12:50 Sandown

Friday 7 December 2018

All12:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:30

Pinsent Masons Handicap Chase

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 4m 10.1s

Clondaw Westie^p,t²⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 122

10/1

Boasts an 80% strike-rate over fences under rules, and is returning to the track for the first time since scoring with ease in a small field affair at Fontwell (2m2f, soft) in April; respected off a 7lb higher mark but faces his stiffest task yet.

Form: 81U111-

Swift Crusador²⁹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 120

14/1

Ended the previous campaign for Evan Williams on a sour note at Wetherby (1m7f, heavy) in February and has fallen 5lb in the weights accordingly; no ground concerns on debut for Alex Dunn, but probably better over further than 2m.

Form: 11/2347-

Red Devil Star^t²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 120

6/1

Found a relatively weak race when scoring in heavy ground at Market Rasen in April (2m1f) and was a shade underwhelming on his seasonal return at Newbury (2m4f, good) last month; dropped in trip and 4lb in the weights.

Form: 26313-8

Darebin^v¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 119| CD

5/1

Has run well in each of his last three visits to Sandown, edging out Big Jim by a short-head in what was effectively a match in March (2m, soft); on the wrong end of a similar tussle at Fakenham latest and this commands more.

Form: 34-2312

Vicenzo Mio^p,t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 118| BF| D

8/1

Without a win since December 2013 and remains a maiden over fences (0-5); that said, he's shown ability on rain-softened ground and is fully proficient at his obstacles; could be sharper for a seasonal pipe-opener over hurdles; no back-number.

Form: 54232-3

Enola Gay³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 117| D

5/2

Catterick hurdles winner for whom it remains early days over fences; ran his best race yet over the larger obstacles (on seasonal reappearance) at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) last month; likely competitive off the same handicap mark of 117.

Form: 01220-3

Cap St Vincent¹¹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 110| D

4/1

2-3 over fences and officially is ahead of the handicapper under a 7lb penalty for a ready 7L win at Musselburgh (2m, Class 4, good); on an upward curve, but with slight reservations as to how he'd handle worsening ground conditions (i.e. soft).

Form: 3-56311

The Boom Is Back¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: D F O'Regan| T: Christian Williams| OR: 100

16/1

3m PTP winner who joined this trainer for £13,000 in March; 0-3 in Chepstow maiden/novice hurdles and well beaten on his rules chasing debut (33/1) at that same track last month; very unlikely on first foray outside of novice company.

Form: P17-708

Forecasts

Enola Gay (5/2), Cap St Vincent (4/1), Darebin (5/1), Red Devil Star (6/1), Vicenzo Mio (8/1), Clondaw Westie (10/1), Swift Crusador (14/1), The Boom Is Back (16/1)

The progressive pair are Clondaw Westie and Cap St Vincent, with the latter named having the distinct benefit of a recent run. However, he'd have questions to answer regarding conditions if the forecast rain pushes the ground towards an official description of soft, so could be worth opposing despite being officially ahead of the handicapper. Darebin has the handy track experience and Vincenzo Mio is no back-number, but preference is for the Venetia Williams-trained ENOLA GAY. Perhaps he has not quite reached his maximum potential on these shores, but his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow represents his strongest form over fences thus far.