13:15 Sandown

Saturday 5 February 2022

All12:4013:1513:5014:2014:5515:3016:05

Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 0.65s

Hatcher⁸⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 147| D

66/1

Smart chaser who won a pair of handicap chases in the summer. Good third at Cheltenham on October before stiff task back hurdling at Wincanton. Excuses next time so not taken lightly.

Form: 116366

Tamaroc Du Mathan^t¹⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 146| DWS

12/1

Useful hurdler and even better form over fences, doubling tally when taking Gr. 2 Pendil novices' chase at Kempton a year ago. Disappointed both starts since, including on return, but this easier.

Form: 7/121U-P

Dolos^t⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| CD

10/1

Very smart chaser at his best but form tailed off towards the end of last season and has offered little this term. However, has an excellent record in this race (form figures read 2112).

Form: 267-878

Frero Banbou¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 140| CD

5/2

Won C&D handicap 11 months ago and produced a career best when resuming winning ways at Lingfield 2 weeks ago, looking suited by more patient tactics as he pulled clear with the runner-up. Player.

Form: 14-4331

Moonlighter⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: Nick Williams| OR: 137| CD

10/1

Benefited from an attacking ride when beating Dolos in this a year ago. Back to form when third here last month, albeit finding little again, and got no further than the second at Doncaster last week.

Form: 1P-P53F

Bun Doran^p,t²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 135| D

6/1

Grade 2 winner over 2 years ago. Not at that level nowadays but mark reflects that and is 4 lb better off with Gunsight Ridge having finished 1¾ lengths second to him over C&D 4 weeks ago.

Form: P0-4342

Gunsight Ridge^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 135| CD

85/40

Didn't do much wrong over hurdles last term and this point winner has improved over fences this season, winning C&D handicap by 1¾ lengths from Bun Doran 4 weeks ago. Shortlist material up 5 lb.

Form: 232-321

Rikoboy^t²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 127

12/1

Winner over 17f at Market Rasen last winter and ran well after 10 months off when second at Wincanton 4 weeks ago. Entitled to come on for that so respected.

Form: 312PF-2

Forecasts

Gunsight Ridge (85/40), Frero Banbou (5/2), Bun Doran (6/1), Dolos (10/1), Moonlighter (10/1), Tamaroc Du Mathan (12/1), Rikoboy (12/1), Hatcher (66/1)

FRERO BANBOU looked suited by the more patient tactics when producing a career-best win at Lingfield 2 weeks ago and this C&D winner is preferred to Gunsight Ridge and Bun Doran, who had a real slog when first and second over this C&D last month.