13:15 Sandown

Saturday 2 February 2019

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

888Sport Bet 10 Get 30 Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 3m 56.0s

Le Prezien^t⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 154| D

9/2

Last season's Grand Annual winner, yet to hit top form this year but highly tried last time and may find this drop back to handicap company a plus. Goes right-handed fine and ground no issue, but maybe still a bit high in the handicap.

Form: 381P-25

Gino Trail^p²⁹⁶

5/1

Lovely old boy that gives his all from the front every time, enjoys attacking these fences and game winner here last February. Worry would be form of the yard, with just the two winners all season, but bold showing expected.

Form: 112123-

Dolos^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149| D

11/2

Just touched off by Gino Trail here last February and now actually 2lb worse off. Finds getting his head in front hard and handicapper cutting him little slack, but Ascot third last time working out well, and he can't be discounted.

Form: 272-223

Bigmartre^p⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 146| D

12/1

Useful front runner when on song, but can sulk a bit if not getting the lead. Grade 2 winner at Ayr last year (only two completed) but handicapper does look to have his measure at present. This trip suits best, though.

Form: 271-6P4

Azzuri^t¹⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 144| D

13/2

First start for new yard today, very useful dual purpose horse and winner of four of his eight chase starts. First start since July though, and might want better ground, so best watched today.

Form: 36431-1

Overtown Express⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 142| D

16/1

Into the veteran stage now, fragile type that needs things to drop just right but strong pace here would help his cause. Never going at Ascot on latest start, and though capable off this mark, is very risky.

Form: 34259-P

Copain De Classe^p1,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 136| BF| D

7/1

Won well at Kempton last October, and possible things have gone against him in two subsequent starts, so has excuses. Strong pace here will help this good traveller settle better, and cheekpieces may help, so could bounce back.

Form: 154-144

Red Mix¹¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 130

8/1

Twice a winner in France and handled soft ground well, horse he beat at Auteuil has since won a handicap for Nicky Henderson (easily) off a mark of 125, so looks nicely enough treated on 130 for new yard today. Very interesting.

Form: F1F5-23

Not Another Muddle³⁸⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: G & J Moore| OR: 130| D

8/1

Winner of last two chase starts but they were both in lesser company than he faces today, and has an absence of a year to overcome. Will win more races but may have to wait for better opportunities to come.

Form: 2125/11-

Commis D'Office^t1⁷¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 127WS

25/1

Winner in France but was disappointing on only start for this yard at Haydock. That was back in 2017 but since then has undergone wind surgery, and this wouldn't be the first chase winner the yard has had off an absence. Not discounted.

Form: 73152P/

Darebin^v²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 123| CD

12/1

Consistent sort that made all to win over C&D last time out but wins have tended to come in small fields and he races from out of the handicap here. Might find himself biting off a bit more than he can chew, and wouldn't want the ground too soft.

Form: 231241

Forecasts

Le Prezien (9/2), Gino Trail (5/1), Dolos (11/2), Azzuri (13/2), Copain De Classe (7/1), Not Another Muddle (8/1), Red Mix (8/1), Darebin (12/1), Bigmartre (12/1), Overtown Express (16/1), Commis D'Office (25/1)

Fast and furious stuff with Gino Trail and Bigmartre in attendance. Copain De Classe will enjoy them going hammer and tongs early as he often travels well in his races and he should figure in the finish. But Dr Newland has a great record with horses racing for him for the first time and that makes RED MIX a very interesting contender here. The soft ground is in his favour too and he might be good enough to win at the first time of asking for the yard. Commis D'Office is worth a look in the market.