15:00 Sandown

Saturday 1 February 2020

All12:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Betway Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 6m 18.90s

Agrapart^t1⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Nick Williams| OR: 150

20/1

Tongue-tie on for the first-time as he makes just his second appearance in a handicap although it's hard to say he's really firing at the moment. Travelled well at Ascot in his last start but failed to deliver what he promised; others appeal more.

Form: 9P7-444

Bold Plan¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 140| BF

8/1

Progressed well in novice hurdles this year and produced a career-best performance when landing a gamble at Haydock in November. Up 10lb for that win he fell early when last seen; still on a competitive mark, likely to be involved.

Form: 312-01F

Ask Dillon³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 139

7/1

Ended last season with an Exeter win capitalising on a drop in grade to score by 8L. Plenty to like about his reappearance run at Chepstow when making his handicap debut; stiff test at this trip will see him in a good light.

Form: 51201-3

Golan Fortune^p⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 139| C

14/1

Returned to the form of his progressive 2017/18 novice campaign when showing the benefit of a prep run to take a top-class Cheltenham handicap. Still relatively unexposed he was raised just 4lb for that last win; definite contender.

Form: 1230/01

Ask Ben⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 138| BF

5/1

Useful sort over hurdles winning twice as a novice and showing this season that he's more than capable of picking up a good staying handicap. Unlucky not to do last time when failing to get the run of the race; compensation awaits.

Form: V120-42

Big Shark⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| BF| D

7/1

Dual novice hurdle winner over staying trips he was far from disgraced on his handicap debut only going down narrowly in a gruelling contest to a tough and game rival. Up 4lb for that run he's still got more to offer; can't be ignored in this.

Form: 2-112

Dan McGrue^t⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137

20/1

Improved over hurdles after a wind op taking a Plumpton handicap in testing conditions over 2n4f. Far from in the same form last time when disappointing at Newbury in quicker conditions; will enjoy the return to a softer surface.

Form: P3P-210

West To The Bridge²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 133

40/1

Mixed fortunes over fences facilitated a return to hurdles without his usual headgear last time producing a career-best over timber. Switch to forcing tactics appeared to suit but up 10lb and it won't be easy to dominate a big-field here.

Form: 42P3P1

Remastered^h,t⁵⁶

10/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who looks to be gradually working his way back to form having run too freely on his reappearance. Ran his best race in a handicap last time with the first-time hood making a difference; returns from a win op.

Form: 152-052

Broughtons Admiral^b²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 131

16/1

Consistent performer when with Alistair Ralph; showed improved form on his second start for this yard at Hereford winning by 12L. Seen to best advantage that day and a 10lb rise gives him a stiffer task in a better race.

Form: 212-3F1

Coole Cody^p1,t⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: M Blake| OR: 131

20/1

Becoming hard to win with having not been successful since November 2017 and was well below form last time finding very little when asked for his effort. Cheekpieces now added to his usual tongue-tie; others preferred.

Form: 200-834

Captain Tommy^b⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 129

25/1

Took back-to-back novice hurdles last year but his progress in handicaps has been rather slow. Shaped well last time out when third at Huntingdon, didn't quite get the run of the race; can jump left which is a worry around here.

Form: 12-40P3

Echiquier²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| D

14/1

Useful chaser when trained in France and made the most of an easy opportunity to open his GB hurdles account on his stable debut. Given some stiffer tasks since then he ran well last time but doesn't look particularly well handicapped.

Form: 2-15643

Grand Morning^t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 127

14/1

Completed a hat-trick over hurdles in 2018 before having wind surgery and being sent over fences. Never really took to the bigger obstacles; went much better returned to hurdles last time only gave best to an unexposed sort; up 2lb, progress needed.

Form: 11/PP4-2

Limited Reserve¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 127| C

10/1

2m course winner who relished a return to softer conditions last time when winning a Taunton handicap taking advantage of a drop in the weights. Suited by the way that race developed a 5lb rise demands more in a better race.

Form: 1/40301

Go Whatever⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: J E Moore| T: C Gordon| OR: 125| CD

8/1

Progressing nicely over hurdles he improved to win on his handicap debut over C&D last time handling the testing conditions well. This will be his stiffest test yet but he's still unexposed and nicely weighted despite a 6lb rise; more to come.

Form: 2-15311

Clondaw Cian^p¹³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-1| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 125

50/1

Useful in the past he's developed a reputation as one not to rely on and appears on the downgrade. Didn't run too badly when last seen at Auteuil (runner-up) but hard to see him being good enough to get involved in this.

Form: P-53252

Forecasts

Ask Ben (5/1), Ask Dillon (7/1), Big Shark (7/1), Go Whatever (8/1), Bold Plan (8/1), Limited Reserve (10/1), Remastered (10/1), Grand Morning (14/1), Echiquier (14/1), Golan Fortune (14/1), Broughtons Admiral (16/1), Agrapart (20/1), Dan McGrue (20/1), Coole Cody (20/1), Captain Tommy (25/1), West To The Bridge (40/1), Clondaw Cian (50/1)

A very competitive and high-end handicap and a case can be made for quite a few but it’s ASK BEN who gets the overall vote. Still unexposed he looks sure to relish this test having been a little unfortunate at Cheltenham last time. Golan Fortune is sure to be amongst the leading fancies following his decent win last time out and he’s only 2lb higher than when second in this in 2018. Bold Plan and Great Shark are another pair that have already made their mark this season and can’t be dismissed easily. Ask Dillon ought to enjoy this test whilst Go Whatever looks dangerous having already won over C&D and despite a 6lb rise for that win it’s doubtful if the handicapper has him in his grasp yet.