15:05 Sandown

Friday 8 March 2019

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

Team Ethos Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 5m 3.6s

Sussex Ranger^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 135| C

16/1

Won at this level as favourite at Fontwell two starts back before coming up short in hotter contest at Ascot. 5lb higher than Fontwell where he won by 4½L so very much respected and soft ground suits well.

Form: 27-9019

Forza Milan⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 134WS

20/1

Scored over hurdles (2m3½f, soft) almost two years ago. Was making into a decent handicapper last season (stayed 3m), but was pulled up in the Pertemps Final on his final start. No show twice this season. Wind op could help but risky proposition

Form: 622P-0P

Two For Gold⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 133

7/2

Won twice in bumper and after a fourth in Grade Two behind top-class Elixir De Nutz he has won his next two over hurdled over 2m5½f and 2m7f. Drop in trip not problematic and looks to be on a very realistic opening mark.

Form: 161-411

Dan McGrue^t²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132

14/1

Won two Taunton novice hurdles last season, the second in particularly taking fashion. Returned from an absence of over a year latest when pulled-up at Wincanton. Strip fitter now but must prove this handicap within range.

Form: 1/4411-P

Pistol Whipped²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130| D

9/4

Third of 20 in an above average Newbury maiden a promising start for this £110,000 purchase and won at Fakenham subsequently albeit in hard earned fashion. Bare form gives him a bit to find but surely improve again given connections.

Form: S231

Nordic Combined²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 129

14/1

Second at Newbury saw him 1¾L ahead of Pistol Whipped although that his third start to rivals first. Since finished second before finding Betfair Hurdle a tougher nut to crack. Mark not impossible but suspect aforementioned now turn the tables.

Form: 52220

Full Irish⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 126| C| D

25/1

Won once in uninspiring chasing career so far and pulled up in last four (all three this season). Suspect hurdles now tried in attempt to boost confidence but can't be realistically fancied.

Form: 45P-PRP

Magoo^t⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 125

10/3

Just held on to win a Fontwell handicap in March and connections wasted little lime getting him over fences at Sandown in December, but fell mid-race. Fair fourth latest back over hurdles at Wincanton but others appear better handicapped.

Form: 1/1-F4

Doubly Clever^p1²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: M Blake| OR: 123| D

40/1

All five career wins come in summer months and despite one soft ground win appears best on sound surfaces. 21L sixth at Wincanton latest after a break leaves him with plenty to find.

Form: 1423-36

Subcontinent⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 122

8/1

Just the one win thus far over hurdles but all three runs this term been competitive and latest close fourth at Newbury off this mark offers encouragement he can continue the run here. Each-way contender.

Form: 52-1324

Forecasts

Pistol Whipped (9/4), Magoo (10/3), Two For Gold (7/2), Subcontinent (8/1), Dan McGrue (14/1), Nordic Combined (14/1), Sussex Ranger (16/1), Forza Milan (20/1), Full Irish (25/1), Doubly Clever (40/1)

TWO FOR GOLD has made a bright start to his career with four wins in six starts and two from three over hurdles with the only blip a 4¼L fourth to Supreme Novices third favourite Elixir De Nutz; indeed all three who finished ahead of him there are set to run in Festival Grade Ones. He gets the nod ahead of fellow novice Pistol Whipped who is highly unexposed and represents the champion trainer who has no parallels with novice hurdlers. Sussex Ranger is proven at this level and expected to go well.