14:55 Sandown

Saturday 5 February 2022

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

Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 6m 8.0s

Easysland^p,t³²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 150| BF| D

50/1

Top-notch on cross-country scene, including Cheltenham Festival win in 2020. Second to Tiger Roll at last year's Festival (final start for David Cottin). Cheltenham presumably the main aim again.

Form: 1111/42-

Call Me Lord²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| C

12/1

Dual Grade 2 winning hurdler. Didn't take to fences first 2 runs this term but shaped well back hurdling when third of 19 in Lanzarote at Kempton. This trip a maximum for him but still respected.

Form: 453-4P3

Dolphin Square^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 144

25/1

In the form of his life back hurdling of late, winning 3m handicaps at Newbury and Cheltenham. A really smart effort will be needed if he's to overcome another 5 lb rise, though.

Form: 5-12211

If The Cap Fits^b1⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 142| BF

33/1

Really smart hurdler/chaser at best. Aintree reappearance second shows he still retains good level of ability but he's been comfortably held in pair of handicaps since. Blinkers replace cheekpieces.

Form: 290-294

Orbys Legend⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 142| C

14/1

Landed Silver Trophy on 19.5f Chepstow return. Faded into seventh in valuable 3m Haydock handicap next time but proved stamina for this trip with Wincanton win on Boxing Day. Should go well again.

Form: 131-171

Dans Le Vent²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 142

13/2

Versatile sort who bagged valuable 3m Haydock handicap before excellent fourth in Relkeel at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Credtable fifth (Call Me Lord third) in Lanzarote at Kempton since.

Form: 82-2145

Ask Dillon^b1³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 140

50/1

Smart handicap hurdler last season. Easily best effort this term when third at Cheltenham in December but pulled up back there on New Year's Day. First-time blinkers need to have positive effect.

Form: 1-4603P

Flemcara^t⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 140| D

33/1

Dual winner at 3m+ last season and has returned with good placed efforts at Newbury and Wincanton this winter. No reason why he won't give his running again.

Form: 1F31-23

Beauport³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 136| BF| C

5/1

Won the 2½m EBF Final here last March. Even better form when placed in handicaps over that trip this season and has long left the impression there'll be more to come when stepped up in trip. Player.

Form: 3131-22

The Cob^p1³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 136| BF

50/1

Grade 2 novice hurdle winner over 3m last season. Returned with a very good second over C&D in December but a poor run at Doncaster since needs forgiving. Cheekpieces go on.

Form: 1310-2P

Born Patriot¹⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 135

8/1

Maiden hurdle winner last November and has shown better form in defeat since, finishing second in a 3m Cheltenham handicap when last seen in October. Nudged up 3 lb, though, and this looks tougher.

Form: 346-342

Padleyourowncanoe²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 135

33/1

Useful for Colin Tizzard and made positive start for this yard after 15 months off when third in 3m Haydock hurdle in December. Pulled up after an early blunder over fences at Warwick since.

Form: 4/443-3P

Onagatheringstorm^t1⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 131

25/1

Point winner who comfortably landed maiden/novice hurdles last spring. Good second in 3m Cheltenham listed handicap in November and given time since a lesser run there in December. Tongue tie added.

Form: 21-1325

Green Book²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 130| BF

6/1

Improver on Flat in 2021 and has continued on the up switched to hurdles, landing handicaps at Haydock (2m) and Ludlow (21f). Hampered and unseated early in Lanzarote latest. This trip should suit.

Form: 2-211U

Jesuitique⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 130| C

9/1

Winner of 3 of his 4 starts for this yard, absolutely bolting up at Haydock (3m) last time. The handicapper hasn't missed him with a further 10 lb rise but he could easily have more to come.

Form: 73-1121

Ree Okka²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 130

4/1

Irish point winner who has made a bright start over hurdles, winning novices at Chepstow (19.5f) and Kempton (3m) in recent months. Lacks experience for race like this but he looks a smart prospect.

Form: P-1211

Garo De Juilley^t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-4| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 128

100/1

Hasn't won on these shores since October 2018 but did hit the target twice in France last season. Recorded a couple of creditable efforts there in the autumn but well held back in Britain latest.

Form: 0-93686

Non-Runners

The Brimming Water¹⁴

Weight: 10-3| Age: 7

T: S Drinkwater J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Ree Okka (4/1), Beauport (5/1), Green Book (6/1), Dans Le Vent (13/2), Born Patriot (8/1), Jesuitique (9/1), Call Me Lord (12/1), Orbys Legend (14/1), The Brimming Water (16/1), Dolphin Square (25/1), Onagatheringstorm (25/1), If The Cap Fits (33/1), Padleyourowncanoe (33/1), Flemcara (33/1), The Cob (50/1), Ask Dillon (50/1), Easysland (50/1), Garo De Juilley (100/1)

Staying handicap hurdles don't get much hotter than this. REE OKKA isn't as battle hardened as the rest of these but the fact he looks a fluent jumper should hold him in good stead now moving into a big-field handicap and an opening mark of 130 could prove lenient given the way he took care of some decent opposition last time. Beauport, Green Book and Orby's Legend head the many possible dangers.