17:25 Sandown

Saturday 24 April 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 4m 57.62s

Scaramanga²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144

8/1

Took his form to a new level when scoring at Newbury last time, showing good battling qualities. Should get the longer trip, so can't be ruled out after a 5-lb rise.

Form: 8170-31

Solo^t1⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139

10/3

Made highly impressive British debut when landing the Adonis at Kempton last February. Disappointing since, though, and tongue tied tried now.

Form: 18-4504

Cervaro Mix²²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: O Sherwood| OR: 137| D

25/1

Form: 9610-32

L'Homme Presse¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Lucy Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 132

13/2

Lightly-raced 6yo who returned from a long absence to score comfortably in a novice at Chepstow on British/stable debut 14 days ago. Capable of further progress, so warrants plenty of respect.

Form: 52/1

Commanche Red^v¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 130| D

16/1

Bounced back from a quiet spell to capitalise on a reduced mark in first-time visor at Plumpton 13 days ago. Back up 3 lb and this is significantly more competitive.

Form: 4P2091

Haafapiece³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 130| D

33/1

Has performed respectably for most of the season but he's well exposed and seemingly vulnerable from this sort of mark. Return to this trip may suit.

Form: 1-42F32

Thibault^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Mr Nathan Brennan⁽⁷⁾| T: A West| OR: 128| D

12/1

Has thrived for new yard this term, landing handicaps at Plumpton and Hereford before bagging Lingfield jumpers bumper. Handicapper might have caught up based on last couple of outings, though.

Form: 11U124

Bard Of Brittany^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 127| CD

17/2

Completed a double in ready style last month and hasn't been disgraced on the Flat since, so not ruled out for all he has another rise to conted with up in grade.

Form: 3-26011

Commentariolus⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 126

200/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler for Gordon Elliott but final outing for that yard was uninspiring and BHA handicapper has taken no chances with his opening mark.

Form: 135/440

Golden Boy Grey⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 125| C

11/1

Looked promising when making a winning debut at this course in December and was firmly back on track when landning a novice at Fontwell a couple of months ago. Opening mark demands improvement.

Form: 171

Byron Flyer¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122| D

50/1

Useful dual-purpose performer but has been out of sorts for a while. Makes little appeal.

Form: 11-4580

Floating Rock^p,t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 119| D

5/2

Still improving and took his seasonal tally to 4 with a hard-fought success at Ayr 6 days ago, edging ahead close home as he and the runner-up came well clear. Obvious claims from same mark.

Form: 191131

Non-Runners

Cascova²⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Mahlervous²⁸

Weight: 10-11| Age: 8

T: W Greatrex J: Adrian Heskin

Embole⁵

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: D Skelton J: Bridget Andrews

Forecasts

Floating Rock (5/2), Solo (10/3), Cascova (6/1), L'Homme Presse (13/2), Scaramanga (8/1), Bard Of Brittany (17/2), Golden Boy Grey (11/1), Thibault (12/1), Commanche Red (16/1), Embole (20/1), Cervaro Mix (25/1), Mahlervous (25/1), Haafapiece (33/1), Byron Flyer (50/1), Commentariolus (200/1)

CASCOVA was most impressive when getting off the mark in a small field at Ascot last time and, given his racing style, a bigger field and stronger pace promises to bring a chunk of improvement out of him, so he's preferred to recent winners Floating Rock and Scaramanga. L'Homme Presse is another one to consider.