13:20 Sandown
Saturday 26 April 2025
All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45
bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)
- 4YO plus  |  Class 2  |  1m 7f 216y  |  Good (Good to Soft in places)  |  14 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 13:21Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 3m 51.27s
Cloth number
Odds
Star rating
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Odds-on winner of a Newbury juvenile and Huntingdon novice, either side of finishing a cracking fourth of 13 in an Aintree Grade 1 (17f, good). However, his mark for this handicap hurdle debut inevitably suffered as a consequence of that effort and others could be better treated.
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Smart on the Flat in Ireland and progressive over hurdles for new yard, completing the hat-trick back from a break in 2m novice at Southwell (good to soft) where he accounted for 3 of todays rivals, namely stablemate John Barbour, Sorceleur and Kientzheim. Remains open to improvement.
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Has taken to well to hurdles, building on promising Rules debut second when landing a Southwell maiden in February. Pulled clear of the rest when narrowly seeing off a pretty useful type at Huntingdon (15.8f, good to soft) subsequently and this 5-y-o should have more to offer now handicapping.
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Useful handicapper on Flat and has looked equally capable in this sphere, going one better than on his hurdles debut when landing a 2m Kempton novice in November. Runner-up both subsequent starts over hurdles and he's not without each-way hope for last year's winning yard.
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Fairly useful handicapper on the Flat and has improved with each run over hurdles, winner of a Musselburgh listed event and Southwell novice, either side of finishing second in the Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton in February. Trip/ground fine and he could have a part to play granted further progress.
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Runner-up on the second of 2 starts in bumpers and took to this discipline well after 6 months off when bagging 14-runner novice at Stratford (16.3f, good to soft) in October. Placed all 4 subsequent starts and he's no forlorn hope but jockey bookings point to HMS President being the stable No 1.
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Bumper winner last term and, save for a poor handicap debut display at Ascot in December, he hasn't done much wrong since switched to hurdles, most recently finishing midfield in the C&D Imperial Cup. However, there are others in this line-up that seemingly bring more potential to the party.
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Dual bumper winner in France at the start of 2024 and belied market weakness to make a winning hurdles debut in 2m Kempton maiden in December. Has come up short both starts since, though, latterly finishing 6 lengths fourth to Serious Challenge at Southwell and now 4 lb worse off with that rival.
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Progressive hurdler who landed good-ground novices at Exeter and Wincanton on successive days in November. Largely creditable efforts since, most recently finishing 6 lengths third to Serious Challenge in a Southwell novice and now meets that rival on 10 lb better terms. High on the shortlist.
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Bumper winner who made the most of a good opportunity second time up over hurdles in 5-runner novice at Newbury (16.3f, good) last month. Improved when 2¼ lengths second to stablemate Serious Challenge at Southwell next time (Sorceleur and Kientzheim behind) and now 4 lb better off with the winner.
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Useful winning stayer on the Flat in France. Deservedly opened hurdles account at Taunton (16.5f, good) on penultimate start but he was then turned over when long odds on for a novice event over the same C&D. Harry Cobden prefers Sorceleur.
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Fairly useful winner in France and good start for this yard with victories at Fontwell and Cheltenham (dead-heated on latter occasion). However, his limitations have seemingly been exposed back at Cheltenham the last twice, latterly well held on his handicap debut in the Fred Winter.
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Fairly useful Flat winner in France and struck at the first time of asking over hurdles in 2m Wetherby juvenile in November. Excellent second in Chepstow Grade 2 next time but subsequent efforts have represented steps in the wrong direction and now finds himself with a bit to prove.
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Fair ex-French Flat performer who failed to build on debut fourth at Kempton when sixth of 10 in the listed juvenile hurdle at Musselburgh won by St Pancras. However, back on track with a tongue strap added when scoring at Taunton (16.5f, good to firm) recently and there should be more to come.
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Non-Runners
10
Big Ginge49
Weight: 11-1|Â Â Age: 5
T: N & W Twiston-Davies  J: Non Runner
NR
Forecasts
Sorceleur (5/1), Fasol (15/2), Serious Challenge (15/2), Mythical Moon (8/1), We're Red And Blue (8/1), John Barbour (17/2), Wolf Moon (17/2), Nardaran (9/1), Marche D'aligre (11/1), Kientzheim (12/1), Big Ginge (16/1), Quantock Hills (18/1), Give It To Me Oj (20/1), St Pancras (25/1), HMS President (25/1)
WOLF MOON has looked very promising in his three runs on sharp, flat tracks but there's a strong suspicion that he'll be seen in an even better light now switched to a more testing course and pitched into what promises to be a strongly-run handicap. The main danger may be John Barbour, who raised his game when chasing home stablemate Serious Challenge at Southwell where Sorceleur and Kientzheim were behind. That said, Serious Challenge and Sorceleur both merit a good deal of respect, too.
- Wolf Moon17/2
- John Barbour17/2
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £51,440.002nd: £23,650.003rd: £11,830.004th: £5,910.005th: £2,960.006th: £1,470.007th: £740.008th: £370.00
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