Racecards
16:15 Sandown Park
Tim Chappell 70th Birthday Celebration Novices' Handicap Hdl (Class 3)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Soft (good to soft in the back straight)
- Surface: Turf
- £8,000 added
- Form 16/4-231
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Felix de Giles
mid-division, headway 3 out, effort next, weakened
- Form 323/7-27
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up, headway approaching 2 out, ridden in 3rd when fell last
- Form 441
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden after 2 out, headed last, kept on same pace
- Form 2431
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
soon led, headed 3 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, kept on same pace
- Form 26236-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Mr T Greenall
held up, headway after 3 out, led last, ran on well, ridden out
- Form 0U63-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
chased leaders until 5th, weakened after 3 out
- Form 52135
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer M F Harris
- Jockey C Poste
mid-division, headway after 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, held when badly hampered and left 4th last
Sarde (FR)
32- Form 44-1437
- Age 4
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey A O'keeffe
prominent, chased leaders and ridden after 2 out, 5th and held when brough down last
- Form 6-536
- Age 5
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer P Butler
- Jockey James Davies
saddle slipped and pulled up before 2nd
- Form 6F5/P-PP
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 89
- Trainer R Dickin
- Jockey W P Kavanagh
took keen hold, held up, headway and mistake 3rd, with leaders when blundered badly 3 out, soon weakened, virtually
In depth
Verdict
Premier Des Marais may be able to take the finale at the main expense of Foxspur although all the runners from Seven Barrows are respected. Neither Jean Le Poisson nor Pamak D'Airy have jumped a hurdle in public in Britain whilst Montana Gold needs to improve for the switch to handicapping and stamina would appear to be his strong suit. The market should help sort out Nicky Henderson's trio. Gary Moore saddled the winner of last year's renewal and Premier Des Marais has improved with each of his three starts for his current handler. He appears to be on a fair enough mark and a bold bid looks assured. Foxspur has to be feared as he, too, looks fairly treated and is open to considerable improvement. His form looks solid and he has an obvious chance. The same cannot be said of Sarde but he has shown glimpses that suggest he could get involved if seeing out this longer trip whilst Coq Hardi's poor showing last time can be attributed to the yard's poor form. An open heat with Premier Des Marais the tentative selection.
Formwatch
Jean Le Poisson (FR) 4-6fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, outpaced after 3 out, ridden last, ran on under pressure to lead flat, won at Folkestone 2m mdn chs (4) gs in Jan beating Chaninbar (10-7) by 3l, 8 ran.
Coq Hardi (FR) 17-2 (11-1) Led 2nd until 3rd, tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 49l behind Harris Bay (10-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Jan.
Premier Des Marais (FR) 9-4fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway 8th, ridden 3 out, jumped well and led 2 out, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jan beating Strong Coffee (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Foxspur (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Led to 3rd, remained close up, ridden to lead again approaching 2 out, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Another Brother (10-7) by a nk, 15 ran.
Pamak D'airy (FR) 10-1 (10-8) Never a threat, 6th of 9, 12l behind Aviador (10-4) at Auteuil 2m 1f 4yo chs sft in Mar.
Montana Gold (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up in last pair, ridden after 4 out, staying on at one pace when left modest 3rd last, kept on well flat to press for 2nd near finish, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Master Eddy (11-3) at Newbury 3m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Mar.
Snake Charmer 7-2 (11-7) Not fluent, mid-division, led after 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, one pace, 5th of 9, 7l behind Jazz Dance (11-10) at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jan.
Sarde (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Held up, headway 5th, ridden 2 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 11, 14l behind Oh Crick (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Night Groove (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Held up, never on terms, 6th of 10, 25l behind Share My Dream (10-9) at Worcester 2m nov clm hdl (5) sft in Jun.
Tudor Buck (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Always behind and pulled up 2 out in race won by Random Native (11-9) at Doncaster 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Jan, 20 ran.