Racecards
12:40 Sandown Park
Betway Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 216y
- Going: Heavy (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,256
- 2nd: £1,848
- 3rd: £924
- 4th: £462
- Form 231512
- Age 6
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
tracked leading pair, pushed along on long run after 3 out, soon weakened, behind and pulled up before 2 out
- Form 110-232
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
led until headed on bend after 2nd, chased winner, well held 2 out, one pace and no impression after
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
always last and never fluent, lost touch 3 out, tailed off and pulled up before next
- Form 453
- Age 5
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
disputing 4 place, taken wide before 3 out, plugged on in 3rd from after 2 out, no chance with leading duo
- Form 21
- Age 4
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
raced keenly, tracked leader, led on bend after 2nd, came 2 lengths clear 2 out, stayed on well
Vorashann (FR)
103- Age 4
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey Joshua Moore
disputing 4th, jumped slowly 3rd and 5th, pushed along in modest 3rd before 2 out, weakened into 4th after 2 out
Verdict
A decent start to the day although punting matters are not helped by the three seemingly leading players having yet to tackle the forecast heavy ground. Golden Taipan just about sets the form standard but all his best form has been displayed on good or good to soft ground. He may adapt well to these new conditions but PALLADIUM scored sweetly over course and distance here last time on soft ground and makes appeal in receipt of a stone from the penalised topweight. Flic Ou Voyou is solid and consistent and is impossible to discount on the back of three competitive efforts this season, most recently when inched out of things on soft ground at Taunton.
Formwatch
Golden Taipan (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leader, challenged 4th, hit 4 out, led on outside before 2 out until 2 out, chased leader and every chance until winner went on at the last, just won battle for 2nd, 2nd of 9, 3 1/4l behind Never Adapt (11-8) at Kempton 2m hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Flic Ou Voyou (FR) 4-7fav (10-12) Chased leaders, 2nd going well before 2 out, strong challenge and every chance when carried left run-in, just held, 2nd of 14, hd behind Republican (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f (4) sft in Dec.
Kalakawa Enki (FR) Buck's Boum gelding out of Baba San Siro.
The Newest One (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake 2 out, unable to challenge, kept on flat, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Ebony Jewel (10-12) at Haydock 2m (3) sft in Dec.
Palladium 4-11fav (10-12) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led after 2nd, jinked left approaching 2 out, soon straightened and clear, won at Sandown 2m (3) sft in Jan beating Brambledown (10-12) by 11l, 4 ran.
Vorashann (FR) (9-3) 6th of 7, 13 1/2l behind Purple Victory (8-13) at Clairefontaine 1m 6f stks hvy in Oct.