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13:50 Sandown

Saturday 27 April 2024

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 3m 51.35s

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Selected odds by:

Panjari^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 136| D

22/1

Useful on Flat in Germany and has been quick in getting the hang of hurdling, winning a third 2m novice hurdles at Ffos Las 11 days ago. A lot more will be needed under top weight here but his top stable's good record in this makes him a dangerous one to discount.

Form: 137151

Cannock Park³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Craig Nichol| T: Paul Robson| OR: 131| BF| D

14/1

Point winner who landed a Bangor bumper and Cheltenham maiden hurdle in the autumn. Placed twice in Graded novices subsequently and creditable second (reopposing Lario third) in 2m novice at Newbury last time. His mark looks workable.

Form: 2-11332

Steel Ally³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 131

7/1

Readily made all in Wincanton novice in February and bettered that form when going down only to a fellow improver (pair clear) on Newbury handicap debut (2m, good to soft) last month. That is strong form and even a 7 lb rise seems unlikely to prevent him making a bold bid.

Form: 57-2P12

Fiercely Proud⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 130| D

15/2

Dual bumper scorer who also won his first 2 starts over hurdles before Christmas. Placed twice at Graded level since and respected on handicap debut for yard which won a big novice handicap here last month.

Form: 00-1132

Act Of Authority³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 129

28/1

Made it 3-5 over hurdles this season when dominating a small-field novice over 2½m at Wetherby last month but his opening handicap mark looks tough.

Form: 2-16131

Fire Flyer⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 126| D

17/2

Fairly useful bumper scorer who novice hurdles at Wincanton (2m, soft) and Taunton (19f, good to soft) in February. Folded tamely in the EBF Final over 2½m here last month but no surprise were he to bounce back to form with a bang for a top yard seeking a third win in this since 2019.

Form: 7-2211P

Secret Squirrel¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: H Morrison| OR: 126| D

7/2

Took another step forward when gaining a second hurdle success in 2m Taunton novice 16 days, quickening 5 lengths clear of the reopposing Helnwein. Could be more to come from him now handicapping and makes the shortlist.

Form: 11-1221

Lario^t1¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: Harry Derham| OR: 125| BF| D

25/1

Fair 11f winner on Flat in Germany in 2022. Winner of his completed start over hurdles for Anthony Charlton this winter and sound start for Harry Derham when third at Newbury (Cannock Park second) and Taunton this spring. Has a tongue tied added for handicap debut.

Form: U133

Be Aware⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124| BF| D

8/1

Brother to connections' useful hurdler/chaser Lac de Constance and looked good when making a successful start in a 16-runner novice at Newbury in January. Better form when runner-up at Lingfield and Kempton since and could easily be more to come in handicaps.

Form: 122

The Good Doctor^p1³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 122

40/1

Built on encouraging yard debut when winning a Fontwell novice hurdle on Boxing Day and lost little caste in defeat when conceding lumps of weight to a promising rival over C&D (good to soft) in February. His latest run in a Newbury handicap was disappointing, though. Cheekpieces go on now.

Form: 314128

Geezer Rockstar³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 121| D

14/1

Won 13-runner Taunton bumper on debut in April and much improved at third time of asking over hurdles when winning 13-runner maiden at Ascot (19f, good) 5 weeks ago. Open to further progress now handicapping.

Form: 1-4P1

Helnwein¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 121| D

14/1

Useful bumper winner who made a successful switch to hurdling at Warwick in November. Better form in defeat since (including second in C&D listed) and no surprise were he to take another step forward now handicapping.

Form: 13-1242

Court In The Act³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 119| D

12/1

Bumper winner and quickly translated that ability to hurdles, second at Hereford before going one better at Kempton (2m, good) on Boxing Day. Improved again when second of 7 at Ludlow last month and he's seemingly preferred by Paul O'Brien to Lario.

Form: 5-31212

King Of Tara¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 116| D

66/1

Placed on all 3 starts in bumpers prior to making a successful switch to hurdles at Warwick (2m, heavy) in March. Something can't have been right when down the field at Taunton next time and bounced back when fourth of 13 at Hereford only 3 days later. Handicap debut.

Form: 223104

Diamond Dice³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 115| D

100/1

Showed promise in bumpers and left his hurdling debut form behind when landing a 15-runner maiden at Ludlow (2m, heavy) in February. Creditable third of 13 at Taunton since. Handicap debut.

Form: 256613

An Bradan Feasa⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Jack Jones| OR: 123

22/1

Winner of juveniles at Ballinrobe (for Joseph O'Brien) and Cheltenham this season. Also good second to Burdett Road in a Grade 2 juvenile at latter track in November. Well-held eighth in Fred Winter at Festival there but that experience of a big-field handicap could hold him in good stead.

Form: 12148

Goonhilly^p³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 112| BF

25/1

Yet to win but runner-up 3 times in maiden/novice company this winter, including in cheekpieces (retained) on latest start. Also didn't acquit himself too badly when around 15 lengths sixth of 16 in Imperial Cup over C&D last month. Harry Skelton on yard's other runner.

Form: F25262

Just One Surf^p1⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 111| D

50/1

Placed in Irish points/bumper and left his first 2 hurdle runs behind when springing a 40/1 surprise in 2m Taunton maiden (soft) last month. No obvious fluke about that and his opening mark looks fair. Tongue tie off, first-time cheekpieces on.

Form: 3-235P1

Maasai Mara^p1¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Jack Tudor| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 119| D

12/1

Fairly useful on Flat for the Gosdens and readily got off the mark over hurdles in 7-runner juvenile at Catterick (2m, soft) in February. Improved when second under a penalty at Hereford recently. Cheekpieces reached for now handicapping for the first time in this sphere (won in blinkers on Flat).

Form: 212

Yellow Star^b1³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 115| D

80/1

Fairly useful form at best on the Flat and has quickly matched that over hurdles, winning a 2m Lingfield novice in February. Comfortably held in his first handicap over hurdles at Ascot last month, though. First-time headgear needs to make a difference.

Form: 3147

Forecasts

Secret Squirrel (7/2), Steel Ally (7/1), Fiercely Proud (15/2), Be Aware (8/1), Fire Flyer (17/2), Court In The Act (12/1), Maasai Mara (12/1), Helnwein (14/1), Cannock Park (14/1), Geezer Rockstar (14/1), An Bradan Feasa (22/1), Panjari (22/1), Lario (25/1), Goonhilly (25/1), Act Of Authority (28/1), The Good Doctor (40/1), Just One Surf (50/1), King Of Tara (66/1), Yellow Star (80/1), Diamond Dice (100/1)

STEEL ALLY pulled clear with last week's Cheltenham winner Doyen Quest on his Newbury handicap debut last month and might prove the answer to this ultra-competitive opener. As Maasai Mara gained his 2 Flat wins in blinkers it's possible he could pull out more with headgear on for the first time over hurdles so he's second choice. Secret Squirrel, Cannock Park, Court In The Act and Dan Skelton's Be Aware are a few of many others who could have a say.