14:25 Sandown

Saturday 9 March 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 4m 5.1s

Spirit D'aunou²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 139| CD

14/1

Very progressive sort who made it 5 wins from his last 6 starts when seeing off 9 rivals over C&D in December. Hiked up 10 lb but failed to fire 9 weeks on in Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (16.3f, soft) last month so needs to bounce back.

Form: 111-410

Metier^t¹³²

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 139| CD

28/1

Useful hurdler who bagged Chester Cup last May. Had optimum conditions but never got competitive in Grade 1 Prix Royal-Oak 6 months later at Longchamp (15.4f, heavy) when last seen in October and is back over hurdles for the first time since being pulled up in this last year.

Form: P417/PP-

Faivoir²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 136| D

11/1

Talented hurdler/chaser who capitalised on much-reduced mark when landing the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last March. Ran well for the second time in his last 3 starts when fifth in Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (16.3f, soft) last month and certainly not out of things.

Form: 1-6P285

Knickerbockerglory²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| D

15/2

Impressive when making a winning reappearance at Ascot in November. Possibly found the race coming too soon at Cheltenham 15 days later but shaped better given more of a break when sixth in Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (16.3f, soft) 4 weeks ago.

Form: 229-176

Minx Tiara³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Sean Flanagan| T: David O'Brien| OR: 134

50/1

Mixed bag over fences during the autumn but got back on track over hurdles of late, running up to her best under an enterprising ride that caught out all bar the highly-progressive winner in listed handicap at Leopardstown (18f, soft) last month. Warrants respect.

Form: 633042

Sans Bruit^h1,t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132

8/1

Useful over both hurdles and fences in France (usually hooded) and shaped as if better for the run on his first outing since leaving David Cottin after 8 months off (had breathing op) when seventh in handicap hurdle at Doncaster (19.4f, good) 6 weeks ago. Very interesting with a hood back on.

Form: 711-787

Making Headway²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 129| D

8/1

Winning Irish pointer who ran out a comfortable winner of a Carlisle novice on hurdling debut in October. Improved when making the frame at graded level on next 2 starts and doubled his tally down in class at Newbury (16.3f, soft) 4 weeks ago. Fascinating contender sent handicapping.

Form: F/1-1241

Go Dante^p,t²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 129| D

5/1

Lightly raced 8-y-o who built on reappearance promise when taking 12-runner handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in December 1¼ lengths from Doddiethegreat. Improved further when third in Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (16.3f, soft) last month and can feature from an unchanged mark.

Form: 418-613

Bashers Reflection^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: J M Quinlan| T: B I Case| OR: 126

25/1

Improved performer this season, building on his reappearance to score over at Wetherby in November. Ran poorly at Aintree over Christmas but back on song when runner-up at former course (19.7f, heavy) 5 weeks ago, collared late on (traded 1.01 in-running). Others look stronger.

Form: 11-3172

Bad^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 126| BF

5/1

Winner in France. Placed in 4 handicap hurdles this season, going with far more zest in first-time cheekpieces following a breathing operation when finishing runner-up at Ascot (19.3f, good to soft 3 weeks ago, albeit rather worried out of it. Up 4 lb for that near miss and one to consider.

Form: 06-3232

Georgi Girl²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125| CD

11/1

On a 2m hat-trick after wins over C&D and Kempton in recent months. Another 5 lb higher now but further progress can't be discounted.

Form: 2-34211

Shared^p⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 125| D

28/1

Took well to hurdling for this yard last season and improved again to win 2m Chepstow handicap on reappearance in October. Ran creditably after 5 months off when third in handicap at Newbury (16.3f, soft) 7 days ago but more required if he's to notch a fourth success over hurdles.

Form: 5103-13

Jipcot^h,t⁶^{(ex 7)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 117| D

15/2

Won a pair of juveniles at Pau for Patrice Quinton. Below that level over hurdles and fences for current connections in 2023 but proved a different proposition back fresh (also refitted with hood/tongue tie) when scoring at Huntingdon (15.8f, heavy) 6 days ago. Stacks to like under a penalty.

Form: 00-7F31

Junkanoo⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 123| D

20/1

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat (stays 11.5f) and has taken well to hurdling, finishing runner-up first 3 starts before going one better at Plumpton (15.9f, good to soft) just under 6 weeks ago. Will need to take a step forward now handicapping.

Form: 2221

Goonhilly¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton| OR: 115| BF

33/1

Fairly useful form in 2 bumpers and has shown similar form in this sphere, conceding first run when runner-up in novice hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, heavy) 10 days ago. Makes handicap debut and yard seemingly has a couple of better chances.

Form: 4-3F252

Lively Citizen³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Atkins⁽⁷⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 113| D

33/1

Multiple hurdles winner who would have likely doubled his tally over fences but for stumbling and falling soon after 2 out at Musselburgh in January. Returned to hurdles to finish a good second of 10 to a next-time-out winner at Musselburgh (2m) 5 weeks ago. Another to consider.

Form: 4-164F2

Forecasts

Go Dante (5/1), Bad (5/1), Jipcot (15/2), Knickerbockerglory (15/2), Making Headway (8/1), Sans Bruit (8/1), Faivoir (11/1), Georgi Girl (11/1), Spirit D'aunou (14/1), Junkanoo (20/1), Bashers Reflection (25/1), Shared (28/1), Metier (28/1), Goonhilly (33/1), Lively Citizen (33/1), Minx Tiara (50/1)

Another typically competitive renewal on paper and it's SANS BRUIT who gets the tentative nod having shaped as if better for the run on return/yard debut at Doncaster 6 weeks ago. His usual hood is reapplied, and he can give Paul Nicholls a second successive victory in this at the expense of Making Headway, who doubled his tally at Newbury 4 weeks ago and looks a fascinating contender now handicapping. Go Dante, Jipcot and Bad are just another handful of others worth considering, also.