16:10 Sandown

Saturday 27 April 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4017:15

bet365 Select Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 5m 15.9s

Thomas Campbell^p⁶⁴

12/1

Started the season over fences (a 2m4f Ludlow winner) but has reverted to hurdles since January onward; the figures imply that he's no longer the force of old; distinct possibility that wind surgery can help; trainer saddles three runners.

Form: P-41248

Black Op^t⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 152| D

11/4

Runner-up to Samcro in the 2018 Ballymore (2m5f) before gamely fending off Lostintranslation in the Gr.1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Aintree); no joy over fences this season; back hurdling with a fair third in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January.

Form: 21-3330

On The Blind Side^p⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 147| C| D

11/4

3-4 over hurdles, incl when beating Springtown Lake by 9L in the Gr.2 Winter Novices' over an extended 2m3f here in December 2017; 1-3 over fences this season - never travelling in the RSA at Cheltenham (14/1); trainer saddles three runners.

Form: 116-41P

Blu Cavalier⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: A Stronge| OR: 142

20/1

Three-time winner as a novice for Paul Nicholls (2m-2m4f); turned over at odds of 2/11f in a seller at Fakenham on New Year's Day; better on his February stable debut (100/1); very unlikely to be competitive.

Form: 11-2323

Rayvin Black^p³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 122| C

40/1

Old-stager who knows his way around Sandown Park better than the Clerk of the Course Andrew Cooper; a grand servant to Oliver Sherwood and his owners R.White and V.Walsh; surely struggles on today's disadvantageous terms; look elsewhere.

Form: 15-3444

Younevercall^p,t¹²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 155| DWS

9/4

Yeats gelding; light on experience for his age but clearly has plenty of ability as a five-time winner, including at Kempton in November (2m5f); steps up in grade following wind surgery and a 126-day absence; good ground ideal.

Form: 117/218

Mia's Storm^p²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 147| D

6/1

Admirable mare who has won six of her last seven completed starts, and is versatile in terms of trip (2m4f-3m); should strip immeasurably fitter for a recent run at Aintree; cheekpieces are retained.

Form: 1FF-110

Non-Runners

Old Guard⁶²

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Jarveys Plate⁴⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

With Discretion³⁶⁹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 8

T: N J Henderson J: J McGrath

Forecasts

Younevercall (9/4), On The Blind Side (11/4), Black Op (11/4), Mia's Storm (6/1), Old Guard (13/2), With Discretion (7/1), Thomas Campbell (12/1), Jarveys Plate (12/1), Blu Cavalier (20/1), Rayvin Black (40/1)

Both Younevercall and the mare With Discretion are unknown commodities at this level, yet the latter in particular falls into the 'could be anything bracket'. She has a positive long-term future for Nicky Henderson (saddles three runners), but this rates as a tough gig on forecast good ground, whereas Younevercall (back from wind surgery) has conditions firmly in his favour. However, the safest advice is to stick with the obvious, and take the promising Grade 1 winning novice BLACK OP to end a so far fruitless campaign on a much more positive note.