14:25 Sandown

Saturday 10 March 2018

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

Matchbook Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 12.20s

Call Me Lord²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152| CD

8/1

French import, has scored twice over this C&D since joining champion trainer, credible effort behind Elgin in the Kingwell Hurdle (third) latest and merits respect in this line-up.

Form: 111-313

Chti Balko²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 140| BF| D

25/1

Front-running sort, collected first handicap success at Haydock (2m, heavy) in December. Not quite in the same form since and looks to have plenty on his plate on ratings.

Form: 9-34153

Gwafa²⁶

Age: 15| Weight: 11-0| J: Unknown| T: P R Webber| OR: 140| BF| D

Form: 11U135/

Whatswrongwithyou^h²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| D

10/3

Second of the Seven Barrows contenders, looked promising over C&D in December on hurdles bow, since grabbed pair of novice successes at Newbury. Sent handicapping today, unexposed and full of promise.

Form: 012-211

Le Patriote^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 135

7/1

French import, off the mark for trainer at Newbury last month in first-time cheekpieces (retained) when holding off Friday Night Light by 1L. Bumped up 8lb for that success, likely has further improvement.

Form: 589741

Huntsman Son⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: A M Hales| OR: 135

9/1

Couple of wins this season at Market Rasen and Doncaster, nothing wrong with 2L second in Cheltenham handicap (2m1f, heavy) in January, further improvement likely to be called for.

Form: 3-21142

Poppy Kay²⁸

Age: 16| Weight: 10-10| J: Unknown| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| C| D

Form: 12-1310

Fidux⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 134| D

20/1

Was set to go close over C&D in November when coming to grief at the last, hasn't built on that promise in two runs since and 3lb higher on ratings today. Yard are red-hot however (7-19).

Form: 03-4U44

Silver Streak²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: Evan Williams| OR: 133| D

16/1

Progressive hurdler since joining Evan Williams, who has his team firing right now. Ran well in competitive Ascot event before Christmas and remains a player with just a further 3lb to carry having unseated rider early on at Newbury last month.

Form: 114-12U

Highway One O One⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 133| D

12/1

Progressive novice, scoring latest win on testing ground at Fontwell on Boxing Day. Opening handicap mark isn't lenient, but could be capable of improving.

Form: 311221

Master Of Irony^p⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: R Johnson| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 133| D

12/1

Winner at Wetherby earlier in the season and finishing with plenty running left in tactical Newbury affair in December when last spotted. Champion jockey back on board and credible threat.

Form: 121/314

I'm A Game Changer¹⁴⁶

Age: 14| Weight: 10-7| J: Unknown| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 133| D

Form: 3114-65

Castafiore^p,h²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 130| D

25/1

Progressing well, scored nicely at Uttoxeter last month and has been raised 10lb now veering into much more competitive fare, improvement called for.

Form: P-53121

Octagon⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 129| D

20/1

Going the right way this season, landing modest event at Sedgefield on Boxing Day most recently to complete hat-trick. Hit with another 9lb hike for that, and dipping toes in deeper water.

Form: P4/2-111

Raven's Tower⁶³

Age: 16| Weight: 10-5| J: Unknown| T: B Pauling| OR: 131| D

Form: P-22100

Friday Night Light^t,v1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 128| D

8/1

Going right way over timber, with Newbury win followed by sound second to Le Patriote at Ascot latest. Visor on today, Pipe runners always worthy of respect in this contest.

Form: /32122

Demon D'Aunou⁶⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 10-4| J: Unknown| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130

Form: 2-134

Birch Hill^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 126| D

28/1

Pulled up on return 475-day absence at Cheltenham in January, but facile winner of Class 4 Huntingdon contest since. Raised 10lb for that win, faces much deeper field now and must pull out all the stops.

Form: 9/11P-P1

Gassin Golf^b,t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-13| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 125| BF| D

16/1

Has twice before made the frame in this contest and ran well over C&D in testing ground. Just one win from 25 over timber however, likely to be playing for minor money at best.

Form: F0-8343

Shanroe Saint³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: J J Burke| T: B I Case| OR: 123

40/1

Made the frame in handicaps at Leicester and Towcester recently, though yet to win and this is much tougher from 3lb out of the weights.

Form: 625932

Mr Antolini³⁰

Age: 16| Weight: 10-4| J: Unknown| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130| D

Form: 406312

Man Of Plenty^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 122| D

25/1

Nine-years-old and doesn't hold any secrets, running well enough this season at times but 4lb wrong on these terms and hard to see a winning effort.

Form: 325547

Excellent Result²³¹

Age: 16| Weight: 10-3| J: Unknown| T: R Spencer| OR: 129| C| D

Form: 12012/5

Malaya¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-2| J: Unknown| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| BF| D

Form: 2-12122

Dell Oro³⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 10-1| J: Unknown| T: G & J Moore| OR: 127| D

Form: 17-124

Magic Dancer⁷⁷

Age: 14| Weight: 9-12| J: Unknown| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 124| D

Form: 9-72117

Maquisard⁵⁶

Age: 14| Weight: 9-8| J: Unknown| T: G & J Moore| OR: 120

Form: 136/88

Prairie Town⁴¹

Age: 15| Weight: 9-8| J: Unknown| T: A W Carroll| OR: 120| CD

Form: 3-03481

Darebin²¹

Age: 14| Weight: 9-6| J: Unknown| T: G & J Moore| OR: 123| CD

Form: 212355-

Forecasts

Whatswrongwithyou (10/3), Le Patriote (7/1), Call Me Lord (8/1), Friday Night Light (8/1), Huntsman Son (9/1), Highway One O One (12/1), Master Of Irony (12/1), Silver Streak (16/1), Gassin Golf (16/1), Fidux (20/1), Octagon (20/1), Man Of Plenty (25/1), Castafiore (25/1), Chti Balko (25/1), Birch Hill (28/1), Shanroe Saint (40/1)

With three wins since 2007, David Pipe has built solidly on his father's reputation in this tough contest. The Pond House team have yet another useful player here in Friday Night Light. He was beaten by Le Patriote last month but is on better terms now with that rival raised 8lb and, with a visor added, must be respected. Nicky Henderson has only won this race once but his unexposed runner Whatswrongwithyou joins stablemate Call Me Lord in giving the champion trainer sound claims. In a typically competitive renewal Silver Streak, Highway One O One and Octagon can all be given chances but the champion jockey might break his duck in the race on board MASTER OF IRONY. He wasn't suited by the w