14:25 Sandown

Saturday 6 December 2025

All12:1012:4313:2013:5014:2515:0015:35

Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 14.01s

Knickerbockerglory²³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| CD

5/2

Enhanced fine record when fresh by making all in this corresponding event last season. Solid form off career-high mark subsequently, latest when a patiently ridden fourth in the Sussex Champion Hurdle. Eased 1 lb and looks the pick of the Skelton trio making his reappearance.

Form: 5P/1354-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Goshen^p²²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 137| CD

12/1

A very smart hurdler at his best. Opened chase account at Exeter in spring 2024 and not discredited back chasing when third to Hoe Joly Smoke in 3m handicap here in March. Found bet365 Gold Cup too competitive the following month and returns back over timber.

Form: 1/P3530-

Metier^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 133| CD

28/1

Better known as a Flat performer these days and but it's hard to know how much ability remains judged on both 2025 outings, shaping as if the run was needed in November handicap at Doncaster 4 weeks ago. Back hurdling for the first time since spring 2024 and best to look elsewhere.

Form: 417PP0/

Glynn Brae²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 133| C| D

7/4

Prolific over hurdles last season and picked up from where he'd left off to record victory number 4 in 6-runner handicap hurdle here (19.8f, good) last month, showing a willing attitude to get back up after an untidy jump at the last looked to have cost him. 5 lb rise fair so shortlisted.

Form: 62115-1

L'astroboy⁹⁹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Evan Williams| OR: 132| BF| D

12/1

Promising start to career when winning Ffos Las bumper/maiden hurdle in 2022 before taking his form up a notch when runner-up in Grade 1 Tolworth here. Unable to capitalise on a marked drop in grade in spring 2023 and has clearly had several issues to not have been seen since.

Form: 1122/

Go Dante^t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 130| CD

11/2

Back to best when landing 17-runner Imperial Cup (Handicap) over C&D for a second year running in March, sustaining run well to lead close home. Found test too much on return at Bangor last month so he warrants considerable respect back here with a run under his belt.

Form: 9P071-6

Honky Tonk Highway²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Brendan Powell| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| CD

22/1

Listed bumper winner who didn't need to improve on her opening effort over hurdles when making all in C&D listed event on this card last year. Much improved when narrowly denied in a valuable novice at Windsor the following month but ran a shocker on return/handicap debut at Bangor recently.

Form: 10/212-P

Afadil^p³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 120| D

7/1

Placed in Imperial Cup over C&D last spring but it's now 13 runs since his last win and he shaped as if needing the run on return at Ascot 5 weeks ago (had another breathing operation during absence). Handicapper drops him another couple and no surprise to see an improved effort.

Form: 6230P-7

Non-Runners

Kateira¹⁴

Weight: 12-0| Age: 8

T: D Skelton J: Harry Atkins

Dance And Glance³⁵

Weight: 10-2| Age: 5

T: A J Honeyball J: Non Runner

Lucky One¹⁵

Weight: 10-2| Age: 10

T: Mrs S Leech J: Roisin Leech

Forecasts

Glynn Brae (7/4), Knickerbockerglory (5/2), Dance And Glance (4/1), Go Dante (11/2), Afadil (7/1), Kateira (10/1), L'astroboy (12/1), Goshen (12/1), Honky Tonk Highway (22/1), Metier (28/1), Lucky One (66/1)

Plenty in with a squeak but preference is for KNICKERBOCKERGLORY, who bolted up in this on return last year and Dan Skelton's charge can enhance an already superb record fresh. His main threat may emerge from Go Dante, who made it back-to-back Imperial Cups over C&D in the spring and should be spot on with his reappearance under his belt. Glynn Brae looks the pick of the rest.