16:35 Sandown

Saturday 29 April 2023

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:35

bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 5m 1.0s

Samarrive⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| CD

15/2

Won this race last season and made a good return to hurdles when third of 12 at Ascot in February under today's rider Freddie Gingell. 6 lb higher than 12 months ago but can't rule out.

Form: P91-F33

Erne River¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlie Hammond| T: N Kent| OR: 140

20/1

Very useful over hurdles and fences but he does need to bounce back from a below-par effort over timber at the Aintree Grand National meeting a fortnight ago.

Form: F3-2240

Iceo^h⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138| C

6/4

Encouraging second on 2m course reappearance in January and duly built on that when winning the Imperial Cup back here (2m, soft) 49 days ago. Raised 6 lb but there could be more to come at this trip and the Champion Trainer is going for a hat-trick in this race.

Form: 1144-21

Silent Revolution³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129

18/1

Won both completed starts as a novice hurdler last season. Hasn't progressed again this term but his last 2 efforts have been creditable, proving his stamina for this trip when third at Wincanton last time.

Form: P1-3P43

Fine Casting²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 128| BF

11/1

Bagged his third success over hurdles when taking 19f Haydock handicap in December and ran a cracker when fourth of 16 to Iceo in the Imperial Cup here in March. Only a respectable fourth when stepped back up to 2½m at Ffos Las since, though.

Form: 231543

Crebilly⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 127

7/2

Made a highly promising start over hurdles when easily landing 11-runner novice at Newcastle (2m, soft) in December. Runner-up at Chepstow next 2 starts and made a sound enough start to his handicap career when sixth of 16 in the very competitive EBF Final over C&D last month. Remains unexposed.

Form: 33-1226

Bourbali²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 125| CD

11/1

Big improver last season, including a C&D win. Consistent in defeat this time round, finishing a creditable fourth over 2m at Plumpton 3 weeks ago. Likely to be very competitive again.

Form: 932424

El Muchacho^h,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁷⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 124

11/2

Point winner who has progressed nicely over hurdles, winning a couple of 2m handicaps in January and mostly good efforts since, including going down only narrowly at Wincanton (21f) 13 days ago. Put up 3 lb for that, though.

Form: 112032

Non-Runners

Press Your Luck¹⁰

Weight: 11-9| Age: 8

T: C Gordon J: Freddie Gordon

Forecasts

Iceo (6/4), Crebilly (7/2), El Muchacho (11/2), Samarrive (15/2), Press Your Luck (10/1), Bourbali (11/1), Fine Casting (11/1), Silent Revolution (18/1), Erne River (20/1)

ICEO has been kept fresh for this since his Imperial Cup win and, with the longer trip a potential source of further improvement, can provide the Paul Nicholls stable with a third successive win in this concluding race of the season. Consistent former C&D winner Bourbali is second choice. The unexposed Crebilly didn't fare too badly in the EBF Final here and is next on the list.