Racecards
16:15 Sandown Park
Littleworth Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 3m 37y
- Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £12,200 added
- Winner: £7,018
- 2nd: £2,061
- 3rd: £1,030
- 4th: £515
- Form 2722-36
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer T Symonds
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
held up in last pair, unsighted by loose horse and mistake 9th, headway out wide chasing leaders approaching 3 out, left remote 3rd last
- Form 457-544
- Age 7
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey T Scudamore
held up early, headway chasing leaders 3rd, pecked 6th, went left 17th and next, 4th and struggling before 3 out, no chance when blundered badly next and pulled up
- Form 1F4-214
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey Thomas Bellamy
led until 6th, chased leaders, went 2nd approaching last, led again run-in, driven out
- Form 144-PP7
- Age 12
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer A J Honeyball
- Jockey Rex Dingle
always prominent and often jumped right, led 6th until 13th, chased leader until next, led again after 4 out until next, chased leader, ridden before 2 out, weakened into 3rd when refused last
- Form 260P48
- Age 10
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
raced out wide and never closer than mid-division, struggling in last pair when pulled up before 17th
- Form 1UP6/P3
- Age 10
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer D Killahena & G McPherson
- Jockey Kielan Woods
chased leaders on inside until lost place 11th, towards rear and never on terms after, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
- Form P51-2P1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey Tom Cannon
jumped left at times, chased leaders, went 2nd and went left 12th, led next, headed after 4 out, led again and went badly left 3 out and next, joined and went left last, headed and no extra run-in
- Form 52U/8P-U
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey Harry Reed
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 17th
- Form 454-113
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Charlie Deutsch
chasing leaders on inside when fell 1st
- Form 24/2V5-8
- Age 12
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 117
- Trainer R Rowe
- Jockey James Davies
in touch, closer tracking leaders approaching 9th, weakened and struggling 4 out, left remote 4th at the last
In depth
Verdict
Jepeck is the only course and distance winner in the line-up but has been looking a light of former days. Bobo Mac hasn’t quite recaptured last season’s best form since wind surgery but he’s twice run respectably at Chepstow and has been dropped a pound. Skipthecuddles hinted at a revival at Newbury and Highest Sun is starting to look well treated with his yard back in form. Francky Du Berlais never seems to run a bad race but 3m around here may be too far and he may struggle to confirm Exeter running with ECLAIR SURF on worse terms. Emma Lavelle’s seven-year-old tries 3m under Rules for the first time but should be suited given he won a point in 2019. Cuban Pete couldn’t cope with a 9lb rise when on a hat-trick at Newbury and Huntingdon winner Eclair De Guye is upped in class.
Formwatch
Bobo Mac (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, mistake 11th, headway after 18th, disputing 3rd when not fluent 3 out, beaten next, 6th of 18, 9l behind Secret Reprieve (10-1) at Chepstow 3m 7f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Highest Sun (FR) 15-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 11th, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Sam's Adventure (11-4) at Haydock 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Eclair Surf (FR) 6-4fav (11-8) Chased leaders, jumped slowly 8th, went 2nd 9th, led approaching 4 out, headed between last 2, soon no extra in 3rd, lost that passing post, 4th of 8, 3 1/2l behind Francky Du Berlais (10-13) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Jepeck (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, jumped slowly and lost place 9th, mid-division and never on terms after, no chance when went badly right 2 out, 7th of 15, 21 1/2l behind Seeyouatmidnight (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) sft in Jan.
As You Like (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Never closer than mid-division weakened before 13th, tailed off, 8th of 10, dist behind Fagan (12-0) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Skipthecuddles (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Chased leader until 4 out, chased leaders, stayed on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 10, 9 1/2l behind Fagan (12-0) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Eclair De Guye (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Jumped left and not fluent in last, closed from 13th, led 2 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp (4) sft in Dec beating Pemberley (11-3) by 9 1/2l, 8 ran.
Spider's Bite (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up until mistake and unseated rider 1st, at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Cuban Pete (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Prominent, ridden 4 out, no impression on front pair after 2 out, kept on to hold 3rd, 3rd of 14, 20 1/4l behind Amateur (10-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Dark Flame (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up, jumped slow 2nd, nudged along before 8th, ridden along 4 out, soon struggling, 8th of 10, dist behind Twojayslad (10-1) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Francky Du Berlais (FR) 6-1 (10-13) Held up in last pair, good headway approaching 8th chased leaders went 2nd 4 out, led between last 2, joined last, strongly pressed run-in, kept on gamely to assert final 100 yards, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Jan beating Brianstorm (10-9) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.