Racecards
15:05 Sandown Park
Durkan Group Chase (Showcase Handicap) (Class C)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Form 12616F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey T Siddall
mid-division, ridden and behind from 8th, tailed off when blundered 3 out
- Form 0-0F434
- Age 10
- Weight 11-9
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey T Doyle
held up in rear, headway 6th, under pressure and weakened after 3 out
- Form 102-125
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey A Dobbin
never going well in rear, jumped slow 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form F04-422
- Age 8
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey S Thomas
tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, stayed on to chase winner before last, strong challenge flat, just failed
- Form 50-6531
- Age 9
- Weight 11-4
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leaders until weakened after 4 out
- Form 3-P2545
- Age 10
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer L Wadham
- Jockey L P Aspell
in mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway 6th, weakened after 4 out
Wuxi Venture
20- Form 2-0P125
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
held up in rear, still plenty to do after 3 out, stayed on from next, never able to challenge
Harvis (FR)
13- Form P55P36
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
tracked leader, led 4th to 7th, led again soon after 4 out to soon after 3 out, lost 2nd when blundered last, one pace flat
- Form 662241
- Age 10
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
held up, jumped left from 7th, struggling after 4 out, tailed off
- Form 0-156PP
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Trainer J Akehurst
- Jockey J Tizzard
led to 4th, tracked leader, led again 7th, jumped left 9th, headed soon after 4 out, weakened after next
- Form 1-23F31
- Age 5
- Weight 10-7
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Mr R M P McNally
held up, steady headway from 7th, challenged and led soon after 3 out, hard pressed final 150 yards, just held on all out
In depth
Verdict
There looks sure to be plenty of pace on here with the likes of Old Marsh and Abalvino both capable of cutting out the running. However, as they have both been finding winning hard this season, they may be worth taking on with Island Faith, who holds solid claims in this wide-open contest. So too does the unexposed Great Travel, who receives plenty of weight from the rest this afternoon. He does have a little to find on balance though and looks a little risky for win only purposes at this level. The same has to be said of Saraganna and Harvis, who are both well treated at present and entitled to go close if they are on song. However, neither has really been noted for consistency in their efforts this term and are probably best watched today. So the trio to concentrate on appear to be Old Marsh, Abalvino and Island Faith - with the last named edging a narrow vote of confidence. The selection has taken well to fences and should appreciate the drop to this trip today. Island Faith's effort in finishing a good second to Santenay at Aintree reads very well in the context of this race and he need only run to that sort of level to oblige here. Abalvino is a very determined character on his day and he is fancied as the biggest danger if the market suggests that Ferdy Murphy's representative will strip fitter for the run after 76 days away from the action.