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16:45 Sandown Park

G4s Midlands Team 'ubique' Hunters' Chase (Class 6)

  • 6 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 4f 110y
  • Going: Soft ((G/soft places chase),Hurdles,Heavy,Good to soft in places))
  • Surface: Turf
  • £3,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 29.32s
  • Off Time: 16:46:28
  • 6 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Balinova (IRE)

9/2

    2
    Silk -

    Sargasso Sea

    12/1

      1
      Silk - Purple, Gold braid, Scarlet sleeves, Black velvet cap, Gold fringe

      First Love

      323 CDDC
      4/7
      • Form 76/9111-
      • Age 11
      • Weight 12-4
      • Official Rating 122

      tracked leader and close up until 6th, ridden and no impression and lost 2nd 2 out, stayed on at same pace after

      2
      Silk - Pink, Grey chevron, check cap

      Balinova (IRE)

      33
      9/2
      • Form 11211/2
      • Age 10
      • Weight 12-1

      headway to track leading pair 5th, closed to track leader 2 out, challenged last, led as leader hung badly left flat, driven out to hold on near finish

      3
      Silk - Beige, dark green hoops, beige sleeves, dark green stars and stars on cap

      Provocative (FR)

      40 BFD
      8/1
      • Form 1PFP-P3
      • Age 9
      • Weight 12-1
      • Official Rating 133

      chased leading pair to 5th, stayed in 4th, closed to challenge for 2nd when hit 2 out, stayed on same pace

      4
      Silk - Black, White sleeves, Black armlets

      Sargasso Sea

      272
      12/1
      • Form 4821P-4
      • Age 10
      • Weight 12-1
      • Official Rating 103

      led, clear 6th, hit 4 out, still about 5 lengths clear 2 out, tired approaching last, hung left and headed flat, rallied gamely near finish

      5
      Silk - Yellow, Brown and Light Green check sleeves and cap

      Old Kilminchy (IRE)

      268 D
      12/1
      • Form 321-2P4
      • Age 11
      • Weight 11-10
      • Official Rating 108

      held up in rear, driven and struggling 11th, tailed off

      6
      Silk - Light Blue, Dark Blue seams and armlets, hooped cap

      Trusting Tom

      20 v
      33/1
      • Form PP/2-057
      • Age 12
      • Weight 11-10
      • Official Rating 105

      behind, ridden and lost touch 7th, tailed off

      In depth

      Verdict

      In the Hunter Chase, First Love is selected ahead of Provocative and Balinova. Having won three races on the bounce between February and March of last year, the Nicky Henderson-trained First Love comes here with good credentials for this contest and, accordingly, gets the nomination. A Hunter Chase winner at Huntingdon back in 2005, Balinova could not be ruled out if fully primed, while Sargasso Sea won a maiden chase at Leicester last March and his chance is not a forlorn one based on that. Given that he was rated 130 when winning at Wetherby in October 2005, Provocative has to be given some serious thought but, for the selection, we will stick with First Love.

      Formwatch

      First Love 5-2fav (10-4) Led 1st, quickened 4 out, headed last, rallied to lead post, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Mar beating Joey Tribbiani (10-8) by a shd, 7 ran.

      Balinova (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Held up; hdwy 9; led 15-2 out; kpt on, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Sheriff's Friend (11-0) at Barbury 3m ptp gd in Jan.

      Provocative (FR) 9-4fav (12-5) Led 8 til hdd aft 3 out; wknd nxt, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Nokimover (12-5) at Higham 3m ptp gd in Jan.

      Sargasso Sea 3-1 (11-5) Led to 4 out, weakened quickly after 3 out, 4th of 5, 41l behind Itsuptoharry (11-9) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in May.

      Old Kilminchy (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) In touch, outpaced 11th, stayed on from after 3 out, 4th of 8, 6l behind Gielgud (11-10) at Folkestone 2m 5f hts chs (6) gd in May.

      Trusting Tom 14-1 (12-0) 2nd to 7; reluct & wl bhnd 15, 7th of 13, 44l behind Bedtime Boys (12-7) at High Easter 3m ptp sft in Jan.