13:50 Sandown

Saturday 9 March 2019

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

European Breeders' Fund Matchbook VIP 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final (Grade 3)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 6.63s

One For Rosie¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138| D

12/1

Beat the Arkle-bound Glen Forsa at Carlisle on hurdles debut in November on good ground over 2m4f before flopping at Carlisle on soft in December. Right back on track with Warwick (2m3f, good) win last month but reservations on the forecast ground.

Form: 1-131

Muratello³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 136

20/1

Won in France last summer and twice run well at Haydock (2m, good to soft) and Market Rasen (2m4½f, good to soft) for this trainer, finishing third in both races. Capable of better still.

Form: 12V33

Russian Hawk²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 133

6/1

Exeter novice hurdle winner (2m5½f, good to soft) on first start over timber, subsequently twice placed at Ascot, latest just failing to get up over this journey last month. Entitled to go well.

Form: 3-132

Mill Green²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Ned Curtis⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132

14/1

Impressive winner at Fontwell and Newton Abbot last summer for champion trainer to kick-start hurdles career. No shame in returning third at Fakenham (2m4f, good) last month under double penalty. Fitter now but testing ground a possible concern.

Form: 54-3113

Third Wind³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: H Morrison| OR: 131

9/1

40-1 winner of a 2m4f Plumpton maiden hurdle in December, shown that too be no fluke with good second there and odds-on Taunton win (2m3f, soft) since. Loses services of Richard Johnson now.

Form: 30-121

Garrettstown³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy| OR: 131

10/1

Market Rasen novice scorer in January, making all over 2m2½f (good). Unable to close from the rear over longer trip since, champion jockey stays faithful and perhaps will be ridden closer to the pace now.

Form: 1-6212

Admiral Barratry²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 131| D

12/1

Asserted on the flat when breaking his duck at Huntingdon on Boxing Day (2m3f+, soft) on debut for Lucy Wadham. Well held in good races at Ascot and Huntingdon since (latest upped to 3m). This again looks to be a stiff ask.

Form: 2-26148

Champagne Well¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130

12/1

Beat a few of these at Ascot (2m5½f, good to soft) when runner-up on second outing over timber. Since landed odds over 3m at Ludlow, just holding out, and might have more to offer back down in distance.

Form: 1-5132D

On The Slopes²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 130

33/1

Solid form under rules so far, including Fontwell novice success in December (2m1½f, soft) and pair of good runs there and Fakenham over this sort of trip since. Stepped up in class here and will have to improve.

Form: P32124

Smackwater Jack^p1⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 129

16/1

Came good at the third attempt over hurdles with an easy win at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) and found only Before Midnight too strong under the penalty at Taunton since. Cheekpieces on and 5lb better off with that rival now.

Form: 2-F312

Trixster²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Charlie Price⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 129

14/1

Clearly a much-improved hurdler this season winning three out of four in novice company and won on good and heavy ground. Found just one too strong in decent Ascot handicap latest (3m, good to soft). Should run his race, despite dropping in trip.

Form: 5-12112

Senior Citizen³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 129

20/1

Chepstow winner on hurdles bow in the autumn over this sort of trip, though hasn't progressed in three further runs. Needs to do so now and yard have been quiet recently.

Form: 33-1364

Before Midnight⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128

8/1

Expensive to follow over timber in four starts. Off the mark latest at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft; 4-9f), confirming bumper form with Smackwater Jack. Is 5lb worse off with that re-opposing rival now.

Form: 31-2U21

Boldmere³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 128

25/1

Had three of these rivals chase him home when all to win at Market Rasen (2m4½f, good to soft) last month and had a bit more in hand than 1¾L margin suggested. Going the right way but this is tougher.

Form: 5-961

Skandiburg^p1⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: O Murphy| OR: 125| BF| D

25/1

Comfortably justified short odds when scoring on his second hurdles start at Fakenham (2m4f, good to soft) in December; and perhaps found trip too far behind Trixster at Kelso in January. Third runner for Olly Murphy in this line-up.

Form: 4-1312

Golden Whisky⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: S Bowen| T: Evan Williams| OR: 123| D

16/1

Winner at Ffos Las in January in handicap company over this trip on soft ground. There could be further progress to come.

Form: 64F-521

Southern Sam²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 123

7/1

Had Mill Green just behind when runner-up in Fakenham novices' hurdle last month over similar trip on good, good to soft ground. Yard in good form (4-15 lately) and liable to further progress.

Form: 2-232

Diomede Des Mottes³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 123| BF

16/1

Has placed three times in maiden/novice hurdles over this sort of trip on good/good to soft going in four starts since joining Dan Skelton. Leaves him with improvement to find.

Form: 2-16233

Forecasts

Russian Hawk (6/1), Southern Sam (7/1), Before Midnight (8/1), Third Wind (9/1), Garrettstown (10/1), One For Rosie (12/1), Champagne Well (12/1), Admiral Barratry (12/1), Mill Green (14/1), Trixster (14/1), Smackwater Jack (16/1), Golden Whisky (16/1), Diomede Des Mottes (16/1), Senior Citizen (20/1), Muratello (20/1), Skandiburg (25/1), Boldmere (25/1), On The Slopes (33/1)

Plenty with chances in a wide open affair. Before Midnight has been costly to follow and while he got the job done at Taunton last time, he might not confirm the placings with SMACKWATER JACK. He's one of three for Olly Murphy and is on better terms here, while the new headgear can also see him improve further. Boldmere beat off Garrettstown, Muratello and Senior Citizen from the front last time, all are respected here. Third Wind continues to improve while One For Rosie and Mill Green have queries on soft going, ensuring Russian Hawk trumps them on the shortlist.