15:10 Sandown

Saturday 31 January 2026

All12:2012:5513:2514:0214:4015:1015:42

Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 6m 22.84s

Santos Blue^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Sutton⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 141

14/1

Likeable type who bagged 3m handicap hurdle at Newbury in February on his final run for Dan Skelton. Ran respectably both starts for new yard this term but others look better treated.

Form: 1/521-56

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Red Dirt Road³²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 139| CD

15/2

Winner of 4 of his 9 hurdles starts but shaped as if possibly amiss when pulling up at Uttoxeter in March and hasn't been seen since. Returns 6 lb above last winning mark and is entitled to need this.

Form: 42/511P-

Titan Discovery⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Liam Harrison| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 133| C

9/1

Lightly raced for his age and proved better than ever when winning 10-runner handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (24f, good to soft) 50 days ago, always holding on. 5 lb higher now but looks sure to go well again.

Form: 26/71-01

Henri The Second²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131| CD

9/4

Goes well here and returned to form when close second of 10 in handicap hurdle at this course (19.8f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Just 1 lb higher now and he looks a major player.

Form: 4120-32

Roaring Conquest⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 130

9/1

Irish point winner who showed fairly-useful form as novice last season and made a successful return on handicap debut at Windsor (24f) in November. Backed that up with creditable third of 6 in handicap hurdle at Carlisle (25f, soft) last month and is likely to give another good account here.

Form: 4139-13

Hartington³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Jack Tudor| T: J Tizzard| OR: 128

9/1

Made winning return at Carlisle in November and improved again, upped in trip, when narrowly denied in Betfair Stayers' handicap at Haydock (24.3f) later that month. Likely undone by lesser stamina test at Windsor latest and better expected here.

Form: 122-120

Gabbys Cross²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: Nick Scholfield| OR: 125

18/1

Back to somewhere near recent best, on second start for new yard, when third of 9 in handicap chase at this course (24.2f, good, 11/1) 28 days ago, finishing well. 4 lb lower, back over the smaller obstacles, and must enter calculations.

Form: 08/20-43

Minella Missile^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Isabel Williams| T: Evan Williams| OR: 121

11/1

Impressive winner of 2m5f Grade 2 Hyde at Cheltenham as novice in 2023. Had issues since but he's headed back in the right direction in recent starts, latest when creditable fifth of 15 in handicap hurdle (16/1) at Windsor (24f, soft) 13 days ago. Can't be ruled out.

Form: 00-0455

Party Vibes⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 119

9/1

Posted encouraging third in this sphere on Bangor reappearance before returning to fences to win a competitive mares' handicap at Cheltenham (20.5f) in December. 3 lb lower, back over timber, and merits consideration.

Form: P314-31

Spike Jones^p,t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Benjamin Macey⁽⁵⁾| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 116| D

14/1

Three-time hurdle winner who returned in fine heart this term, narrowly denied on reappearance at Lingfield before finishing close third in a steadily-run handicap at Cheltenham. Latest Windsor effort was somewhat disappointing but he does remain on a workable mark.

Form: 36-23F7

Sole Solution^p1⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 115| C

7/1

Dual winner over hurdles last term, including over shorter trip at this course. Arrives on back of below-par effort at Huntingdon, however, and yard continues to go through a quiet spell. Cheekpieces on for first time.

Form: 211-355

Forecasts

Henri The Second (9/4), Sole Solution (7/1), Red Dirt Road (15/2), Hartington (9/1), Roaring Conquest (9/1), Party Vibes (9/1), Titan Discovery (9/1), Minella Missile (11/1), Santos Blue (14/1), Spike Jones (14/1), Gabbys Cross (18/1)

HENRI THE SECOND boasts a fine record over hurdles here, only narrowly failing to record a third victory earlier this month. With the step back up in trip very much in his favour, he makes plenty of appeal. Hartington and Titan Discovery have both performed well in similar events this term and rate the principal dangers.