Racecards
13:50 Sandown Park
Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 10y
- Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £35,000 added
- Winner: £19,932
- 2nd: £7,480
- 3rd: £3,745
- 4th: £1,866
- Form 233/4-11
- Age 9
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 152
chased leaders on inside, left tracking leading pair 12th, pushed along before 3 out, weakened before next
- Form 50-2231
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 147
led until 9th, lost 2nd 11th (water), no extra in 3rd from 3 out
- Form 326-111
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
chased leader and keen, led 9th, pushed along after 3 out, ridden after next, joined last, idled hung left and headed final 150 yards, no extra
- Form 1/1117-3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up well in rear, jumped slowly 5th, left closer in 5th at 12th, headway chasing leaders before 3 out went 2nd between last 2, challenged and untidy last, stayed on to lead final 150 yards, soon clear
- Form 1-432U2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer R Rowe
- Jockey James Davies
raced out wide tracking leaders and keen, jumped slowly 7th, left in 4th and hampered by faller 12th, weakened before 3 out
Hitman (FR)
63- Form 2P1-12
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 151
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
tracked leading pair and keen, went 2nd 11th (water), fell next
- Form 21/511-1
- Age 8
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 148
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
tracked leaders, pushed along before 11th (water), dropped to last pair when badly hampered by faller and unseated rider 12th
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Messire Des Obeaux is 2-2 over fences at Wincanton. He was too good for a couple of smart novices in a Grade 2 last time and will have been aimed at this as he won’t be going to Cheltenham. DAME DE COMPAGNIE had no trouble beating a sole rival at Ayr over a trip too short. She was 4-8 over hurdles and could upset better-fancied rivals here as she has everything in her favour. Shan Blue completed his hat-trick in the Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day and won’t go down without a fight but Hitman, runner-up in a Grade 1 here last time, goes beyond 2m for the first time though should be suited.
Formwatch
Messire Des Obeaux (FR) 9-4 (11-0) Held up, going strongly 4 out, smooth headway to lead 3 out, went clear before 2 out, briefly ridden run-in, easily, won at Wincanton 2m 4f (1) gs in Jan beating Protektorat (11-3) by 4 3/4l, 3 ran.
Paint The Dream 16-1 (10-11) Jumped well and boldly, led from 1st, clear approaching last, easily, won at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Dickie Diver (11-1) by 7 1/2l, 8 ran.
Shan Blue (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Led until before 7th, pressed leader, led again 11th until approaching next, in front again 13th, made rest, over 1 length ahead last, driven and in command run-in, won at Kempton 3m (1) gs in Dec beating The Big Breakaway (11-7) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.
Sporting John (IRE) 10-11fav (11-2) Tracked leader in 3rd, headway to stalk leading pair 4 out, outpaced 3 out, no more and eased down close home, 3rd of 6, 33 1/4l behind Fiddlerontheroof (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) gs in Nov.
Up The Straight (IRE) 7-4 (10-12) Chased leader who went clear 6th, clever next, closer at 9th, led next, pushed along before 2 out, joined last, ridden and headed run-in, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Umbrigado (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) hvy in Jan.
Hitman (FR) 11-4 (10-10) Raced in third, went second and in pursuit of leader before bypassed 3 out, ran on well but not reach winner, 2nd of 5, 2 1/2l behind Allmankind (10-10) at Sandown 2m (1) sft in Dec.
Dame De Compagnie (FR) 1-2fav (10-5) In touch, not fluent 4th, nudged along before 4 out, led before 2 out, asserted before big jump last, ran on, won at Ayr 2m (4) hvy in Jan beating Cornerstone Lad (10-12) by 9l, 2 ran.