13:50 Sandown

Saturday 2 January 2021

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

Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:53 | Winning time: 4m 7.25s

Moonlighter³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: T Scudamore| T: Nick Williams| OR: 147| BF| D

9/2

Improved over fences last term and took another step forward when runner-up in Haldon Gold Cup on return in November. Fell at Newbury subsequently and he's well worth another chance.

Form: U142-2F

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San Benedeto^p,t³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| D

7/1

Very smart chaser on his day who wasn't at his best returning from 5 months off at Newbury (19.8f) in November. However, went with zest for a long way and he may well be sharper with that behind him.

Form: 73/64-88

Born Survivor²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 142

16/1

Not disgraced in 3 good races last season but strictly below his best on 2 of his 3 starts so far this campaign, tailed off when slow 3 out at Cheltenham latest. Mark is easing all the time at least.

Form: 444-947

Ibleo²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 140| BF| D

13/8

Defied huge absence to make winning chase debut at Wincanton last term and easily followed up at Huntingdon. Second all 3 starts since, latterly at Cheltenham last month and he's a big player here.

Form: 8/112-22

Hollywoodien³⁰¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: T Symonds| OR: 140| D

10/1

Proved himself still capable of useful form when successful at Hereford (2m) in March, travelling well for the re-addition of cheekpieces. 6 lb higher now but he returns with yard in red-hot form.

Form: 33/3UP1-

Early Du Lemo¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 125| D

5/1

Off the mark for this yard at Lingfield (2m) in January 2019 and proved he retains his ability with a fine second behind stablemate Darebin over C&D last month. Subsequent Ascot fall best overlooked.

Form: U2U1/2F

Paddy's Poem³⁹³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 124| D

16/1

Maiden hurdler but positive profile over fences, adding third success to the tally at Fakenham (2m) last November. Good second over C&D 13 months ago but this is a tougher ask on return.

Form: 3121/12-

Darebin^v²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: David Noonan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 115| CD

14/1

Temperamental sort who bounced back to land a 6-runner event at Sandown in December, from stablemate Early Du Lemo. Rise makes it tougher and there's no guarantee he'll be in the same form.

Form: 4P-4451

Forecasts

Ibleo (13/8), Moonlighter (9/2), Early Du Lemo (5/1), San Benedeto (7/1), Hollywoodien (10/1), Darebin (14/1), Paddy's Poem (16/1), Born Survivor (16/1)

IBLEO is a low-mileage 8-y-o who has improved again in defeat over fences this term, running a fine race without proving a match for Sky Pirate at Cheltenham in December. The type to progress further, he earns the vote to come out on top. Moonlighter and Early Du Lemo are fancied to pose the lead threats.