15:35 Sandown

Saturday 2 February 2019

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

888Sport Masters Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 28.6s

Belami Des Pictons⁴⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 146| D

6/1

Was well backed before being declared a non-runner at Ascot two weeks ago, having not been seen out since running the classy Waiting Patiently to 2½l at Carlisle in Nov 2017. Yard can ready them after absence, slow ground no problem, so has chances.

Form: 14111/2-

Give Me A Copper^t⁴⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145| D

15/2

This will only be his third chase start, open to plenty of improvement but so far has only won a match and unseated on Flat after showing greenness at Kelso. Hard to weigh up after absence, but with top yard and cannot be easily discounted.

Form: 1161/U1-

Houblon Des Obeaux^p²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-10| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 144| CD

8/1

Top class handicap chaser at best, well into veteran stage now but thrashed them here last time out after nearest rival fell at last. 9lb rise for that leaves him vulnerable in a better race, but at least we know he's back in form now.

Form: 3F9-661

Rolling Dylan^p³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 141| D

10/1

Stays well and almost came good at Cheltenham in December, but consistency has never been his strong point and he threw in a bit of a stinker back there on New Year's Day. Likely to find this tough going.

Form: 312-434

Divine Spear³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139

12/1

Only seen a couple of times over the past year, most recently when pulling up in a Grade 3 chase at Cheltenham after an absence. May strip fitter for that, but plenty to prove now, not least ability to see out this trip.

Form: 25/112-P

Shanroe Santos^b³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham| OR: 137| CD

8/1

Good stayer and a ready winner of the Southern National at Fontwell last November, arguably this trip a bare minimum for him these days but he remains in good form and he will be plugging away at the business end. Place chances with a clear round.

Form: U6-4142

El Bandit⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137

16/1

Unexposed over fences but needs to turn things around after a couple of non-completions at Cheltenham and Wincanton this season, both times weakening out of it. No hiding place on ground plenty soft enough for him here either, and others preferred.

Form: 710/1-PP

Kilcrea Vale³⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137| D

10/1

Probably hasn't won the races his talent says he should have, still looks capable at this sort of level but all wins have come in single-figure fields and this trip (especially on the likely slow ground) will probably stretch his stamina.

Form: 6254-35

Loose Chips^b²⁸

Age: 13| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 137| CD

16/1

Often seen in veteran chases around here and wins his share, but still looks a few pounds too high in the handicap and has a lot of ground to make up with Houblon Des Obeaux on their running here last time out. Plenty to do.

Form: 56-5135

Kimberlite Candy⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: R P McLernon| T: T Lacey| OR: 137| BF| D

12/1

Won't mind however deep the ground gets, twice a winner on heavy last year but backed out of things worryingly quickly at Haydock when last seen (under conditions that should have suited) and now has something to prove.

Form: P431-19

No Hassle Hoff³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: D Skelton| OR: 136

14/1

Fourth chase start for him today, this handicap mark probably within his compass but really hasn't looked a natural over fences so far and he'll find them coming thick and fast here. Easier task than last time but can only be watched at present.

Form: 300-42U

Kayf Adventure⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 136| BF

14/1

All four wins have come in single-figure fields and when he's raced in bigger fields, he tends to find things all a bit much, as was the case when a slightly disappointing favourite at Newbury last time out. Trip asks a new question of him too.

Form: 12372-5

Le Reve^p²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: L Wadham| OR: 132| CD

20/1

Came back off an absence to run well enough when last of three at Warwick in November (stayed on after the last) but a bit disappointing he couldn't get closer when well beaten behind Houblon Des Obeaux here last time. Handicapper now helps.

Form: PU9P/38

Ami Desbois^t³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 132| D

12/1

Eats mud pies for breakfast, so the slower the ground the better, and stays very well too. Slight worry that big fields might not be his thing, and this will be his first try right-handed, so has those question marks against him.

Form: 1PP-U34

Classic Ben^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 130

20/1

Only fifth chase start, so open to improvement, stuck to the task well enough when tried in cheekpieces (retained here) at Doncaster last time but might not want the ground too deep, and some of these might be a bit too street-wise for him today.

Form: 26-4253

Sandy Beach^p,t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 127

12/1

No issue with this trip but often looks a hard ride and can throw it in somewhat if things aren't going his way. Stayed on for fifth at Newbury last time but hard to see him winning a race as tough as this (all wins in lower grade).

Form: 7332-15

Chic Name^h¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Burke| T: R Hobson| OR: 127

25/1

Stays longer than the mother in law at Christmas, as demonstrated by his win over 3m6f at Perth last April, not disgraced on good ground at Newbury last time (stayed on late) and this test might suit. Low weight will help and not discounted.

Form: 35P1-05

Forecasts

Belami Des Pictons (6/1), Give Me A Copper (15/2), Shanroe Santos (8/1), Houblon Des Obeaux (8/1), Rolling Dylan (10/1), Kilcrea Vale (10/1), Ami Desbois (12/1), Kimberlite Candy (12/1), Divine Spear (12/1), Sandy Beach (12/1), No Hassle Hoff (14/1), Kayf Adventure (14/1), Loose Chips (16/1), El Bandit (16/1), Classic Ben (20/1), Le Reve (20/1), Chic Name (25/1)

Another ridiculously hard handicap to try and solve. Ability to stay and stay well is likely to be a big plus point, which brings old favourites such as the rejuvenated Houblon Des Obeaux and Le Reve into it, and down the foot of the handicap it would be no surprise to see Chic Name run well, but the vote goes to SHANROE SANTOS, who seems to have got his act together in the jumping department and will find these conditions to his liking. There should be a solid pace on here and that can only help. Belami Des Pictons and Give Me A Copper both have something to prove but come from yards going well, and are to be respected.