15:35 Sandown

Saturday 7 January 2023

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

Unibet New And Improved Bet Builder Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 4m 19.3s

Band of Outlaws²³²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 142| D

28/1

One-time useful hurdler who has been seen out sparingly in the last couple of years but showed he retains some ability on the Flat when last seen 7 months ago. Has left Joseph O'Brien and will probably need this.

Form: 11523/6-

Lightly Squeeze^t⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 136| D

6/1

Returned to former stable with a career best when winning 6-runner handicap hurdle at Kempton (16f, soft, 4/1) 47 days ago, pushed out having travelled strongly. Should have a big say in this.

Form: 380/74-1

Poseidon^p³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 135| D

40/1

Useful chaser at best who made a successful return to hurdling in a seller at Taunton a month ago. Has left Gordon Elliott since and this is obviously a lot more competitive.

Form: U5P6-P1

Iceo^h³¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131| D

3/1

Won well at Dieppe on hurdling debut in the summer and looked potentially smart when following up for this yard at Kempton over a year ago. Both subsequent runs disappointing but could get back on track fresh from 10 months off.

Form: 1144-

Tiger Voice¹¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 130| D

66/1

Winning hurdler who was again let down by his jumping at Punchestown in April. Posted a couple of creditable efforts back on the Flat before leaving Henry de Bromhead for £18,000 in October.

Form: 36/1009-

Djelo³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 129| BF

15/8

Made an emphatic start in this country when readily landing a handicap at Exeter in November, barely off the bridle. Possibly found race coming too soon at Haydock shortly after but fancied to get back on the up after more of a break.

Form: 1-12

Palladium⁵²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: P Gundry| OR: 126| CD

25/1

Dual 2m winner over hurdles for Nicky Henderson in 2020 but has clearly been hard to train since and has plenty to prove returning from 17 months off (ran on the Flat) for a new stable.

Form: 211P7/0-

Hardy Du Seuil⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 124| D

4/1

Hurdles winner in France who took well to chasing over here last season, winning twice and runner-up on 3 other occasions. Back on track when third in a handicap hurdle at Wetherby last time and looks nicely treated in this sphere.

Form: 1222-53

Dr T J Eckleburg⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 121| D

12/1

Fair winner on Flat who made a promising start over hurdles last term, building on his debut second to record back-to-back wins at Ludlow and Taunton earlier in the year. Posted encouraging second on Leicester reappearance (15.5f) last month and entitled to build on that.

Form: 2118-2

Imphal^p²⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117| D

22/1

Won 4 times at around 3m in a very productive 2021/22 season, ending that campaign with a good second in a competitive race at Haydock (3m again). His mark still looks workable but this trip might be on the short side.

Form: 132142-

Non-Runners

In The Air³⁴

Weight: 10-6| Age: 5

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Djelo (15/8), Iceo (3/1), Hardy Du Seuil (4/1), Lightly Squeeze (6/1), In The Air (7/1), Dr T J Eckleburg (12/1), Imphal (22/1), Palladium (25/1), Band of Outlaws (28/1), Poseidon (40/1), Tiger Voice (66/1)

DJELO was turned over at odds on when last seen but, prior to that, he'd been very impressive on his British debut, so he's worth another chance. Lightly Squeeze bolted up on his first start back with Harry Fry at Kempton last time and he's an obvious danger, while Dr T J Eckleburg is no forlorn hope in a race that should be run to suit.