14:00 Sandown

Friday 8 March 2019

All14:0014:3015:0515:4016:1016:45

Spectra Group 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 4m 7.60s

Melchior King¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125| D

12/1

Promise of his second hurdle start followed up as he landed the odds in a 2m Chepstow novice in January. Expected to continue his progress he was next pulled up before two out over the same C&D. Sure he's better than that but others more compelling.

Form: 6-7761P

Precious Cargo³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| D

1/2

Heavy ground bumper winner for Lucinda Russell made a more than pleasing start for the champion trainer when winning a shade cosily at Kempton six weeks ago. Penalty for that but looks a smart prospect and bold bid expected.

Form: 120-1

Granitic⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| D

100/1

Narrow Towcester bumper winner but beaten 31L and 45L in two hurdle races at Exeter. Hard to envisage him playing a major part.

Form: 100

Harry Hazard^h¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison

150/1

Made little impact in his Irish point-to-point outings and his Rules outings have told a very similar tale. Seventh a fortnight ago at Plumpton a long way short of the required here.

Form: 5F057

Jimmy The Digger⁷⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly

7/2

Giant of a horse who fulfilled debut promise when landing a gamble in a 1m6f bumper at his local track. Interesting to see how he fares now first time over hurdles but clearly of ability. May well be a chaser long term.

Form: 21

Sunday At Augusta³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe

66/1

Placed in a small field heavy ground bumper at Tramore last April. Well beaten in three outings over hurdles for this yard however and probably best watched at present.

Form: F2-8P8

Rose Sea Has¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: D A Jacob| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 131

9/2

Three-year-old hurdle winner in France was subsequently twice placed in chases. Started out in red-hot Adonis (Grade Two) when leading before weakening tamely into eighth. This a big step down in class and expecting he goes very close.

Form: 6-71328

Champagne Poppy³¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Alan Johns| T: T Lacey

50/1

Beaten 70L and 51L in two Warwick bumpers for Ben Pauling. Joined a yard in fine form but hard to have any confidence here.

Form: 00-

Episode³⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

28/1

Well bred French import showed promise in her second start when third in a 1m4½f AQPS flat race and looking the sort who was ready for a greater stamina test. Joined respected yard and wouldn't be at all surprised if she made the frame.

Form: 83-

Tis Fantastic^t⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: M Blake

100/1

Montmartre gelding who cost €40,000 last year and is a half-brother to a couple of winning hurdlers made an inauspicious start when a remote fifth of seven over C&D. More to come in time but this too soon.

Form: 5

Forecasts

Precious Cargo (1/2), Jimmy The Digger (7/2), Rose Sea Has (9/2), Melchior King (12/1), Episode (28/1), Champagne Poppy (50/1), Sunday At Augusta (66/1), Granitic (100/1), Tis Fantastic (100/1), Harry Hazard (150/1)

The considerable experience of four-year-old ROSE SEA HAS is an obvious plus and the fact that his owners who have a wealth of riches in the division pitched him in at the deep end first time up suggested he is held in high regard and he can use his allowance to good effect to land this. The obvious threat is Precious Cargo for Nicky Henderson, he looked a useful prospect when winning his hurdles debut at Kempton. Jimmy The Digger is a potentially very useful sort based on his bumper win and he should be watched quite keenly for the future.