14:25 Sandown

Saturday 9 March 2019

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

Matchbook Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 4m 1.95s

Call Me Lord⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 160| BF| CD

3/1

3-4 at this track, sole defeat coming when neck-second in this contest last year (front two clear). Returns 8lb higher and is lumping weight around him. Class act, but could be vulnerable.

Form: 31321-7

Speredek^p⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Buckley⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 146| CD

16/1

Heavy faller over fences on most recent start, on a fair mark back over hurdles and assisted by Tom Buckley's claim, but others make more significant appeal.

Form: 2P8-24F

First Flow³⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 144| D

9/1

Really impressive winner of Haydock Grade 2 novice race in January last year. That form gives him claims, though hasn't raced since being pulled up in the Supreme at Cheltenham a year ago.

Form: 4/4111P-

Chti Balko⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 141| D

25/1

25-1 in this last year and finished no better than midfield. Has run some fair races in five starts since without winning and back here still rated a pound higher. Likely up against it.

Form: 92-2339

Dream Du Grand Val^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| D

6/1

French import, beaten at Cheltenham in November on British bow but easy winner at Fontwell and Kelso since turn of the year and likely still progressing for the champion trainer.

Form: 243-611

All Yours¹⁰²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: G Sheehan| T: S Curran| OR: 137| BF

66/1

Has been off the track for more than 1000 days now and surely will find this water too deep on his return to action.

Form: 515052/

Malaya²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 136| D

7/1

Began this season with back-to-back falls, better last time in Ascot handicap (2m3½f, soft) when fourth behind stablemate Brio Conti. Eased a pound by the assessor and entitled to have a chance.

Form: 218-FF4

Storm Rising^b¹¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 135| D

20/1

Winner of his first two starts after joining this yard from Ireland, he was only midfield in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November when last spotted. Too soon to discount, but this demands a career-best.

Form: 515119

Totterdown¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 135| CD

14/1

C&D winner in November (heavy) and ran well here next time in Listed company (third). Couple of lesser efforts since but could run a big race at a price if bouncing for return to this track.

Form: 131354

Pyromaniac^t²⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A Ralph| OR: 134| D

50/1

2-16 over hurdles and seemingly lost his way in Ireland last year, nine-year-old makes first appearance for new trainer and booking of Sam Twiston-Davies is eye-catching (3-8 previously for the yard).

Form: 338/7-80

Monsieur Lecoq⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Chester Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 132| CD

7/2

Easy winner over C&D in January (soft), with any amount in hand over 9L second Our Merlin. Handicapper has added 12lb for that romp, but could be capable of defying new mark.

Form: P3-3F11

Our Merlin⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: R Walford| OR: 127| D

20/1

Wincanton winner in December, had no answer Monsieur Lecoq over this C&D in January and seemingly starting to fade when falling since at Cheltenham. Not well treated here it seems.

Form: 5-0312F

Benny's Bridge⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 126

8/1

Improved on handicap debut to win at Cheltenham in January (2m1f, good to soft). Gets asked a big question in follow up attempt from out of the weights in a deep race but could have more progress in him.

Form: 13-2F41

Non-Runners

Blu Cavalier²¹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 9

T: A Stronge J: Non Runner

Solomon Grey⁵⁶

Weight: 10-3| Age: 7

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Extra Mag⁴⁰

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: D Pipe J: T Scudamore

Forecasts

Call Me Lord (3/1), Monsieur Lecoq (7/2), Dream Du Grand Val (6/1), Malaya (7/1), Extra Mag (15/2), Benny's Bridge (8/1), First Flow (9/1), Solomon Grey (12/1), Totterdown (14/1), Speredek (16/1), Storm Rising (20/1), Our Merlin (20/1), Blu Cavalier (20/1), Chti Balko (25/1), Pyromaniac (50/1), All Yours (66/1)

Call Me Lord is the class act but on testing ground and dropped back in trip, he faces a stiff task lumping weight around. Easy C&D winner Monsieur Lecoq is much-respected but has been hit hard by the assessor for his score here and so the vote goes to EXTRA MAG. David Pipe has continued the Pond House tradition of targeting this race and looks for his fourth win. His Exeter winner failed to concede 7lb to Precious Cargo at Kempton in January, the pair clear, and that rival was a very easy winner here yesterday, boosting the form. Dream Du Grand Val is respected for the champion trainer while any money for First Flow and Pyromaniac would be notable