14:25 Sandown

Saturday 5 January 2019

All12:1512:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:35

Unibet Tolworth Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 5.22s

1^st

Elixir De Nutz

511-7

3/1

T: C L TizzardJ: T J O'Brien

Mostly jumped slickly, made all, hit 5th, ridden between last 2, driven and stayed on strongly run-in, unchallenged op 11/4

2^nd

Grand Sancy

511-7

4/1

T: P F NichollsJ: Sam Twiston-Davies

Held up last, closer in 4th place at 3rd, hit 5th, travelling well in 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd before the last, driven and stayed on run-in, not quite pace to challenge op 7/1

3^rd

3 ¼

Southfield Stone

611-7

6/1

T: P F NichollsJ: H Cobden

Chased winner, pushed along before 2 out, lost 2nd and no extra in 3rd before the last op 13/2 tchd 11/2 and tchd 7/1

4^th

Rathhill

611-7

6/5f

T: N J HendersonJ: B J Geraghty

Tracked leading pair on inside, pushed along after 3 out, struggling and beaten before next, eased op Evens tchd 10/11

5^th

Mercy Mercy Me

711-7

14/1

T: F O'BrienJ: P J Brennan

Held up in 4th place, dropped to last at 3rd, weakened 3 out op 16/1

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Non-Runners

Idee De Garde³⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£3.50Pl:£1.60, £1.60EX:£13.90Trifecta:£35.40SF:£15.01Swingers:£7.60

Forecasts

Rathhill (6/5), Elixir De Nutz (3/1), Grand Sancy (4/1), Southfield Stone (6/1), Mercy Mercy Me (14/1), Idee De Garde (20/1)

Last year's contest did not look a vintage renewal on paper, but it produced the first two home in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. This latest renewal has a similar feel, but most of these remain unknown quantities and it is only his leading stable's strength in depth in the novice hurdling division that gives RATHHILL the vote. He showed a nice turn of foot to win on his hurdling bow at Newbury and can take care of Elixir De Nutz and Southfield Stone, who both like to force the pace and could compromise each other's chance if becoming embroiled in a duel. Idee De Garde may fare best of the others.

Rathhill
Elixir De Nutz
Southfield Stone

Previous Winners

2018

Summerville Boy

Weight: 11-7 |Age: 6

J: N D Fehily | T: T R George

8/1

Prize Money

1st: £28,475.002nd: £10,685.003rd: £5,350.004th: £2,665.005th: £1,340.006th: £670.00