14:25 Sandown

Saturday 9 December 2023

All11:3512:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Rachael Blackmore Serial Winners Fund Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 22.07s

Langer Dan²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: D Skelton| OR: 147| CD

40/1

Landed the third big handicap win of his career when seeing off 25 rivals in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March. Shaped as if needing his reappearance run at Kempton (21f) 26 days ago though, and he's tended to save his best for the big Spring Festivals.

Form: 1/3781-6

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Red Rookie³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 133| CD

7/1

Returned to pick of his chase form when landing 6-runner Warwick handicap (2m) in March. Not disgraced when third at Kempton (18f) in May but some way below that level when well held on return at Ascot (16.7f) 35 days ago. May be sharper now.

Form: F/531-37

Spirit D'aunou⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 129| BF| CD

4/1

C&D winner who raced too keenly after 7 months off when fourth of 7 in Cheltenham conditions event (16.4f, soft) 42 days ago. No surprise to see him get back on track here though.

Form: 21111-4

Jilaijone^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 125

13/2

Arrves in good nick, third of 6 in handicap hurdle at Ascot (15.7f, good) 15 days ago. He can go well again off the same mark.

Form: 52-2223

Mr Freedom^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 124| BF| D

14/1

Likeable type who followed 4 wins over hurdles last season with a hat-trick on the Flat during the summer. Posted another good effort when third of 7 in handicap hurdle at Doncaster (16.6f, good) 7 days ago so ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 354-233

Thereisnodoubt^h,t³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 124| D

14/1

Rising 11 but he was better than ever when returning from 5 months off to win at Perth (2m, heavy) in September. Below-par seventh at Ascot last time but he's likely to give it his all again.

Form: 244-137

Jupiter Du Gite^h²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: David Noonan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 123| D

14/1

Caused a major upset when making all on British/hurdles debut at Newbury in December but has proved far too headstrong since, pulled up on his handicap bow over C&D last month. Lots more is needed.

Form: 3/16P3-P

Punta Del Este²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 121| D

11/2

Winner in France and promising start for this yard when third in the Victor Ludorum at Haydock in February. Shaped up quite well in Fred Winter next time and creditable second of 4 on 2m Wetherby reappearance 3 weeks ago. In the mix.

Form: 91307-2

Arqoob²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: S Bowen| T: L Wadham| OR: 119| CD

3/1

Useful handicapper on the level for William Jarvis. Has made a positive start over hurdle too, landing 10-runner handicap over C&D (soft) 27 days ago. Up 7 lb but expected to be bang there.

Form: 4123-31

Bucksy Des Epeires¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 118

9/1

Showed fair form when twice second in juvenile events in France and made light of a 13-month absence when scoring on his yard debut in 2m3f Lingfield noivce hurdle 18 days ago. Merits serious consideration on his handicap debut despite being 3 lb 'wrong' in the weights.

Form: 0/2F-1

Non-Runners

Too Friendly²⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: James Owen J: James Bowen

Impose Toi²²

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Impose Toi (9/4), Arqoob (3/1), Spirit D'aunou (4/1), Punta Del Este (11/2), Jilaijone (13/2), Red Rookie (7/1), Bucksy Des Epeires (9/1), Thereisnodoubt (14/1), Jupiter Du Gite (14/1), Mr Freedom (14/1), Too Friendly (25/1), Langer Dan (40/1)

IMPOSE TOI is thriving under the expert tutelage of Nicky Henderson and fancied to bag a fourth success for the yard on the back of his impressive big-field Cheltenham victory. Venetia Williams' new-recruit Bucksy des Epeires also has better days ahead of him and heads the list of dangers, with C&D scorer Arqoob and Punta del Este also well in the mix in this competitive handicap.