13:15 Sandown

Saturday 8 January 2022

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

Read Nicky Henderson's Unibet Blog Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 5m 42.25s

Farinet²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 131| CD

5/4

Ex-French chaser who looked good when landing a C&D listed handicap on final start of last season. Pulled up on return at Cheltenham, but should come on for that run and he remains with potential.

Form: 4/3231-P

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Redzor^t⁶⁶⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 126

14/1

Absent since pulled up in National Hunt Chase at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival. Resumes on an attractive mark and yard can ready one following a layoff, but this is a big ask following such an absence.

Form: 713P3P/

Luckofthedraw²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: T Bulgin| OR: 125| D

15/2

Very much back in form for his new trainer with wins at Fontwell and Huntingdon in November. Runner-up last 2 starts and should again make his presence felt with conditions no problem.

Form: 551122

Goa Lil⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 124| D

13/2

In good form in handicaps, both in this sphere and over hurdles in recent months. Jumped more fluently than is often the case when runner-up at Kempton last time, but this is more demanding.

Form: 931212

Chef D'Equipe^h,t⁶⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120| CD

7/1

Useful chaser on his day (winner of this race in 2018), but it's hard not to have reservations given that he was well held when returning to action (first run following a wind op) at Ludlow.

Form: 5261/P-7

Red Happy^b,t⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 122

5/1

Three-time winner over fences for Gabriel Leenders in France, scoring twice in November. Since claimed for €20,352 and, though his form is hard to quantify, he's very much of interest on UK debut.

Form: 44F511

Darebin^b³⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 115| C

10/1

Temperamental sort who bounced back in changed headgear to win handicap chase at Fontwell in October. Good second here last time, but couldn't be sure he'll be able to back that up.

Form: 0-P2172

Non-Runners

Kilbrook⁷⁹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

Farinet (5/4), Kilbrook (5/1), Red Happy (5/1), Goa Lil (13/2), Chef D'Equipe (7/1), Luckofthedraw (15/2), Darebin (10/1), Redzor (14/1)

Though his Cheltenham reappearance was underwhelming on the face of it, FARINET shaped as though he would come on for the run and this low-mileage 7-y-o remains of interest judged on his impressive C&D victory last spring. Luckofthedraw should be on the premises and Kilbrook is unexposed in this sphere, but it could be another French import, Red Happy, who will give Farinet most to think about.