15:35 Sandown

Saturday 8 January 2022

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

Unibet Casino Deposit 10 Get 40 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 4m 33.75s

Navajo Pass^p1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 145| D

10/1

Progressed again last term, landing Musselburgh handicap and Haydock Grade 2. Signed off with a poor run, though, and down the field over C&D on reappearance. Needs cheekpieces to perk him up.

Form: 57113-0

Volkovka^h³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 132

13/2

Form: 2313-12

Mack The Man⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130| CD

10/3

Added to his decent record when fresh when landing a 2m Exeter handicap last month. Only raised 3 lb and merits serious consideration, for all that this tougher.

Form: 25103-1

Zambezi Fix¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Ben Jones| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 127| D

15/2

Fairly useful ex-Irish hurdler who bettered that form over fences last term. Good second over C&D on penultimate outing and shaped as if still in form back chasing last time. Not dismissed.

Form: 222-F25

Hermes Boy³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Chester Williams⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 124

3/1

Lightly raced 5yo who confirmed previous promise when opening his account in ready style in an Exeter novice last month. Form looks solid and there's more to come, so every chance he can follow up.

Form: 3-221

McGowan's Pass³⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: J Candlish| OR: 122| D

10/1

Good record over 2m at Ayr. Shaped as if better for the run on first outing for 7 months off/since leaving Sandy Thomson at Haydock earlier this month, much better than distance beaten. Interesting.

Form: 22/227-7

Hydroplane^t1⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: T Scudamore| T: Ian Williams| OR: 121| D

25/1

Progressive over timber last term, notching 4 victories (latest in April). Good third in Chester Plate back on the Flat but pulled up back hurdling at Doncaster 42 days ago. Tongue tie now fitted.

Form: 15211-P

Natural History²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 118| D

11/2

Back to something like his smart Flat form when hacking up in 2m Plumpton handicap hurdle last March. Disappointing since, but edging down the weights and couldn't rule out if settling better.

Form: 2162-P6

Forecasts

Hermes Boy (3/1), Mack The Man (10/3), Natural History (11/2), Volkovka (13/2), Zambezi Fix (15/2), McGowan's Pass (10/1), Navajo Pass (10/1), Hydroplane (25/1)

HERMES BOY is going the right way and seems to have been allotted a fair mark for his handicap debut, so he's preferred to Volkovka, who is in a rich vein of form. Mack The Man's reappearance victory at Exeter is backed up by the time, so he could also make his presence felt if he's in the same mood.