16:15 Sandown

Thursday 18 February 2021

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:50

Littleworth Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 7m 5.0s

Bobo Mac^p⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T Symonds| OR: 134

18/5

Useful chaser who has shaped with encouragement on both outings at Chepstow (sixth in Welsh National last time) and could well make an impact if things drop right.

Form: 2722-36

Highest Sun^t⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 133

7/2

Useful chaser who has become well handicapped and has looked back in form the last twice. Slight drop in trip should suit and he seems ready to strike.

Form: 457-544

Eclair Surf³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 131| BF| D

5/2

Winning pointer/hurdler who confirmed the promise of his chasing debut when scoring at Hereford in December. Came up short off this 8 lb higher mark at Exeter since, but merits respect all the same.

Form: 1F4-214

Jepeck⁴⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 130| CD

18/1

Won 3 times last season, including at this track, but hasn't returned in anything like the same form this time around. Others make more appeal.

Form: 144-PP7

As You Like²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 129| D

100/1

Tends to peak during the summer, as he did last year when adding to his tally at Southwell in July. Little impact on last 5 starts and can only be watched at present.

Form: 260P48

Skipthecuddles^p²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 127| D

12/1

Useful performer in his pomp and, having been supported, showed there's still some life in him when third at Newbury last month. Well treated if he can build on that.

Form: 1UP6/P3

Eclair De Guye^p⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 125| D

8/1

Has looked better than ever this term and scored going away at Huntingdon last time, so solid claims despite a hefty rise.

Form: P51-2P1

Spider's Bite^h1,t⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Reed| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 125| D

50/1

Winning hurdler who shaped well on chase debut back in December 2018, but lightly-raced since and has failed to complete on 3 of his 4 subsequent starts in this sphere. Hood goes on.

Form: 52U/8P-U

Cuban Pete⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 124

6/1

Started the season with a bang, bagging handicap chases at Stratford and Hereford. Not disgraced off this revised mark in a good race at Newbury (26f, good to soft) last time and couldn't rule out.

Form: 454-113

Dark Flame⁶⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-9| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| OR: 117| C| D

22/1

Proved that he retains plenty of ability last season, acquitting himself well in trio of course handicaps (one of which was a void race), but Doncaster reappearance display lacked spark.

Form: 24/2V5-8

Non-Runners

Francky Du Berlais³⁹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: P & M Bowen J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Eclair Surf (5/2), Francky Du Berlais (7/2), Highest Sun (7/2), Bobo Mac (18/5), Cuban Pete (6/1), Eclair De Guye (8/1), Skipthecuddles (12/1), Jepeck (18/1), Dark Flame (22/1), Spider's Bite (50/1), As You Like (100/1)

HIGHEST SUN is on an appealing mark and has shaped as if back in top form, just stretched by the trip when fourth at Haydock a couple of months ago, so he boasts excellent claims of scoring back over 3m here. There's plenty of in-form opposition, however, and the likes of Eclair Surf and Eclair de Guye should ensure it's not all plain sailing for the selection.