13:50 Sandown

Saturday 8 March 2025

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

European Breeders' Fund Betfair 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 5m 7.6s

The Kemble Brewery^t1⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 129| BF

10/1

Successful both starts in bumpers and also landed a pair of 2m novice hurdles this autumn. Another good run when 2 lengths second to the reopposing Meetmebythesea in novice at Ludlow (2m, soft) in December. Should have more to offer now handicapping up in trip. Tongue tie added.

Form: 1/13-112

Meetmebythesea⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 128

10/3

Runner-up sole start in Irish points and unbeaten in 3 hurdles around 2m this winter. Should have more to offer now handicapping over a trip which should suit for last year's winning yard. Good claimer also takes 5 lb off. Obvious appeal.

Form: 2-111

Kepler's Law⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: B S Hughes| T: L Morgan| OR: 128| D

8/1

Irish point winner who has made an encouraging start to his hurdle career this winter, getting off the mark at the third time of asking in 20.5f Leicester novice (heavy) in January. Likely capable of better now moving into handicap company.

Form: 1-331

Off The Jury¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr D Maxwell| T: A King| OR: 126

28/1

Improved when close third on 3m Doncaster handicap debut in January and set to better that form when running out at the last at Wetherby (3m again) 10 days ago. Another 4 lb higher now but still not discounted.

Form: 43-223R

George's Lad⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Liam Harrison| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 126

13/2

Held every chance when falling at the last in a point and has progressed with each run over hurdles to this point, suited by the step up to 19.5f when winning hard held in maiden at Doncaster in January. One of a few handicap newcomers in this field who likely has his best days ahead of him.

Form: F-5221

Belliano³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 125

11/4

£255,000 purchase after easily winning an Irish point. Bumped into The New Lion on his Chepstow hurdle debut before landing the odds in a maiden at Ascot and novice at Market Rasen. Much respected for a top yard with a strong record in this.

Form: 1-211

It's Hard To Know⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 124| D

18/1

Won sole start in Irish points (Feb 2024) and successful in novice hurdles at Lingfield (19.5f) and Market Rasen (20.5f) on first 2 starts for Ben Pauling. Dropped away tamely in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury just after Christmas but retains potential now handicapping.

Form: 1-116

Laurens Bay⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 123| BF

33/1

Confirmed previous promise as he made it third time lucky over hurdles in 10-runner novice at Huntingdon (2m, heavy) in December but needs to shrug off a lesser run at Ascot in January now moving into his first handicap.

Form: 2/1-2214

Elysian Knight²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 121| D

14/1

Left hurdle debut behind when springing a 40/1 surprise in Ffos Las maiden in January. Shaped well in a race which tested speed more than stamina at Fakenham since and likely improver now handicapping.

Form: 336413

Not So Woolly^p1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 118| BF

14/1

Has made a sound start to his hurdle career, placing for a fourth time when second in 19f Taunton novice last month. The step back up in trip should suit now handicapping. Also wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 5-3332

Silver Thorn^t1³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 118

20/1

Reached the frame in 2 bumpers and made a successful hurdling debut in a 2¾m Stratford maiden (heavy) in October. Stepped up on that form when second to the reopposing Belliano at Market Rasen (20.5f, soft) 32 days ago and his opening handicap mark looks fair. Tongue tied first time.

Form: 42-1532

Disco Davis¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 116

33/1

Seemed to relish a return to front-running when getting off the mark in 2m Lingfield maiden (soft) in January. Good second in 19f Warwick novice since. Handicap debut.

Form: 5FF512

Aviation²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 116| D

28/1

Placed in first 3 hurdles before coming good in 2½m Fakenham novice (good) 3 weeks ago. Makes handicap debut. Likely capable of even better.

Form: 43221

Followcato³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 114

25/1

Has shaped well in 2 of his 3 hurdles, paying the price late on for hugely eye-catching move to the front when third if 14 in 2½m Wetherby maiden 35 days ago. Handicap debut. One of 3 interesting runners for last year's winning stable.

Form: 23-453

Malinificent²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 114

14/1

£52,000 buy after finishing runner-up on sole completed start in points. Best effort over hurdles when second in 2m Bangor novice (heavy) last month. This longer trip promises to suit now handicapping.

Form: U-2342

Ken Roy^p⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 114

80/1

Third in 2 bumpers last spring. Also showed promise when reaching the frame in his first 2 hurdles but pulled up at Cheltenham when last seen on New Year's Day. Handicap debut.

Form: 33-42P

Non-Runners

Peso⁴⁴

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Illegal D'ainay⁴⁸

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: C Gordon J: Freddie Gordon

Forecasts

Belliano (11/4), Meetmebythesea (10/3), George's Lad (13/2), Kepler's Law (8/1), The Kemble Brewery (10/1), Malinificent (14/1), Not So Woolly (14/1), Peso (14/1), Elysian Knight (14/1), It's Hard To Know (18/1), Silver Thorn (20/1), Followcato (25/1), Off The Jury (28/1), Aviation (28/1), Laurens Bay (33/1), Disco Davis (33/1), Illegal D'ainay (33/1), Ken Roy (80/1)

Fiercely competitive as usual. BELLIANO has created a good impression when winning his last 2 starts and is taken to provide Paul Nicholls with a third success in this since 2020. Ben Pauling won this last year and has a strong hand again, courtesy of Meetmebythesea and Followcato. George's Lad and Elysian Knight also make the shortlist.