13:15 Sandown

Saturday 2 January 2021

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

Read Nicky Henderson's Unibet Blog Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 5m 28.45s

Sir Jack Yeats^b²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen| T: R Spencer| OR: 128| D

15/2

Fairly useful hunter chaser who landed 3m handicap chase at Fakenham in October. Excelled himself from 3 lb out of the weights at Aintree next time and he needs to back that up to feature here.

Form: 62/2-412

The Dubai Way^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Bannister| T: C J Mann| OR: 127| D

8/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler/chaser at his best who took a step back in the right direction when second of 7 in handicap chase at Fontwell (21.6f, soft, 10/1) 25 days ago. More needed.

Form: 155-8P2

Speredek^p,t³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke| OR: 126| C

5/1

It's sixteen runs since last win in 2018, but did go with more spark than for a while when fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Carlisle (17f, good to soft) 34 days ago. Switches back over fences.

Form: 8-64054

Mystical Clouds⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: J Butler| OR: 125| D

11/1

Kempton scorer in February who made encouraging return for new yard when fourth at Stratford only to turn in modest sixth at Kempton last time. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 3/441-46

Aintree My Dream^t³²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: M F Harris| OR: 125| BF| D

5/1

Losing run is mounting up but knocked on the door on 2 of his 3 starts over fences in recent months, latterly a veterans' event at Lingfield. Conditions no problem and not ruled out.

Form: 532-252

Doitforthevillage^t⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 121| D

14/1

Useful at best, but signs of decline last term and hasn't shown much of his old spark in a handful of runs this time round either, never travelling well just 4 days ago at Newbury.

Form: 46-04P5

Destinee Royale³¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 121

6/4

Bumper winner who made a successful debut over fences when last seen at Market Rasen (19.2f, heavy) in February. She's entitled to progress as a chaser and has leading claims if ready to roll.

Form: 13/241-

Non-Runners

Evander²²

Weight: 11-11| Age: 6

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: 2nd Preference

Dusky Lark²⁹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 11

T: R Walford J: James Best

Forecasts

Destinee Royale (6/4), Evander (7/2), Aintree My Dream (5/1), Speredek (5/1), Sir Jack Yeats (15/2), The Dubai Way (8/1), Dusky Lark (8/1), Mystical Clouds (11/1), Doitforthevillage (14/1)

DESTINEE ROYALE made a mockery of her opening mark when bolting up on her chase debut back in February, landing on what proved a weak race but winning it in style despite a mixed round of jumping. With further improvement on the cards, she's taken to follow up. Evander is feared most if taking up this engagement (also declared at Ayr), ahead of Aintree My Dream.