15:00 Sandown

Saturday 3 February 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Betfred Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 18.8s

Beat That⁵⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147

20/1

Dual Grade One-winning novice hurdler but injuries then struck. Chasing campaign aborted and shaped more encouragingly over C&D in December but stiff ask conceding weight all round in this.

Form: 6-2FF33

Ubak⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 146

25/1

Two career wins have arrived at Aintree in the spring, three years apart. Latest of those was in 2016. Never a factor in Grade 1 three-miler at Ascot in December, has plenty work to do on form.

Form: 14/054-7

Prime Venture²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: Evan Williams| OR: 142

12/1

Consistent handicapper, rewarded with odds-on Ffos Las success in November over 3m on soft. Useful performance next time at Warwick having been bumped up 12lb, suggests he's capable of getting involved again.

Form: 342-214

Topofthegame^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142

11/2

Useful efforts in trio of novice hurdles last season, Paul Nicholls reverted to this game after a fall on chase debut at Newbury in November and duly went close in the Lanzarote at Kempton last month. Longer trip bodes well and remains unexposed.

Form: 1/142-F4

Flemcara^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 139

16/1

Rapidly improving for Emma Lavelle this season, comes here seeking four-timer have landed Chepstow handicap over 3m (heavy) last month from Shantou Bob. Up another 9lb but every chance he has more to offer.

Form: 25-5111

Taj Badalandabad^t,v⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 138

20/1

Record is now 5-13 over hurdles, three wins in 2016 before spending 587 days on the easy list. Took a couple of runs to get warmed up but very easy winner at Huntingdon (3m1f, soft) eight days ago and major contender if backing that up.

Form: 41/9-7P1

Golan Fortune^p³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 137| C

9/1

Improving this season with three wins on the board, ready scorer over 2m5f at Kempton on Boxing Day, for which he's been slapped with a 14lb hike. More required but could be open to doing better over this new trip.

Form: 301F11

Melrose Boy¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 135

7/1

Improving sort, yet to finish out of the frame in six hurdles starts. Facile winner at Fakenham (longs odds-on) last time out and is on the upgrade but must prove credentials amongst some hardened performers now.

Form: 323-131

Kris Spin²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 135

33/1

Has shown some promising signs back over timber this season, notably when winning heavy-ground Ayr contest in November. Relishes that cut in the ground and has able pilot on board for this.

Form: 5F-5126

Buywise²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: Evan Williams| OR: 133| C| D

22/1

Fairytale success when landing the Final of Veterans' Chase series over 3m here last month, rated 5lb lower now returned to hurdling but no shock if he proves vulnerable just the same.

Form: P04-861

Folsom Blue^p,t⁶⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: B J Geraghty| T: G Elliott| OR: 132

14/1

Useful chaser, winning start for this trainer in 3m heavy-ground Cork handicap hurdle in November and not disgraced in valuable Navan contest since. Doesn't appear well-handicapped but cheekpieces on and Geraghty booked, worth paying attention to.

Form: 1208-14

Okotoks⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130

20/1

Has had share of setbacks down the years but capable on his day. May have needed the run on debut for this trainer in December at Cheltenham. Up in trip and merits a check in betting.

Form: 814/40-7

King Of Fashion^t⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 129| D

7/1

Dual novice winner last season over timber and will relish this test if it gets testing underfoot. Behind Kris Spin when last spotted before making switch to this handler. Stable debut and could go well.

Form: 13123-4

Dashing Perk²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: J E Moore| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 127

7/1

Just three starts over hurdles and cantered to victory last month at Wincanton (2m5½f, heavy). Stepping out of novice company now but not one to underestimate for shrewd handler from near foot of the weights.

Form: 1542-P1

Fourth Act^t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 124

12/1

Underwent wind surgery before last month's Fontwell success, though was also taking advantage of a reduced mark back over hurdles to win there. Raised 6lb and facing a sterner test in this packed field.

Form: P653-71

Doesyourdogbite^p³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123

40/1

Fine win no Boxing Day 2016 at Kempton completed a hat-trick. Rated 9lb lower but string of disappointing performances since are the reason for that and hard to fancy as such.

Form: 000-000

Man Of Plenty^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 123

16/1

Consistent sort but doesn't win too many (2-20 over hurdles) likely to run another sound race but unless return to this longer trip sparks him to life, looks an unlikely winner.

Form: 232554

Non-Runners

Theligny³⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: Tim Vaughan J: Alan Johns

Forecasts

Topofthegame (11/2), Melrose Boy (7/1), Dashing Perk (7/1), King Of Fashion (7/1), Golan Fortune (9/1), Fourth Act (12/1), Prime Venture (12/1), Folsom Blue (14/1), Man Of Plenty (16/1), Flemcara (16/1), Beat That (20/1), Taj Badalandabad (20/1), Okotoks (20/1), Theligny (20/1), Buywise (22/1), Ubak (25/1), Kris Spin (33/1), Doesyourdogbite (40/1)

This looks very competitive and it would be feasible to make a case for half the field. DASHING PERK has run only three times over hurdles but he mixed it with some very useful sorts in bumpers last season and was visually impressive when scoring a wide-margin at Wincanton last month on heavy ground. Clearly he has to step up in this field, but a mark of 127 gives him a great deal of scope to do just that and make a splash. He should run a big race. Prime Venture is a consistent sort who will handle both the ground and the trip and showed last time he remains on a feasible mark. The unexposed Topofthegame and the improving Flemcara can be given claims, while Taj Badalandabad will have a big say if able to match last week's facile Huntingdon win for David Pipe. Like the selection, Melrose Boy must prove himself amongst a hardened posse, while Folsom Blue is a respected raider his top Irish trainer.