Racecards
16:50 Sandown Park
Fairmile Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Class D)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f 110y
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Form 330
- Age 5
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey L Cooper
not always fluent, in touch, mistake 4th, headway next, ridden and weakened after 3 out
- Form 525120
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
led, headed and slightly hampered 2 out, soon ridden, rallied flat, no extra close home
- Form 0U3-114
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
held up behind, headway 6th, chased leaders and ridden approaching 2 out, weakened
- Form 0-23204
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
held up towards rear, headway on inner after 3 out, led and veered left 2 out, hard ridden and stayed on well
- Form 0-31
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
chased leaders until weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 0-03135
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer Mrs P Robeson
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
prominent, ridden after 3 out, one pace
- Form 324P0
- Age 5
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey T Siddall
in touch, lost position 3 out, soon ridden, kept on
Five Pence
52- Form 00-22
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer R Phillips
- Jockey W Marston
chased leaders until weakened after 3 out
- Form 04-2520
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on
- Form 2-040F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
always behind
- Form 000-456
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway next, ridden after 3 out, kept on
- Form 0-060
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey P Flynn
prominent until 6th, weakening when blundered 3 out
Noble Deed (IRE)
399- Form 0/P40-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-2
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey N D Fehily
always towards rear, mistake 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
In depth
Verdict
In a competitive race, we'll take a leap of faith with Gatejumper ahead of Heron's Ghyll, Cosmocrat, Sunny Lord and Chase The Sunset. The selection is every inch a chaser in the making but does not seem to have been let in too badly following a Plumpton win in January. Cosmocrat won over two miles at Uttoxeter in November from a mark of 97. He's now rated 108 but the step up in trip could bring about improvement. The former Sir Michael Stoute inmate, Global Challenge, is gradually coming to hand following injury and is now equipped with first-time blinkers. He could go well, as could trainer Jonjo O'Neill's other runner, Society Affair, if he can recapture the form of his early career. Mulligans Fool showed promise when second to Shaadiva at Wincanton, a repetition of which might see her claim some money. Sunny Lord is improving and there could be better to come, a similar comment applying to Five Pence. Chase The Sunset and Heron's Ghyll are closely weighted on their December Cheltenham runs, but Kentford Grebe has a few lengths to find. A number of others are stepping up in trip but will need to improve on what they have so far shown to feature. Overall, then, a competitive finale, one in which we will side with Gatejumper.