13:55 Sandown

Friday 8 December 2017

All12:5013:2513:5514:3015:0515:35

MS Amlin Insurance Novices' Limited Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:56 | Winning time: 5m 24.3s

Wilberdragon^p,t¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 125| D

4/1

First time cheekpieces (retained since) were applied when winning over 2m4f at Wincanton (good) in October but he was unable to repeat that in a four runner contest at Market Rasen (good-to-soft) subsequently. Return to 2m4f should suit today.

Form: 336-313

Phobiaphiliac^h²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 123| D

14/1

Dual winner over hurdles but form tailed off for Nicky Henderson and has finished well beaten in both outings since joining this stable. Handicap mark is slipping but others make more appeal at present.

Form: P2PP-46

Touch Kick^h,t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123

13/2

Successful in a maiden hurdle at Taunton (2m3f, good) in March but held twice since including on chase debut over C&D last month. Races off a 2lb lower mark today and worth a check in the market today.

Form: 42716-7

Lithic^p1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123

3/1

Winner twice over hurdles most recently over an extended 2m4f at Market Rasen (good) in June. Placed twice over fences since and one for the shortlist with cheekpieces applied for the first time today.

Form: 02-F133

Darebin²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 123| BF| C

9/2

Fortuitous victor when left in the lead at the final fence at Ludlow (2m, good) in October but proved a disappointment when a well held second at Huntingdon (good) last time out. Stamina to prove on his first attempt at this distance.

Form: 630-212

Right Of Reply¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 118| BF

6/1

Broke his maiden at the second time of asking under rules when winning a maiden hurdle at Hexham (good) over an extended 2m7f for Alistair Whillans. Disappointed on debut for this yard and making his chasing debut today.

Form: 6/F43-15

Ramore Will^h²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: David Noonan| T: C Gordon| OR: 110| BF| D

7/1

Completed a double when winning over an extended 2m3f at Plumpton (good) in September. Respectable efforts in two subsequent outings and he is an interesting runner off a mark 5lb higher than for that latest success.

Form: 321134

Good Man Hughie³¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 99| D

14/1

Broke his maiden at the eighth time of asking when victorious in a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m3f at Lingfield (heavy) at the end of January. Unraced since and making his chasing debut from out of the handicap today.

Form: 0005/P1-

Forecasts

Lithic (3/1), Wilberdragon (4/1), Darebin (9/2), Right Of Reply (6/1), Touch Kick (13/2), Ramore Will (7/1), Good Man Hughie (14/1), Phobiaphiliac (14/1)

This return to 2m4f can see Charlie Longsdon's WILBERDRAGON register a second success over fences following a victory at Wincanton in October. The selection is taken to get the better of Lithic who wears cheekpieces for the first time following a decent effort at Fontwell last time out while Good Man Hughie can claim third on his chasing debut.