16:10 Sandown

Saturday 9 March 2024

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

Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 6m 32.1s

Ballygrifincottage^p,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| D

8/1

Useful novice hurdler and made a winning start over fences in novice at Haydock later in 2022. Lightly raced and below that form since, though he did hint at a revival when fifth of 9 in 3m handicap chase at Ascot 21 days ago. Needs to take another step forward.

Form: 1PP-3P5

Switch Hitter⁷⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 134| D

16/1

Signed off last season with success at Wincanton and returned from 9 months off with a pair of creditable efforts in 3m Ascot handicaps. Considered off an easing mark.

Form: 22/71-35

Easy As That⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 133

9/1

Looked a potentially smart chaser when easily scoring at Haydock and Newcastle last winter but has found life tougher since, down the field in competitive handicaps at Cheltentham. Others appeal more.

Form: 115-660

Castle Robin^p,t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 132| CD

13/2

C&D winner who posted a respectable sixth of 12 in handicap chase at Musselburgh (31.4f, good to soft) 35 days ago. Back down in trip and not ruled out.

Form: P14F-56

Bangers And Cash^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 132| DWS

7/2

Progressed into a useful staying chaser last season, winning 3 of his last 4 starts, and arrives on the back of a good C&D fourth last month. Since had a wind op so he's a player eased 1 lb.

Form: 01-P834

No Risk Des Flos^t⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 132

16/1

Dual chase scorer at Wetherby (goes particularly well there) last term but turned in a rare poor effort when fourth there last time, making mistakes. Can get back on track.

Form: 613-P34

Secret Reprieve³⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130| D

40/1

Won the Welsh Grand National in 2020/21 and ran well to be placed in good company twice last season. Has tended to need his comeback run, so just worth watching in market after 11 months off.

Form: 5P/923P-

Boldmere⁵⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 128| D

25/1

Winner of 3m veterans' events at Doncaster and Fakenham last spring. However, he hasn't shone in a trio of runs so far this season and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 121-P4P

Rose Of Arcadia^t⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 126| BF| D

9/2

Made a winning reappearance at Newton Abbot (26.5f) in October. Solid efforts in defeat all 3 subsequent starts, most recently finding just one too good in the Grand Military Gold Cup over C&D. That form has worked out really well so he's one to be interested in.

Form: 3-17332

Trincomalee^p²³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: H Cobden| T: L Wadham| OR: 114

10/3

Useful hurdler/chaser at his best but off 21 months and yet to match that form this term, including when second over C&D 23 days ago. Needs to take a step forward.

Form: 2152/62

Non-Runners

Surrey Quest⁴²

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: T Lawes J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Trincomalee (10/3), Bangers And Cash (7/2), Rose Of Arcadia (9/2), Castle Robin (13/2), Ballygrifincottage (8/1), Easy As That (9/1), No Risk Des Flos (16/1), Switch Hitter (16/1), Boldmere (25/1), Secret Reprieve (40/1)

A few with chances but ROSE OF ARCADIA looks the way to go on the back of her C&D second last time out with that form having been very well advertised since. Bangers And Cash could emerge as the chief threat, especially if a recent wind op ekes out more improvement. Switch Hitter and Ballygrifincottage make up the shortlist.