Racecards
15:00 Sandown Park
Matchbook Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (Class 1)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 216y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places in back straight)
- Surface: Turf
- £70,000 added
- Winner: £39,389
- 2nd: £14,840
- 3rd: £7,427
- 4th: £3,710
- Form 2/41128-
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey D A Jacob
chased leaders, switched left after last, went 2nd but wanting to hang left, stayed on, not able to challenge
- Form 76-4345
- Age 8
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer D Killahena & G McPherson
- Jockey Kielan Woods
mid-division, not much room after 3 out, never involved, well beaten from 2 out
- Form 210-810
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
mid-division, not much room 2nd, headway after 3 out, beaten before last, weakened flat
- Form 1433-18
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer H Whittington
- Jockey J McGrath
led, ridden and headed before 2 out, faded flat
- Form 15/P-25F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 133
held up towards rear, slow 3rd, mistake next, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, well beaten next
- Form 64832P
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, weakened before 2 out, pulled up approaching last
- Form 12-312F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up in mid-division, not much room and stumbled after 3 out, headway before next, challenged last, edged right and led, driven out
- Form 543442
- Age 10
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer M D I Usher
- Jockey Mr Zac Baker
prominent, not fluent 5th, outpaced 2 out, stayed on flat, went 4th towards finish
- Form 927722
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Lee Edwards
tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, effort after 2 out, beaten and disputing 7th when fell last
- Form 333342
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
held up and behind, some headway but still plenty to do when faltered and pulled up before last
- Form 320-616
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
prominent, led before 2 out, headed soon after last, lost 2nd and stayed on same pace
- Form 965421
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer K Frost
- Jockey Thomas Bellamy
held up in rear, shaken up before 2 out, hampered last, never dangerous
- Form 2-212
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
took keen hold, mid-division, mistake 2nd, closed before next, pressing for 2nd 2 out, one pace and beaten from last
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Fixe Le Kap will be among the market leaders but this looks a mammoth task for the five-year-old after almost a year on the sidelines. Cheltenham winner William H Bonney made no impression off a similar mark in the Betfair Hurdle while Max Do Brazil was very disappointing on his UK debut. London Prize fell at Musselburgh on his latest start over timber but has been placed on the all-weather since, though soft going would not be ideal. Spice Fair was third in this last year when 3lb higher but seems to need further nowadays. Gassin Golf was third in 2015 and is fairly treated at present but not easy to catch right and we prefer those nearer the foot of the handicap. Disputed is tough and consistent but an infrequent winner. NOT ANOTHER MUDDLE is still learning his trade but the likely fast pace here will help him settle and going right-handed is also a plus - Gary Moore’s novice could be well treated on his handicap bow. Chieftain's Choice, who goes well here, is another who could figure providing there is a good gallop.
Formwatch
Fixe Le Kap (FR) 8-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, headway from 4th, chasing leaders before 2 out, beaten before last, one pace, 8th of 22, 10 1/4l behind Diego Du Charmil (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Kayf Blanco 25-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway on inside 3 out, soon tracked leaders, outpaced next, no impression after, 5th of 16, 13 1/4l behind Ballyandy (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
William H Bonney 15-2 (11-3) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders 3 out, never on terms, weakened from next, 11th of 16, 31 1/4l behind Ballyandy (11-1) at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Bigmartre (FR) 8-1 (11-1) Prominent, not fluent 2 out, soon outpaced, well held when hampered last, 8th of 14, 19 3/4l behind William H Bonney (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Gassin Golf 18-1 (10-13) Mid-division, fell 3rd, at Newbury 2m hcp (1) sft in Feb.
Max Do Brazil (FR) 9-2 (10-7) Mid-division, mistake 1st, headway after 3 out, weakened, eased and pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
London Prize 11-4 (8-13) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, kept on and always well held, held on for 2nd place near finish, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Natural Scenery (9-6) at Newcastle 2m hcp (3) pol in Feb.
Spice Fair 10-1 (11-9) Held up in last pair, steady headway on inside before 3 out, chased leaders before next, 2nd and mistake 2 out, plugged on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 11l behind Hello George (11-3) at Newbury 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Prairie Town (IRE) 11-4 (10-13) Chased leaders, went 2nd at 7th, effort before 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, hung right towards finish, 2nd of 3, 2 3/4l behind Holly Bush Henry (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 1f (3) sft in Feb.
Disputed (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Held up 4th, closer in 3rd when led narrowly approaching 2 out, headed before the last, stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Eminent Poet (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Darebin (GER) 9-4fav (9-7) Mid-division, switched outside and headway inside final 2f, ridden 1f out, stayed on to challenge and every chance inside final furlong, just held, 2nd of 8, hd behind Langlauf (9-4) at Kempton 1m 4f hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Chieftain's Choice (IRE) 3-1fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway chasing leading pair 5th, 2nd going well before 2 out, upsides last, ridden and stayed on to lead final 100 yards, won at Sandown 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Centurius (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Not Another Muddle 9-4 (11-9) Jumped right at times, held up, pulled hard, went 3rd from 4th, led briefly 6th, shaken up and no impression on winner last, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Casper King (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f (4) sft in Feb.