Racecards
15:35 Sandown Park
32Red Casino Handicap Chase (Class 2)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 3m 110y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £50,000 added
- Winner: £31,280
- 2nd: £9,240
- 3rd: £4,620
- 4th: £2,310
- Form 1310P-P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up well in rear, steady headway into 7th before 3 out, ridden and stayed on before last, driven into 3rd run-in, never nearer
- Form PP02-7P
- Age 10
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 150
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
chased leaders, hit 8th, pushed along before 13th, ridden after 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 31838-6
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up in mid-division, headway tracking leaders in 5th before 10th, 3rd at 14th, went 2nd 3 out, challenged 2 out, led soon after, ridden clear before last, stayed on strongly run-in
- Form 661-311
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer R H Buckler
- Jockey L Heard
off the pace in 7th, pushed along and struggling when not fluent 16th (water), tailed off
- Form P151P-4
- Age 10
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
led, clear 4th until 9th, mistake and headed 17th, led again next, ridden after 3 out, pecked 2 out and soon headed, ridden and no chance with winner when lost 2nd before last, weakened run-in
- Form 1F30-11
- Age 8
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up off the pace towards rear, steady headway into 6th before 16th (water), hit next and 18th, 5th and plenty to do before 3 out, stayed on into 2nd before the last, no chance with winner
- Form 5204-43
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
soon off the pace in 7th, weakened 16th, tailed off before 4 out, eased before 3 out, soon pulled up
- Form P/U127-1
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Jamie Bargary
chased leaders, mistake 13th, ridden after 4 out, 2nd travelling well enough before mistake 3 out, chased leading pair, one pace when mistake and lost 3rd 2 out, hung right under pressure before last, kept on run-in
- Form 0P44-13
- Age 10
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey Alain Cawley
off the pace in 6th, jumped slowly 12th, soon struggling, tailed off and pulled up before 16th (water)
- Form 2F5351
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
in rear, slight mistake 1st, pecked 6th, never remotely involved, struggling 16th (water), tailed off
- Form 4P471-7
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer N J Gifford
- Jockey Tom Cannon
chased leader, led 17th until next, chased leader until pushed along before 3 out, soon one pace chasing leaders, plugged on modest 5th towards finish
- Form 423P-31
- Age 10
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey Max Kendrick
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
UNIONISTE finished sixth in the Hennessy in November when Triolo D'Alene and Vino Griego were both pulled up. Paul Nicholls' seven-year-old was running in the Lexus Chase at this time last season and has a touch of class that none of his rivals possess so gets the nod. Tinker Time is progressing and makes more appeal than fellow hat-trick seeker Bertie Boru while Relax ran well for a long way at Chepstow on his reappearance and could stay on for a place. Whats Happening should also be thereabouts but Count Guido Deiro is a real mud-lover for whom conditions may not be testing enough. Ballyallia Man is weighted to reverse last month course and distance running with Firm Order but Hold Court took six attempts to get off the mark over fences and has never looked like staying this far in the past.
Formwatch
Triolo D'Alene (FR) 25-1 (11-12) Towards rear, no chance when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Many Clouds (11-6) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 19 ran.
Vino Griego (FR) 50-1 (11-7) Towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 17th, in a race won by Many Clouds (11-6) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 19 ran.
Unioniste (FR) 20-1 (11-6) Towards rear, only 9th jumping 2 out, plugged on run-in, no threat, 6th of 19, 24l behind Many Clouds (11-6) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
Tinker Time (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Chased leader until 3rd, chased leading pair, not fluent 10th, 2nd 4 out, challenged from next, led last, kept on well, won at Newbury 3m grad ch (2) gs in Dec beating Masters Hill (11-0) by 1l, 4 ran.
Relax (FR) 25-1 (11-8) Jumped right, led until before 7th, chased leader, ridden before 4 out, lost 2nd before mistake next, no chance with leading duo, lost poor 3rd in closing stages, 4th of 9, 15l behind Rebeccas Choice (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Bertie Boru (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Last pair and not fluent, pushed along in 8th after 12th, in touch when blundered 4 out, 6th when went left 3 out, chased leading trio before last, went 2nd final 175 yards, strong run and driven ahead last strides, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating Phone Home (10-4) by hd, 12 ran.
Whats Happening (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) In touch, not fluent 9th, driven to challenge before 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Tales Of Milan (10-8) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Dec.
Count Guido Deiro (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) With leader, led 11th, made rest, ridden when not fluent last, stayed on well to assert clear flat, won at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec beating Listen Boy (11-8) by 6l, 8 ran.
Ballyallia Man (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Led, clear before 12th until joined 2 out, ridden and headed before last, one pace and no impression run-in, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Firm Order (11-2) at Sandown 3m amat hcap chs (3) sft in Dec.
Hold Court (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Chased leaders on inside, hit 10th, outpaced after 13th, 7 lengths 5th 4 out, rallied after 2 out, 3 1/2 lengths 2nd last, ran on flat, led towards finish, won at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov beating Citizenship (11-2) by 2l, 6 ran.
On Trend (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Led until 13th, chased leader until 4 out, weakened next, 7th of 12, 30l behind Bertie Boru (11-6) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Firm Order (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th until 18th, chased leading pair, went 2nd again before 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, driven clear, won at Sandown 3m amat hcap chs (3) sft in Dec beating Handy Andy (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.