15:10 Sandown

Saturday 3 February 2024

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 6m 9.15s

West Balboa⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 143| BF

16/1

Landed valuable handicaps at Kempton and Aintree last season. Improved again to win 3-runner Aintree conditions event on reappearance at Aintree in November. Disappointed in the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot 6 weeks later but not the type to stay down for long.

Form: 2/211-10

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Ambitious Fellow⁹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Harry Cobden| T: Peter Fahey| OR: 142

50/1

Better than ever when winning a big-field 22.5f handicap hurdle at the Galway Festival in August. Well beaten in a Wetherby Grade 2 3 months later but the return to handicap company will help his cause.

Form: P0-0315

Ed Keeper^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 138| BF

4/1

Lightly-raced 6-y-o who has been progressive in handicaps this season, winning over 3m at Newbury before shaping very well when third at Cheltenham (3m, soft) on New Year's Day, a mistake at the last probably costing him victory. Raised another 5 lb but it's likely he has more to offer. Big player.

Form: 321-213

Gustavian^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 132

40/1

Campaigned over fences since the end of 2021 but he was useful over hurdles prior to switching to the larger obstacles and he's on a competitive mark for this return to timber.

Form: 31F-724

Operation Manna⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 131| CD

11/1

Took his record this season to 3-3 when edging ahead late on in C&D handicap in December. A further 6 lb rise demands more of him but he has 2 wins and a second to show from his 3 visits to Sandown.

Form: 3P3-111

Barbados Buck's^p³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: D Bourke| OR: 131

80/1

Quite a useful hurdler for Paul Nicholls and struck at the second time of asking for his new stable in small-field handicap at Carlisle (25f, heavy) in December. Only a respectable third of 4 at Ayr since and surely up against it in this much more competitive affair.

Form: 332-413

Saint Davy²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130

4/1

Fetched £270,000 after winning sole point start and is 3-4 under Rules, improving again to justify short odds in 3m Ludlow handicap on reappearance 4 weeks ago. In deeper now but he did that cosily and there's surely more to come.

Form: 1/119-1

Wonderwall^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 128

33/1

Useful bumper/hurdle winner for Richard Spencer. Not disgraced when fourth in Cheltenham novice handicap on his chase debut in November. Didn't get the chance to show what he could do back hurdling for new stable at Kempton since (badly hampered and unseated). Up in trip.

Form: 1F/30-4B

Hermino AA²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 128

16/1

Dual hurdles winner last term. Failed to complete in a couple of handicap chases in November but back on track returned to hurdles when third of 10 over 3m at Cheltenham in December. Does need to shrug off a poor run in Lanzarote at Kempton since, though.

Form: 21-UP30

Transmission^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 125

8/1

Low-mileage 7-y-o who has made a good start for this yard, building on Ascot handicap debut third when scoring at Plumpton (25f, soft) 15 days later. 6 lb rise demands more again but he could find it.

Form: 44-8231

Dubrovnik Harry^t⁷⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 124

12/1

Got his career back on track when fourth of 20 on 3m Cheltenham reappearance but went backwards from that when well held in a valuable event at Haydock in November. Off 10 weeks.

Form: 3/3P6-40

Scamallach Liath^p⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 123| BF

7/2

Irish point winner. Placed all 4 starts for Oliver Sherwood last season and has taken it up another notch for new trainer Harry Derham this time round, winning then a close second in 3m novice handicaps at Ascot. Cheekpieces refitted. This unexposed sort could have more to come.

Form: 3322-12

Tanganyika¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 119| D

33/1

Improved for the step up to staying trip when scoring at Bangor (23f) in December and respectable efforts in defeat twice since. Not obviously well handicapped, though.

Form: 6-45135

Good Look Charm^b,t²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 117

10/1

Made a winning return to hurdles in 21f Wincanton handicap on reappearance and has shown even better form when reaching the frame at Cheltenham and Kempton (Lanzarote). Back up in trip.

Form: 32F-134

Non-Runners

Equinus⁵⁶

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: N & W Twiston-Davies J: James Turner

Forecasts

Scamallach Liath (7/2), Saint Davy (4/1), Ed Keeper (4/1), Transmission (8/1), Good Look Charm (10/1), Operation Manna (11/1), Dubrovnik Harry (12/1), Hermino AA (16/1), West Balboa (16/1), Equinus (16/1), Wonderwall (33/1), Tanganyika (33/1), Gustavian (40/1), Ambitious Fellow (50/1), Barbados Buck's (80/1)

A last-flight mistake cost ED KEEPER momentum at a crucial stage at Cheltenham last time and this progressive 6-y-o can show he's still ahead of the handicapper. Fellow low-mileage improver Saint Davy rates an obvious danger on the back of last month's Ludlow reappearance success. Scamallach Liath and Transmission are others heading in the right direction and complete the shortlist.