22
Age: 8|  Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Frost| OR:  121
10/1
Winner off a 7lb lower mark over C&D last month to register his first success since November 2014. Has been running consistently well this year and still well in on old form but this looks much tougher than his recent assignments.
13
Horse silk
Not Another Muddle25
Age: 6|  Weight: 10-8| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR:  120
6/1
Winner of a Fontwell novice hurdle over 2m3f in January but drop in trip seemed to find him out when runner-up at that rack subsequently. Interesting that he tackles his first handicap in this and has a top jockey (on board for Fontwell success) in the saddle here.

Forecasts

Fixe Le Kap (5/1), William H Bonney (11/2), Not Another Muddle (6/1), Kayf Blanco (7/1), Gassin Golf (8/1), London Prize (10/1), Chieftain's Choice (10/1), Disputed (10/1), Max Do Brazil (14/1), Bigmartre (16/1), Spice Fair (20/1), Darebin (25/1), Prairie Town (40/1)

Verdict

FIXE LE CAP can take this valuable handicap under top weight on his first outing since finishing eighth at Cheltenham nearly a year ago here. The selection finished runner-up to a classy rival off level weights at Haydock 13 months ago and still holds an entry in the conditional jockeys race at Cheltenham this year, he is taken to get the better of January's Cheltenham victor William H Bonney with the unexposed London Prize taken to finish in third with last years third Spice Fair another to take note of here.
  1. Fixe Le Kap
  2. William H Bonney
  3. London Prize

Prize Money

1st: £39,389.002nd: £14,840.003rd: £7,427.004th: £3,710.005th: £1,862.006th: £931.007th: £462.008th: £238.00

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