16:05 Sandown

Friday 15 February 2019

All12:5013:2013:5014:2515:0015:3016:0516:35

starsports.bet Handicap Chase (For The Alanbrooke Challenge Cup)

Off time: 16:08 | Winning time: 6m 34.60s

Strong Pursuit⁴⁶³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 136| D

6/1

Useful hurdler won lone start over fences last season when jumping like an old hand in a Newbury beginners chase. Long absence to overcome here but stable can ready them and interesting given unexposed nature.

Form: 611P2/1-

Duel At Dawn^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: L P Aspell| T: A M Hales| OR: 135| D

12/1

Smart novice last season but yet to hit those heights in two starts this term. Handicap falling and this a little easier but good bit more required now.

Form: 122P-79

Kansas City Chief^p,t1⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 133| D

14/1

Not won over fences since 2016 although ran well over hurdles last season. Pulled up back chasing latest in Welsh National although this rates a good bit easier than that. Better expected and each-way claims.

Form: 1220-5P

Darius Des Bois⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128| BF| D

4/1

Newbury hurdle winner finished second in both chases to date. Latest run over 2m4f saw him finish very strongly suggesting 3m could be ideal. Tough course this for a novice but able latest so big chance here.

Form: 7712-22

Holbrook Park^t⁵⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: N B King| OR: 128| D

14/1

Three-time winner last season started this term with a good second. Slightly disappointing latest at Fakenham when fourth of five but can do better and capable if getting into a rhythm upfront.

Form: 2141-24

Mendip Express^t⁷⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128| CD

8/1

December C&D winner has an excellent record over fences. Of advancing years and Johnson aboard Strong Pursuit but foolish to dismiss him and expect a bold bid.

Form: 441-561

Thedrinkymeister^p⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 127| D

10/1

Hacked up on final start of last season and picked up where he left off with a good second at Newcastle. Strip fitter for that and relishes testing conditions so everything points to another strong showing.

Form: F2271-2

Two Smokin Barrels²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 126| D

14/1

Second of three at Wincanton last time but had been struggling beforehand. Taller order now back in this bigger and more competitive field and others are preferred.

Form: 175-442

Bramble Brook^p,t¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 124

16/1

Largely struggled since hacking up in a small field Wincanton contest last May. Handicapper assisting of late however and now just 3lb above that success so creeping back into contention.

Form: 3-16334

Salmanazar⁶³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 124| D

15/2

Four time winner remained largely consistent last term after missing 663 days. Started this season with a respectable second at Bangor so again has live place chances here.

Form: 2/7423-2

Achille^p⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 122| D

13/2

Former French trained gelding gained first success for this yard latest at Exeter last month. Upped 7b for that but could be that he's ready to improve again now and merits respect in this warmer contest.

Form: 5572-21

Scotchtown^v⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 121

8/1

Generally stays well and hints of a return to form in his last two outings of 2018. Never yet won outside of novice company but not totally ruled out here.

Form: 429-643

Forecasts

Darius Des Bois (4/1), Strong Pursuit (6/1), Achille (13/2), Salmanazar (15/2), Scotchtown (8/1), Mendip Express (8/1), Thedrinkymeister (10/1), Duel At Dawn (12/1), Kansas City Chief (14/1), Two Smokin Barrels (14/1), Holbrook Park (14/1), Bramble Brook (16/1)

DARIUS DES BOIS looked to be crying out for a step up in trip latest when second here over 2m4f and he is expected to be much better now over 3m and therefore gets the nod. Thedrinkymeister is one of the principle dangers after a good second on reappearance with recent winner Achille another expected to go close.