16:15 Sandown

Friday 12 March 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:45

Paddy Power '4 Sleeps To Cheltenham' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 5m 17.6s

Commanche Red^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 132| D

15/2

Useful hurdler/chaser but has operated well below his best this term.

Form: 3-P4P20

Nordano^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| OR: 130

25/1

Did well last term, culminating in a wide-margin success on deep ground at Ascot. This season has a been a write-off so far, though.

Form: 21-50PP

Goa Lil²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130

33/1

Fairly useful hurdler/chaser but well held last 2 starts, including jumpers bumper last month.

Form: 0-3F440

Adicci²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 128

4/1

Showed improved form on back of a wind op to double career tally at Fontwell on return and better effort since when good second at Wincanton 3 weeks ago, clear of rest. Big player off similar mark.

Form: 2F0-142

Global Fame^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 127| D

5/1

Won bumper and Wetherby novice hurdle last season. Promising return at Carlisle and much better effort in handicaps when runner-up at Uttoxeter last month. Remains unexposed.

Form: 121-352

Pol Crocan²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 127

12/1

Proved a different proposition to hurdling debut when getting up late in Wincanton maiden and further progress when defying a penalty in novice there 3 weeks ago. More to come now handicapping.

Form: 0-611

Stormy Flight³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 122| BF

11/2

Taunton maiden hurdle winner and arrives in good form, again ridden with restraint when runner-up at Exeter before pulling too hard at Wincanton.

Form: 1-37323

Fearless⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 121| BF

11/1

Market Rasen novice winner a year ago and back to form when third on handicap bow at Haydock last time, maybe a bit better than the result after helping force a solid gallop. Back up in trip.

Form: U1-24F3

Bard Of Brittany^p⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 109

10/3

Back to form when beating a big field at Doncaster last week, a rare run away from testing ground perhaps the catalyst for the career-best effort. Big player under a penalty if reproducing that.

Form: 43-2601

Trans Express^p⁶¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 113| D

22/1

Confirmed previous encouragement to capitalise on reduced mark in determined style at Exeter but disappointed there next time. 6 of 7 career wins have come at Exeter.

Form: 876216

Non-Runners

Dan McGrue³⁶

Weight: 11-8| Age: 9

T: B Barr J: Archie Bellamy

Forecasts

Bard Of Brittany (10/3), Adicci (4/1), Global Fame (5/1), Stormy Flight (11/2), Commanche Red (15/2), Fearless (11/1), Pol Crocan (12/1), Trans Express (22/1), Nordano (25/1), Goa Lil (33/1), Dan McGrue (100/1)

POL CROCAN is progressing rapidly so could be ahead of the handicapper off this opening mark, with the return to further in his favour. Bard of Brittany won in good style at Doncaster last week so is an obvious threat under a penalty, while Adicci pulled clear of the rest when runner-up at Wincanton under this rider and is only 1 lb higher here.