15:35 Sandown

Saturday 4 January 2020

All12:1512:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:35

Read Nico De Boinville's Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 9.90s

Eldorado Allen³⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 145| BF| CD

7/1

Showed promise in his two French starts before winning impressively on his GB/stable debut over C&D in testing conditions (showed a good turn of foot). Injured when hampered soon after at Aintree; opening marks demands plenty; an exciting prospect.

Form: 23/1U-

Blu Cavalier²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: A Stronge| OR: 144| D

12/1

Big prices for all his four starts for this yard in high-class company he came good last time to record his first-ever handicap win staying on well to win at Doncaster (2m, heavy). 4lb higher today; may be vulnerable off this mark versus improvers.

Form: 3235-61

Remiluc^t⁶⁴³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: L P Aspell| T: C Gordon| OR: 144| D

40/1

Did well when he was last seen including finishing second in the County Hurdle off a mark of 144. Back from a tendon injury the handicapper hasn't been that generous and he's likely to need this run in what will be testing conditions.

Form: 21522U/

Totterdown^h⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 142| CD

7/2

Bolted up on his first run for this red-hot yard after seven months off winning the same race that he'd won off a 1lb lower mark a year earlier for his former yard. Up 12lb, could still be ahead of his mark; sure to make this a test from the front.

Form: 354P7-1

Ainchea⁷⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 138| CD

16/1

C&D novice winner back in late-2017 and would have won here again but for falling at the last (2L clear at the time) when last seen. Long absence to overcome but still unexposed and could well progress in handicaps; worth a glance in the market.

Form: 212F/

Mill Green²⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134

14/1

Useful sort over hurdles who may well have more to offer with one of his best runs coming here over 2m4f in the EBF Final. Not disgraced when last seen with conditions at Cheltenham looking a little too quick; looks stable second string on return.

Form: 311343-

Smarty Wild²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 133| BF| D

9/2

Progressed at a rapid rate last year recording a hurdling hat-trick in the early part of 2019. Found an Exeter handicap hurdle less exacting than his seasonal return at Cheltenham winning off a 3lb lower mark; sound run last time, should be involved.

Form: 111-014

Distingo²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 130| D

12/1

Looked to have rather lost his way last season and ended it in below-par fashion having at times been capable of useful form. Shaped as if on the way back on his recent return without his usual headgear; needs to build on that promise now.

Form: 2300F-6

John Constable^t²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 127| D

25/1

Smart handicapper in his younger years but he's now defending a long losing sequence despite having a mark that has plummeted from his peak. Never dangerous last time and would need to show more to be of any real interest.

Form: 7-39977

Ruacana^p²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 122| D

20/1

Showed something like his old ability on his first two starts for this yard when picking up two heavy ground handicap hurdles at Lingfield last November. Tried in warmer company off higher marks since the handicapper looks back in control.

Form: 4-51145

Gunnery⁶^{(ex 6)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 115

9/4

May at last be capable of showing his true worth having shown much better winning form when taking a Doncaster handicap last time settling much better under front-running tactics. Hard to beat under a 6lb penalty if he can handle two quick races.

Form: 2101

Forecasts

Gunnery (9/4), Totterdown (7/2), Smarty Wild (9/2), Eldorado Allen (7/1), Distingo (12/1), Blu Cavalier (12/1), Mill Green (14/1), Ainchea (16/1), Ruacana (20/1), John Constable (25/1), Remiluc (40/1)

A good handicap to conclude the card and one that has several options with Gunnery sure to be in the thoughts of many after his 12L demolition job at Doncaster last Saturday. He may not be able to lead this time and a quick return may not be suitable. TOTTERDOWN has twice run his field ragged over C&D and despite a 12lb rise in the weights be may be able to make similar tactics work again this time around. The Tizzard pair Eldorado Allen and Ainchea are both C&D winners returning from long breaks and it will be interesting to see what the market says about that pair. Mill Green and Smarty Wild are two others to consider in what looks a competitive finale.