13:20 Sandown

Saturday 8 December 2018

All12:1512:5013:2013:5014:2515:0015:35

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 6m 23.20s

Lieutenant Colonel^t¹⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 140

40/1

£10,000 purchase from Gordon Elliott in September. Below par when last seen but at least will relish the very soft ground today.

Form: 1P4P-76

Holly Bush Henry^p²⁶

7/1

Won this last year off 5lb lower and has been campaigned over fences since prior to recent spin at Kempton. Has had a wind operation since and likely to be well primed for this.

Form: 41256-9

Eminent Poet²⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 135| D

14/1

Has never been the easiest to catch right but the rain has come in time for him and with it likely to turn into a slog, a big run wouldn't surprise.

Form: 13761P-

Ice Cool Champs²⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 133| D

5/2

Didn't take to fences last season and will be happier now back over the smaller obstacles. Lightly raced in this sphere and emphatic win at Uttoxeter when last over them a year ago.

Form: 3/31523-

Loose Chips^b²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 133| C

11/2

Loves it here over fences but this his first run over hurdles for five years and although he will give it a go from the front, some of his younger rivals are preferred.

Form: 3056-51

Fortunate George^v⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 133

9/2

Ran well in bad conditions on only previous visit to this venue and should come on for his comeback run last month.

Form: 17310-0

Another Emotion²³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 120

10/3

Won a four runner race at Ffos Las on only his second run under rules and as he was placed in a Point-to-point in 2016 there should be improvement stepping up in trip but lightly raced and not easy to assess.

Form: U2/21-

Volt Face^h,t³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: G Sheehan| T: P R Webber| OR: 118WS

20/1

First run since wind surgery and although capable of showing form at his best, his losing run stretches back to April 2014 and will do well to arrest the slide.

Form: 34P53-0

Little Boy Boru⁷²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: H Cobden| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 115| C

25/1

Off the track for two years but has course form and conditions not a problem. Interesting connections persevere with him and well treated if fit to go.

Form: 854732/

Non-Runners

Mellow Ben²¹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 5

T: C Gordon J: Tom Cannon

Forecasts

Ice Cool Champs (5/2), Another Emotion (10/3), Fortunate George (9/2), Loose Chips (11/2), Holly Bush Henry (7/1), Mellow Ben (15/2), Eminent Poet (14/1), Volt Face (20/1), Little Boy Boru (25/1), Lieutenant Colonel (40/1)

LITTLE BOY BORU has been off the track for two years but is very interesting if ready to go and can provide a welcome winner for his trainer. No doubt Ice Cool Champs will be happier now back hurdling and Eminent Poet, another who will relish the ground makes up the short list.