15:00 Sandown

Saturday 2 February 2019

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

888Sport Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 6m 7.50s

Ballymoy¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 152| C

11/2

Improving hurdler, ready winner here last April and has continued to impress with victories at Haydock and in a Grade 3 at Ascot last time. Steps up in trip today, which asks a new question, but folly to say he won't stay and has to be a player.

Form: 11-1411

Keeper Hill²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Teal⁽⁵⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 144| D

8/1

Has looked right back on track last two starts after a stuttering chase campaign, form of his win in a Pertemps qualifier at Warwick looks strong and 5lb rise for the win more than fair. Likely slower ground to contend with but stays well.

Form: FFP-521

Brio Conti⁴⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143

16/1

Lightly raced but highly thought of, fifth in the 2017 G1 Mersey Novices Hurdle and only seen once since then when narrow chase winner at Carlisle. Plenty of questions to answer after another long absence but interesting to see what the market says.

Form: 28115/1-

Eminent Poet⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 143| CD

10/1

Thorough stayer and made the most of the slow ground to score over C&D last time out. Hoiked up 8lb for that, which looks plenty, but track clearly suits and the slower the ground (and the quicker they go) the better his chance.

Form: 3761P-1

Padleyourowncanoe³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Kimber⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 142

12/1

Progress looked to have stalled before he came good at Wincanton last time out, got good ride from his claimer (on board again here) to pounce late. Up 7lb, faces slower ground and tougher opposition, so more to do if he's to follow up.

Form: 49-2361

Full Glass⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 142

16/1

Came from France with lofty reputation but done nothing much in three starts to justify it. Suspicion is he could bounce back at any time but plenty to prove now, and stopped too quickly at Ascot last time for comfort. Risky.

Form: 1F33-UP

Mr Antolini⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 140| C

10/1

Won the Imperial Cup here last year so handles this track, solid efforts since then but overall impression is that the handicapper has him where he wants him, and this trip asks a new question of him as well. Bit to find now, and others preferred.

Form: 212-525

Coole Cody^t³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: M Blake| OR: 137

33/1

Go back far enough and he looks well enough treated on a mark of 137 today, but that's mainly down to some disappointing efforts over the past 12 months and he now has something to prove. Slow ground would help his cause, though.

Form: 11P-4P6

Lord Napier^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 134

6/1

Not been doing much wrong over hurdles this winter, running on sixth at Ascot over trip too short was followed by a game third in the Lanzarote Hurdle last time. Should stay this trip and no reason not to be among the prizes if he does.

Form: 61-6463

The Hollow Ginge⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132| D

14/1

Took advantage of a fair-looking handicap mark to score in the mud at Haydock last time out, handicapper reacts with a 9lb rise to make life harder but does look rejuvenated this season so may have more to offer. Not discounted.

Form: 376-241

Flemcara^t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 132

12/1

Back over hurdles after a truncated season over fences, not really taken to them but only 1lb higher than when successful in the Chepstow mud around a year ago. Ninth in this last year and may do better off 7lb lower mark. Place chances.

Form: 1190-8U

Virginia Chick³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 131

10/1

Steadily progressive over hurdles over the last year and took his form to new levels when successful in a Class 2 event at Chepstow last time, given a good ride to score by ½l. Hit with an 8lb rise for that but may have won with a bit in hand.

Form: 1121-41

Dans Le Vent^b1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 131

25/1

Consistent efforts this season without really threatening to win one, and as a result the handicapper is reluctant to release his grip. Blinkers given a try today (has run well enough in cheekpieces) but others look more progressive.

Form: 26-4644

Man Of Plenty^p,t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 131| C

33/1

A regular in these big field handicaps and finally had his day in the sun when successful here in January. Handicapper had his say after that and he's found life harder off his new mark. Fading seventh in this last year too.

Form: 504105

Folsom Blue^b,t³⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 10-4| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| OR: 130

12/1

Better known as a chaser but fourth in this last year and now 2lb lower, so well enough handicapped if he can bounce back from a slightly below-par effort in the Welsh National latest. Softer the ground and quicker they go the better his chance.

Form: 4140-48

Mr Clarkson^p1³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 128

33/1

Not seen much in recent times and only start this season saw him well beaten at Wincanton, looking less than cooperative at times. Blinkers tried now, but they look more in hope, and it's not hard to look elsewhere for the winner.

Form: P1217/P

Casko D'Airy^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 127

7/1

Had his troubles but looked to have firmly put them behind him when an easy winner of a 3m novice hurdle at Ascot in December, travelled strongly and won going away. 14lb rise for win but may have won with that in hand. Major player here.

Form: 12/951

Lungarno Palace^p,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Alain Cawley| T: F O'Brien| OR: 127

16/1

Has run with credit last two starts, both competitive handicaps, but it does rather look like the handicapper is in charge and he will face much slower conditions here too. Not hard to think others are better treated.

Form: 3-21435

Forecasts

Ballymoy (11/2), Lord Napier (6/1), Casko D'Airy (7/1), Keeper Hill (8/1), Eminent Poet (10/1), Virginia Chick (10/1), Mr Antolini (10/1), Flemcara (12/1), Folsom Blue (12/1), Padleyourowncanoe (12/1), The Hollow Ginge (14/1), Lungarno Palace (16/1), Brio Conti (16/1), Full Glass (16/1), Dans Le Vent (25/1), Coole Cody (33/1), Man Of Plenty (33/1), Mr Clarkson (33/1)

As difficult a handicap to try and solve as you'll find, with any number of these coming into this in good form and some open to improvement as well. CASKO D'AIRY fits nicely into both of those categories and given connections were bullish about him after his Ascot win, he may well be able to take the weight rise in his stride. Eminent Poet stays very well and the slower the ground, the better his chance. He'll be staying on, as will veteran Folsom Blue, who may not be the force of old but is well enough handicapped. Flemcara may do better than he did when seventh last year, Virginia Chick keeps rolling along and Lord Napier continues in good form.