14:55 Sandown

Saturday 6 February 2021

All13:1513:5014:2014:5515:3016:05

Virgin Bet Warriors Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 5m 35.74s

Benatar⁵⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 142| D

7/2

Useful chaser who shaped encouragingly after 23 months off when third of 17 in Caspian Caviar Gold Cup over C&D 56 days ago, travelling strongly long way. Yard among winners, so rates a big player.

Form: 34437/3

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Champagne Mystery⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| D

12/1

Wide-margin winner on chasing debut at Aintree (19.9f) last season but unable to build on that thereafter. Fell early after wind op in Caspian Caviar Gold Cup on return. Probably not one to write off.

Form: 2/122P-F

Alnadam⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| BF| CD

3/1

Point/hurdle winner who made promising start over fences, scoring over C&D, before well below par in 2m4f Kempton handicap latest. Type to bounce back, so he needs considering.

Form: 441-218

Clan Legend^t⁶³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 135| D

16/1

In good form last season and built on reappearance to score cosily at Aintree in December. 8 lb hike means he has career-high mark to overcome but another solid showing expected.

Form: 1324-61

Colorado Doc¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: D Brace| OR: 134| D

16/1

Prolific point winner who also readily landed 2m4f Plumpton novice handicap last term. Reportedly lost action at Newbury on return and fell first at Ascot latest. Bit to prove now.

Form: 2221-PB

Evander^t1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: P J Brennan| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 133| BF| D

9/2

Dual-winning hurdler who has already bettered that form over fences, bolting up in Doncaster handicap before good second at Wincanton (2m4f). Tongue strap on and much respected.

Form: U1-4312

Foxboro³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Stan Sheppard| T: R Walford| OR: 129

22/1

German Flat winner who also won 2 hurdles in France in 2019. Promising return from absence for new yard when just denied in Plumpton novice on chase debut. Sure to improve, but opening mark is tough.

Form: 11-2

Up Helly Aa King^t⁵⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 125| D

16/1

Consistent sort who scoreed cosily on return at Ayr and very good second in 3m handicap there last time. Up 6 lb but form has been franked so veteran can't be taken lightly.

Form: 321-142

Gardefort²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 124

8/1

Smart chaser at his best but lightly raced nowadays. Off 20 months before runner-up at Ascot but pulled up at Wincanton last time. Not easy to catch right.

Form: UP2/P-2P

Doitforthevillage^t³⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-10| J: R Johnson| T: P Henderson| OR: 123| CD

10/1

Useful chaser at best, but looked to be on decline until 14/1-winner of handicap over C&D 35 days ago. This is tougher though, so others make more appeal.

Form: 6-04P51

Forecasts

Alnadam (3/1), Benatar (7/2), Evander (9/2), Gardefort (8/1), Doitforthevillage (10/1), Champagne Mystery (12/1), Clan Legend (16/1), Up Helly Aa King (16/1), Colorado Doc (16/1), Foxboro (22/1)

BENATAR ran a cracker on his return when third in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham so is strongly faniced to go in here off an unchanged mark for a yard going great guns. Aintree-scorer Clan Legend arrives at the top of his game so is feared most, although it would come as no surprise to see both Alnadam and Champagne Mystery get back on track here and have a say too.