14:25 Sandown

Saturday 7 December 2024

All12:0812:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Betfair Plays Different Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 21.35s

Nemean Lion²⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 150| D

11/2

Took form up another notch when landing the second Grade 2 success of his career in Kingwell at Wincanton in February. Found Grade 1s at Cheltenham and Aintree too much in the spring but capable of going well back in a handicap if fully primed after 8 months off (won on last year's reappearance).

Form: 152167-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Spirit D'aunou¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 133| CD

10/3

Made it 5 wins in 6 starts when landing this race 12 months ago but his progress has come to a halt since. 20/1, fell early on Ascot reappearance 15 days ago. 2-2 C&D record but hard to know what form he arrives in.

Form: 41005-F

Knickerbockerglory²⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| D

13/8

Winner on his reappearance in 2022 and 2023. His previous Sandown visits have seen him finish second and fifth in the last 2 runnings of the Imperial Cup. Reasons to be positive.

Form: 9/1765P-

Stream Of Stars³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 128| D

12/1

Has enhanced his good hurdle strike-rate with a pair of Fontwell handicap wins this autumn. A further 8 lb rise proved enough to find him out in a stronger race at Ascot last month, though.

Form: 114/116

Zambezi Fix¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 123| D

14/1

Added to his good Chepstow record with chase and hurdle wins last season. Stepped up on his C&D reappearance when 8½ lengths fourth of 6 to reopposing Kabral Du Mathan at Kempton (2m, good to soft) 12 days but might struggle to turn that form around even on 9 lb better terms.

Form: 22F1-64

Royal Way²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 123| D

9/2

Winner on Flat in France and took very well to hurdling for new connections last season, completing a hat-trick in 2m Ascot handicap in March. Creditable fourth in a Cheltenham conditions hurdle on reappearance but well beaten in the Greatwood there since.

Form: 2111-40

Non-Runners

Kabral Du Mathan¹²

Weight: 10-9| Age: 4

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Willmount³⁴³

Weight: 10-8| Age: 6

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Altobelli³⁰¹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 6

T: H Fry J: Bryan Carver

Forecasts

Knickerbockerglory (13/8), Willmount (5/2), Kabral Du Mathan (3/1), Spirit D'aunou (10/3), Altobelli (7/2), Royal Way (9/2), Nemean Lion (11/2), Stream Of Stars (12/1), Zambezi Fix (14/1)

WILLMOUNT went off second favourite for a Grade 1 novice hurdle when last seen just under a year ago so it wouldn't be a shock were an opening mark of 130 to prove generous and he can make a winning return. Best of the remainder may be Knickerbockerglory, who has a decent record fresh and over C&D. Nemean Lion completes the shortlist.