Racecards
13:50 Sandown Park
European Breeders' Fund Paddy Power 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final (Grade 3) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 173y
- Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £50,000 added
- Winner: £28,230
- 2nd: £10,645
- 3rd: £5,320
- 4th: £2,655
Sam Barton
43- Form 3-521
- Age 6
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey Thomas Bellamy
held up towards rear, bit closer in mid-division after 3 out, stayed on well from after 2 out, modest 4th when stumbled last
- Form 2316
- Age 5
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer Mrs J Williams
- Jockey Chester Williams
wide in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 2nd, hit 2 out and outpaced, rallied into well held 3rd last
- Form 1-1221
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
mid-division on inside, hit 4 out, pushed along and outpaced after next, soon beaten, pulled up before last
- Form 1-3311
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey H Cobden
towards rear, mistake 3rd, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 2-211
- Age 5
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
raced keenly, soon steadied into mid-division, headway on outside after 3 out, weakened before next, tailing off when pulled up before last
- Form 41-3233
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer C Honour
- Jockey Bryan Carver
raced wide, mid-division before mistake 3rd, weakened 2 out
- Form 2122
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey James Bowen
mid-division, pushed along and weakening when hit 2 out
- Form 42-6132
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up in last pair, closer approaching 5th, headway between horses approaching 2 out, went 2nd after 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
- Form 213-211
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey J J Burke
pulled hard, soon chasing leader, pushed along and lost 2nd before 2 out where mistake, weakened quickly, pulled up before last
- Form 44-2111
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey C J Todd
raced keenly chasing leaders, ridden and weakened between last 2
- Form 1-221
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
chased leaders on inside, ridden and weakened on long run before 2 out, pulled up before 2 out
- Form 234-253
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey D A Jacob
always in rear, pushed along and struggling after 3 out, stayed on run-in, nearest finish
- Form 34-4312
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey Kevin Jones
held up towards rear on inside, headway before 2 out, plugged on from last but never a threat
- Form 4313
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Jordan Nailor
held up towards rear, smooth headway out wide on long run before 2 out, led going well approaching 2 out, ridden clear between last 2, hit last, stayed on strongly
Dorking Lad
12- Form 33222V
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
led until pushed along and headed approaching 2 out, lost 2nd after 2 out, chased leading pair, tired jump last, weakened run-in
- Form F1-4411
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
NonRunner
- Form 15-11P9
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey Tom Cannon
NonRunner
- Form F/35-1P3
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Non Runner
NonRunner
In depth
Verdict
The form of this Grade 3 is nearly always worth following and almost half of this year’s field won last time. Ocean Drifter was progressing nicely at the end of last year and holds Beauport on the form book. Patroclus was still showing signs of inexperience at Doncaster but held off both Riggs and Jeremy Pass and can confirm the form. Tile Tapper has been running well without managing to get his head in front and Sometimes Always boasts impressive form figures. KARL PHILIPPE was only beaten half-a-length by the rallying Martinhal at Exeter in January and is 3lb better off. Gladiateur Allen was third and is worse off at the weights and Fergal O’Brien’s charge then trounced Sheldon at the Devon track so has obvious claims. Sam Barton looks a danger as he was well clear of Road Senam at Doncaster with a subsequent winner even further behind. The Mick Preston did well to beat more experienced rivals at Hereford but is another who likes to be prominent along with the hat-trick seeking Striking A Pose.
Formwatch
Sam Barton 3-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, led 3 out, pushed along and in command flat, stayed on, won at Doncaster 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Jan beating The Edgar Wallace (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Gladiateur Allen (FR) 10-3jfav (10-7) Keen to post, held up in mid-division, smooth headway tracking leaders 5th, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before next, 6th of 15, 13 1/4l behind Shannon Bridge (10-9) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Karl Philippe (FR) 6-4fav (11-2) Kept wide, jumped left at times and not always fluent, made all, drawing clear 2 out, eased towards finish, won at Exeter 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb beating Sheldon (11-8) by 10l, 9 ran.
Striking A Pose (IRE) 2-7fav (11-6) Jumped well, made all, clear after 3rd, unchallenged, won at Exeter 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb beating Investment Manager (11-0) by 11l, 9 ran.
Patroclus (IRE) Evensfav (11-9) Jumped left at times, made virtually all, went left 5th, stayed on inside in home straight, joined when went left and stumbled 2 out, soon ridden, strongly pressed last, ridden and asserted run-in, won at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb beating Riggs (11-9) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Tile Tapper 10-11fav (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, challenged and hit 3 out, chased new leader after, ridden to lead before 2 out, headed 2 out, no extra in 3rd when switched right before the last, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Stellar Magic (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) sft in Jan.
Captain Morgs (IRE) 5-6fav (11-8) Led, jumped right 1st, ridden and headed bend approaching last, kept on one pace, 2nd of 4, 4 3/4l behind Shang Tang (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 4f (3) sft in Feb.
Riggs (IRE) 7-4 (11-9) Tracked leaders on inside, ridden and outpaced in 3rd between last 2, not fluent last, rallied well run-in, went 2nd final 100 yards, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Patroclus (11-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb.
Ocean Drifter (IRE) 10-11fav (11-4) Made all, ridden before 2 out, wandered under pressure approaching last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Southwell 2m 4f (4) sft in Dec beating Bangers And Cash (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Sometimes Always (IRE) 11-8fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway over 4f out, led over 2f out, wandered slightly entering final furlong, hard pressed, held on, won at Lingfield 2m (5) pol in Feb beating Eyes Right (10-11) by shd, 11 ran.
The Mick Preston (IRE) 3-1jfav (11-12) Made most until 3 out, led again 2 out, left in command by rivals mistake last, driven out, won at Hereford 2m hcp (4) sft in Jan beating Winds Of Fire (11-4) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Road Senam (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway from 4th, not fluent 5th, mistake next, 4th and no impression before 3 out, plugged on, went 3rd last, 3rd of 12, 20 1/4l behind Sam Barton (11-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Sheldon (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, driven and no impression 2 out, 2nd of 9, 10l behind Karl Philippe (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb.
Beauport (IRE) 11-8fav (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway into midfield 3rd, chased leaders 5th where not fluent, pressed leader when not fluent 2 out, one pace from last, 3rd of 13, 2 3/4l behind Golden Boy Grey (11-10) at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) hvy in Feb.
Dorking Lad 5-2fav (11-4) Tracked leaders on inside, switched right 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on, headed close home, 2nd of 11, hd behind Floy Joy (11-4) at Kempton 2m 2f (5) pol in Feb.
Martinhal (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Made all, pushed along before 3 out, driven flat, just held on, won at Exeter 2m 3f (4) sft in Feb beating Solwara One (11-8) by hd, 8 ran.
Press Your Luck (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Chased leader 3f, chased leaders, 2nd again halfway, ridden and lost 2nd over 2f out, weakened quickly, 9th of 13, 20 3/4l behind Aggy With It (10-11) at Kempton 2m 2f (5) pol in Feb.
Jeremy Pass (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Tracked winner, challenged on outside from 3 out, every chance last, hung right under pressure and no extra run-in, lost 2nd final 100 yards, 3rd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Patroclus (11-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f (4) gs in Feb.