15:35 Sandown

Friday 8 December 2017

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

MS Amlin Insurance Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 6.70s

Bazooka⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Banks| T: D Flood| OR: 117

12/1

Signs of promise in three outings in this sphere last season and running well on the Flat since. Worth a check in the market on today's handicap debut.

Form: 445-

My Boy James²⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L J Mongan| OR: 115

7/1

Placed twice over hurdles including over C&D on soft ground in March. Decent effort in finishing fifth on handicap debut the following month and making his seasonal debut today.

Form: 355225-

Present Destiny²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 113

10/1

Placed in a bumper from seven starts so far. Beaten 12L in a maiden hurdle at Taunton (2m3f, good) last time out and making his handicap debut today.

Form: 296-4F4

Cheer's Delboy¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: C Poste| T: R Dickin| OR: 113

20/1

Finished runner-up in a point-to-point in April and fair efforts in three outings over hurdles so far. Interesting to see how he fares on handicap debut.

Form: P2-855

Rainy Day Dylan^t1²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 110| BF

8/1

Cork bumper winner on yielding-to-soft ground in August last year but disappointing in the main since joining this stable. Sent off favourite when pulled up on handicap debut last time and wears a tongue tie for the first time today.

Form: P552-4P

Its A Sting^h²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 110| BF

9/2

Bumper winner in March 2014 but has failed to add to that since and returns to hurdles today having failed to complete on his last two starts over fences.

Form: PP5/3FU

Pivotal Flame²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Joshua Moore| T: P Phelan| OR: 110

50/1

Successful twice on the Flat and ran well at big prices in two hurdle contests in October. Well beaten at Cheltenham (good-to-soft) on handicap debut last time out and more needed today.

Form: 0U-440

Windshear¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 109| C

25/1

Very useful middle-distance horse on the Flat but disappointing since joining this yard and reverting to hurdles earlier this year. Pulled up in a Listed novice hurdle at Haydock (heavy) last month and worth a check in the market on handicap debut.

Form: 0-83P

Le Capricieux³⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 107

11/2

Placed three times from six starts over hurdles including when fourth at Uttoxeter (2m, good-to-soft) in June last year. Unraced since finishing well beaten on handicap debut at Kempton (2m, good) in November of that year.

Form: P4/2235-

Phoenix Dawn^b²²

Age: 3| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: B G Powell| OR: 120| D

11/4

Impressive winner of a juvenile hurdle at Ludlow (2m, good) on his most recent outing three weeks ago. Had a previous winner back in third on that occasion and he is one to note on handicap debut.

Form: 23621

Windspiel²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Aidan Coleman| T: D W P Arbuthnot| OR: 102

14/1

Well held in three starts prior to finishing 7¼L last of three in a novice hurdle at Kempton (good-to-soft) last month. Probably best watched on handicap debut.

Form: 098-3

Cap Du Nord³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: D F O'Regan| T: Christian Williams| OR: 100

12/1

Placed once from two starts in point-to-points and signs of ability in three outings over hurdles so far. Worth a check in the market now tackling handicaps.

Form: P2-606

Forecasts

Phoenix Dawn (11/4), Its A Sting (9/2), Le Capricieux (11/2), My Boy James (7/1), Rainy Day Dylan (8/1), Present Destiny (10/1), Cap Du Nord (12/1), Bazooka (12/1), Windspiel (14/1), Cheer's Delboy (20/1), Windshear (25/1), Pivotal Flame (50/1)

PHOENIX DAWN impressed when winning over hurdles at Ludlow last month and he can follow up by taking the concluding contest on his handicap debut. The selection has run well on the forecast going in the past and the bottom weight Cap Du Nord, another making his handicap debut can claim second on this occasion. The booking of Richard Johnson for Rainy Day Dylan catches the eye and he can put a disappointing handicap debut behind him by claiming third today.