16:45 Sandown

Friday 8 March 2019

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

Pure Storage Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 5m 12.95s

Duc De Beauchene²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: D Pipe| OR: 117

11/2

Combination of first handicap and step up to 2m4f saw him gain first career success at Plumpton latest. 4lb rise far from unfair for that success and expecting him to make a bold bid here.

Form: 29/5941

Mack The Man⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 117

7/1

Gradual improvement culminated in 6L second to Betameche latest who ran second in his first handicap recently. Longer trip expected to be a major positive and the sort to improve plenty on handicap debut.

Form: 8-732

It's Got Legs^v²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 116

5/1

13-race maiden but several good efforts on his CV including 4L second over C&D latest behind an improving sort. Upped 2lb for that here but still expect him to give a good account.

Form: 323652

Cold As Ice²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 110

17/2

Latest fourth over C&D gives him 7¾L to find with It's Got Legs who finished second there. Yet to make the frame and in honesty that looks likely to continue here.

Form: 5/7-44

Gleno⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 103

11/8

First handicap latest saw him absolutely hack up over 2m5½f at Wincanton on good ground. 15lb rise speaks volumes about just how well he won so obviously life gets tougher now. Also acted on heavy in bumpers so bold bid expected.

Form: 1-70981

Fenlons Court²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 109

14/1

Fontwell winner since finished third when behind It's Got Legs over C&D. No reason he can't again run well but vulnerable to less exposed sorts.

Form: 46-2153

Mr Jack²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: Mrs L C Jewell| OR: 108

20/1

Running with some consistency at present after three good efforts of late. Will handle the ground and there seems no reason why he won't run his race again.

Form: 3-47242

Mazalto⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 102| BF

20/1

Easy winner on soft at Fontwell two starts back since ran well when second on heavy at Uttoxeter. Upped again for that but clearly an improving mare and merits respect here.

Form: 5P5-912

Non-Runners

Young Wolf¹⁴

Weight: 12-3| Age: 6

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

Gleno (11/8), Young Wolf (4/1), It's Got Legs (5/1), Duc De Beauchene (11/2), Mack The Man (7/1), Cold As Ice (17/2), Fenlons Court (14/1), Mazalto (20/1), Mr Jack (20/1)

The longer trip here could be right up MACK THE MAN's street and he gets the vote to continue his gradual improvement by gaining his first career success. Gleno and Duc De Beauchene are both winners last time out expected to continue their improvement by going well here.