15:35 Sandown

Thursday 16 February 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Healix 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 10.75s

Givega³³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 129| BF| D

7/4

Winning pointer who looked an excellent prospect when bagging novice hurdles at Lingfield and Fontwell. Perhaps found step up to 21f on deep ground too much of a test in Grade 2 company last time and, back down in trip in calmer waters here, he merits respect.

Form: 1-11P

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Mamoon Star⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| D

9/2

Failed to win in 4 bumpers but achieved a decent level of form and made a successful start over hurdles at Taunton in November. Disappointing when well beaten at Kempton last time but could bounce back after a small break.

Form: 239-416

Easy Rider⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

20/1

Half-brother to ungenuine but useful hurdler Buckle Street and fair chaser Debden Bank. Held back by inexperience when sixth on debut in a 17-runner Wincanton bumper and yard saddles a more appealing candidate in Immortal.

Form: 6

Immortal^t1⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J HendersonWS

10/11

Good jumps pedigree and promising debut when chasing home the useful Authorised Speed over C&D (soft) in December, in turn pulling clear of the rest. Since undergone a wind op and likely to prove hard to beat with improvement on the cards. Tongue strap applied.

Form: 2

Invictus Allen⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams

66/1

Placed on the second of his 2 starts between the flags but this 5-y-o is pitched into a warm-looking race for his Rules debut. Yard also saddles Tik Tok.

Form: 53

Moonlight Artist⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

80/1

Half-brother to numerous winners but failed to trouble the judge in a couple of bumpers and looks more one for the longer-term.

Form: 03

Tik Tok¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams

80/1

Bred to be smart and shaped with a little encouragement on his sole start in bumpers. Not given a hard time in his 2 starts over hurdles to date and handicaps will likely be more his thing in due course.

Form: 3-06

West End Boy

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Tizzard

40/1

Fetched £28,000 as a 3-y-o and he's out of an unraced half-sister to bumper winner/fairly useful 2m/2½m hurdle winner Ard Abhainn. Yard's newcomers usually come on for a run and, in any case, this is a tough race in which to make his debut.

Form:

Forecasts

Immortal (10/11), Givega (7/4), Mamoon Star (9/2), Easy Rider (20/1), West End Boy (40/1), Invictus Allen (66/1), Moonlight Artist (80/1), Tik Tok (80/1)

IMMORTAL shaped with plenty of promise when following the useful Authorised Speed home in a C&D novice on debut in December and is taken to go one better this time. It's likely that he will have most to fear from Authorised Speed's stablemate Givega, who looked good prior to finding the step up 21f on heavy ground all too much in a Grade 2 at Warwick. Mamoon Star is best of the rest.