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13:50 Sandown

Saturday 7 December 2024

All12:0812:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 8.26s

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Selected odds by:

Down Memory Lane²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: M P Walsh| T: G Elliott

2/1

Successful start over hurdles at Down Royal last November 2023. Struggled in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown the following month but this former point winner looked a natural over fences when scoring on return/debut in this sphere at Navan (17f, good to soft) 3 weeks ago. Exciting prospect.

Form: 11/13-1

L'eau Du Sud^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 151

10/11

Top-drawer handicap hurdle form last term and has made a seamless transition to this sphere, winning a Stratford handicap on chase debut in October, followed by a Grade 2 Cheltenham novice (2m, good) 17 days later. Open to improvement and he holds very strong claims.

Form: P225-11

Soul Icon^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: K Burke| OR: 140

16/1

Multiple winner over hurdles who has progressed steadily in this sphere, going close in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July and again when just touched off in a Wincanton Grade 2 (20.2f, good) last month. However, probably biting off more than he can chew here.

Form: 422-222

Touch Me Not¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J C Gainford| T: G Elliott

5/1

Signed off last season with a maiden hurdle success and built on promising Punchestown chase debut second in October when landing a Grade 2 in good style there (16.3f, good to soft) 13 days ago. More on his plate here but he could have more to offer. Yard also saddles Down Memory Lane.

Form: 3441-21

Non-Runners

Rubaud²⁸

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Forecasts

L'eau Du Sud (10/11), Down Memory Lane (2/1), Touch Me Not (5/1), Rubaud (5/1), Soul Icon (16/1)

This race has been won by some top chasers over the years and DOWN MEMORY LANE is taken to add his name to the roll of honour. He jumped with aplomb when making a successful debut in this sphere at Navan and he has the potential to take high rank in the 2m novice chasers' division. That remark also applies to L'Eau du Sud, who made it 2-2 over fences with an impressive display at Cheltenham. He is the main danger ahead of the selection's stablemate Touch Me Not and chase debutant Rubaud.