13:15 Sandown

Saturday 5 December 2020

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Read Paul Nicholls On betting.betfair Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 4m 18.79s

Fifty Ball³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 120

5/2

€60,000 buy after winning pair of French bumpers last autumn. Shaped well in a couple of Fontwell novices prior to making a successful handicap debut at Ascot (19.3f) last time. Has more to offer.

Form: 511-321

Chasamax²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 118

3/1

Fairly useful maiden hurdler who ran his best race when third of 17 in Cheltenham handicap (16.4f) 22 days ago, edged out late on. That form has been franked since, so he seems sure to go well again.

Form: 323-P23

Frenchy Du Large²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 113| BF

15/8

Placed all 4 starts in bumpers (fair form) and took a small step forward from hurdling debut when second in a Uttoxeter maiden (19.9f) 3 weeks ago, keeping on well. Remains unexposed.

Form: 22/23-42

Coastal Drift⁶⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 112

40/1

Showed fair form when third in a Plumpton novice hurdle in January 2019. Not seen since disappointing on handicap debut at Fontwell the following month, but worth a market check all the same.

Form: 75P37/

Naizagai^t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 115

4/1

Fairly useful maiden on Flat and bright start to hurdles career when making all at Cartmel in August. Not in same form at Uttoxeter but back on track when second at Ludlow since.

Form: 132

Non-Runners

Cogital¹²

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: B J Llewellyn J: Jordan Williams

Perfect City⁴⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: J & A O'Neill J: Non Runner

Zero To Hero⁶

Weight: 10-10| Age: 5

T: Mrs S Leech J: Sean Houlihan

French Kiss³⁰¹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: A W Carroll J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

Frenchy Du Large (15/8), Fifty Ball (5/2), Chasamax (3/1), Naizagai (4/1), Cogital (10/1), Perfect City (16/1), Zero To Hero (33/1), French Kiss (33/1), Coastal Drift (40/1)

FIFTY BALL only won by a small margin on his Ascot handicap debut, but he was value for more given the way he travelled and looks well worth keeping onside. Chasamax's recent third at Cheltenham has been franked by the second and the eighth winning on their next starts, so he's a definite player if handling these softer conditions, with the unexposed Frenchy du Large completing the shortlist.