15:30 Sandown

Saturday 5 February 2022

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

Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 6m 30.0s

Real Steel^t⁹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Tom Buckley⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145

28/1

Dual 2½m Grade 2 winner in Ireland in 2019/20 but failed to build on encouraging return last season and not much encouragement both starts this term.

Form: 6/3PP-07

Deise Aba^p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 142| CD

6/1

Has returned with good runner-up efforts at Aintree (hurdle) and in London National here in December. Pulled up in Welsh National but has won this race for the last 2 years so warrants respect.

Form: P1P-22P

Kapcorse⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 139

8/1

Clearly fragile but made the most of some generosity by the handicapper to land Newbury race for the second time 10 weeks ago. Had a bit in hand that day so not taken lightly up 8 lb in better race.

Form: 7117/7-1

Le Milos^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 139| C| D

12/1

Opened chase account at Fontwell last February and went one better than on his return when scoring under a front-running ride at Exeter 5 weeks ago. Upped in grade so another career best required.

Form: 0/313-21

Farinet²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 137| C

11/4

Ex-French chaser who lost a shoe when pulled up in at Cheltenham on return. Resumed progress when ready winner at this track (20f) 4 weeks ago and likely to progress again. Big shout.

Form: 3231-P1

Undersupervision^p1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 134| BF| D

9/1

Point/hurdles winner who has had all 4 of his spins over fences at Cheltenham this term, making little impact in an open handicap 5 weeks ago. Cheekpieces applied but others make more appeal.

Form: 42-2F36

Five Star Getaway⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 134| C| D

9/2

Ex-pointer who progressed rapidly upon going chasing last term, easily winning 3 handicaps. Put a rusty return behind him when scoring at Kempton and remains unexposed at 3m. Interesting.

Form: 1117-71

Linelee King⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 128| BF| D

7/2

Bumper/hurdles winner who made a winning chasing debut in Aintree novices' handicap in November. Should've followed up at Ayr next time (sprawled badly mid-race) and remains capable of better.

Form: 4825-13

Forecasts

Farinet (11/4), Linelee King (7/2), Five Star Getaway (9/2), Deise Aba (6/1), Kapcorse (8/1), Undersupervision (9/1), Le Milos (12/1), Real Steel (28/1)

FARINET left his reappearance effort behind to bring up a second course victory here 4 weeks ago, and with further progress on the cards now stepping up in trip, Venetia Williams' charge gets the vote. Linelee King probably would've made it 2-2 in this sphere bar a mid-race blunder at Ayr so he's the obvious danger, ahead of Deise Aba, who bids for a third consecutive win in this race.