15:35 Sandown

Saturday 4 December 2021

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Betfair Daily Rewards December Handicap Hurdle (Listed) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 4m 12.25s

Navajo Pass²⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 149| DWS

12/1

Progressed again last term, landing Musselburgh handicap and Haydock Grade 2. However, underperformed at Wincanton when last seen (wind op since) and further progress is needed off this mark.

Form: 4/57113-

Elegant Escape⁶³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 146| C

66/1

Smart staying chaser, winner of the 2018 Welsh National. Returns to this sphere on a potentially handy mark, but can only be watched back at this trip following a 21-month absence.

Form: 6236P0/

Metier^t1²⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H Fry| OR: 144| CD

10/3

Looked good when winning first 3 starts over timber, including the C&D Tolworth Hurdle. Flopped at the Cheltenham Festival in March, though, and mark for handicap debut in this sphere looks tough.

Form: 1117-

Benson^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 135| CD

5/1

Winner of first 3 starts last term, including the 2020 renewal of this race off 8 lb lower. Didn't shape badly following a wind op on return at Cheltenham (21f) and this drop back in trip will help.

Form: 7/1114-5

Hudson De Grugy²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 134| CD

7/2

Ex-French bumper winner who made it 3 wins from 4 starts over this C&D when landing a 6-runner handicap on return last month. Now 4 lb higher in a stronger race, but merits respect all the same.

Form: 12113-1

Miss Heritage³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 132| D

12/1

Most consistent and genuine mare who was runner-up in the C&D Imperial Cup off a 1 lb higher mark in March. By no means disgraced on return at Ascot, but this demands a clear career-best.

Form: 2122P-6

Samarrive⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130| BF| D

8/1

Winner of sole start in France and created a good impression when landing a Kempton novice on British debut in April. Failed to a blow on Cheltenham reappearance, but he remains with potential.

Form: 11-7

Zambezi Fix²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 126| D

12/1

Fairly useful ex-Irish hurdler who was runner-up on each of his 3 completed starts over fences last term. Going well when falling 3 out on Ffos Las return, but improvement needed back in this sphere.

Form: 3U222-F

Elham Valley^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 124| CD

8/1

Got the better of Hudson de Grugy in a C&D juvenile event on this card last year, and fine third in Fred Winter at Cheltenham in March. Should come on for Ascot reappearance and he's a player..

Form: 14333-7

Thibault^t¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: A West| OR: 123| D

16/1

Thrived for new yard last term, landing 2 handicap hurdles and a jumpers bumper. Has continued in good form this time round, second in a decent Haydock handicap latest, but this is more demanding.

Form: 245-232

Heure De Gloire^h,t²⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 120WS

40/1

Successful in a mares' hurdle on sole start in France, and found just one too good in a Huntingdon juvenile (15.8f) for new yard in March (wind op since). Opening mark looks fair and she's unexposed.

Form: 12-

Non-Runners

Natural History²⁰

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: G & J Moore J: N F Houlihan

Forecasts

Metier (10/3), Hudson De Grugy (7/2), Benson (5/1), Samarrive (8/1), Elham Valley (8/1), Zambezi Fix (12/1), Miss Heritage (12/1), Navajo Pass (12/1), Natural History (12/1), Thibault (16/1), Heure De Gloire (40/1), Elegant Escape (66/1)

ELHAM VALLEY has the distinction of being the only horse to have inflicted defeat on Hudson de Grugy at Sandown, and he looks capable of winning a race of this nature judged on his fine effort at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Hudson de Grugy has clearly improved since finishing second to the selection here 12 months ago and is feared, but the unexposed Samarrive looks a bigger threat.