15:30 Sandown

Saturday 6 February 2021

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

Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 6m 55.75s

Danny Whizzbang^p1,t⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| D

7/1

Looked good prospect when taking Grade 2 novice on chase debut. Things haven't gone to plan since but this easier than Badger Beers and Ladbrokes Trophy he's contested this season. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 1/133-7P

Kiltealy Briggs^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 140

5/1

Useful winning hurdler at up to 23f in mud last winter. Positive start to chase career when placed twice before Christmas. More to come now handicapping back up in trip.

Form: 131P-23

Dominateur^b1²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: O Sherwood| OR: 139| D

12/1

Won 2 novice handicaps at Chepstow last term. Ran as well as could be expected when last of 3 in C&D listed on return. Let down by jumping in Welsh National since. Could bounce back in blinkers

Form: 1137-30

Deise Aba^p1⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| CD

17/2

Pulled up both starts this term but he's now only 2 lb higher than when winning this race last season so has handicapping scope if a short break and first-time cheekpieces help to revive.

Form: 4115-PP

Coo Star Sivola²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Nick Williams| OR: 135| D

6/1

Won the Ultima at Cheltenham Festival in 2018. Failed to shine last term, but better signs this season and he continues to look potentially well handicapped.

Form: 37P/5U5

Ask Me Early²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 135| D

5/4

Point winner and no surprise he's taken very well to fences, winning 23.5f handicaps at Chepstow in recent months. His jumping already looks a big asset and he can defy the handicapper again.

Form: 313-311

Calipso Collonges^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 130

18/1

Just one win to his name over fences. Did shape as if retaining ability when remote fourth in Becher on return from 12 months off in December but unable to get competitive in Welsh National since.

Form: 6/462-4P

Non-Runners

A Toi Phil²⁸

Weight: 11-8| Age: 11

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Ask Me Early (5/4), Kiltealy Briggs (5/1), Coo Star Sivola (6/1), Danny Whizzbang (7/1), A Toi Phil (7/1), Deise Aba (17/2), Dominateur (12/1), Calipso Collonges (18/1)

There's surely more to come from the bold-jumping ASK ME EARLY who can make light of a further 7 lb rise and stretch his unbeaten chase record to 3. It wouldn't be a surprise to see last year's winner Deisa Aba stage a revival in first-time cheekpieces. Dominateur is another who has headgear added, and this should place a bit less pressure on his jumping than the Welsh National.