Racecards
15:15 Sandown Park
Paddy Power Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Listed) (Class 1)
- 19 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Heavy (Back Straight,Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £70,000 added
- Winner: £39,865
- 2nd: £14,959
- 3rd: £7,490
- 4th: £3,731

- Form 5-12113
- Age 7
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Kieron Edgar
held up in rear, steady headway on long run to 2 out, chased leaders 2 out, went 3rd before mistake last, driven and stayed on to 2nd final 135 yards, unable to reach winner

- Form 1-121
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 138
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up in mid-division, headway on long run to 2 out, driven in 5th approaching 2 out, soon beaten and eased soon after 2 out, pulled up before last

- Form U140/2-9
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
raced wide towards rear, ridden and struggling after 2nd, blundered next, never involved, tailed off

- Form 4-21713
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
held up in mid-division, weakened on long run to 2 out, tailed off

- Form 80-8325
- Age 5
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer C Byrnes
- Jockey D N Russell
chased leaders in 5th, weakened on long run to 2 out, tailed off

- Form P0-0421
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey R Mahon
towards rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last

- Form P14141
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer A W Carroll
- Jockey Mr J Hamer
mid-division, weakened on long run nto 2 out, tailed off

- Form 1147-00
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
chased leader, led 3rd until 3 out, led again well before next, clear before blundered 2 out, reduced lead approaching last, headed flat, no chance with winner, lost 2nd final 135 yards

- Form 217-100
- Age 5
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
held up in rear of mid-division, headway on outside 3 out, weakened on long run and pulled up before 2 out

- Form 41-61P1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey D A Jacob
close up in 6th, weakened on long run to 2 out, tailed off

- Form 216-3F5
- Age 8
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Mrs L J Mongan
- Jockey Nathan Adams
held up towards rear, ridden and good headway approaching 2 out, chased leaders 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, led flat, stayed on strongly, ridden out

- Form 311
- Age 5
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer J P Ferguson
- Jockey D F O'Regan
in touch, headway to chase leading pair before 2 out, no extra in 5th between last two

- Form 12-13U9
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 130
always in rear, tailed off

- Form 171
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey D C Costello
held up towards rear, struggling 3 out, pulled up before next

- Form 0B/0102
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
in touch, pushed along on long run to 2 out, weakened to 7th when pulled up after 2 out

- Form 7412U
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer J P Ferguson
- Jockey J M Quinlan
chased leading pair in 3rd, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up after 2 out

- Form 1-10116
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer M Blake
- Jockey N D Fehily
mid-division, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next

- Form 1632
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer J Ewart
- Jockey James Banks
chased leading trio, ridden and well held before 2 out, weakened soon after 2 out

- Form F1U-071
- Age 7
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Paul Moloney
led until blundered and narrowly headed 3rd, led again 3 out, ridden and headed on long run to 2 out, chased leaders, well held in 4th when blundered last
- Form 2511-30
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey D Elsworth
Nonrunner
- Form 311426
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer Dr R D P Newland
- Jockey Chris Ward
Nonrunner
- Form 31-5110
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
Nonrunner
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
There could be a few Cheltenham clues on offer in this as several have entries next week, hoping to grab the £75,000 bonus on offer with a victory here and at The Festival. Mr Mole looks sure to go off favourite following last month's impressive victory at Taunton. He beat Melodic Rendezvous, fancied for Tuesday's Supreme Novices', on his hurdling debut at Exeter and remains open to further improvement. John Ferguson saddles a couple of with decent claims, the hat-trick-seeking Pine Creek preferred to Cayman Islands, while Paintball is only a pound higher than when successful 12 months ago and this is his time of year. Tanerko Emery is probably too high in the weights now but Claret Cloak will have his supporters and French import Le Bacardy, along with Shammick Boy who beat Whitby Jack at Chepstow, should also go well. Dual winner TOMINATOR makes his handicap debut but that shouldn't be a problem as he often ran well in big fields on the Flat. A former winner of the Northumberland Plate, Jonjo O'Neill's useful stayer may be the answer to this.
Formwatch
Tanerko Emery (FR) 4-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Medinas (10-10) at Ffos Las 2m 4f ltd hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb.
Mr Mole (IRE) 6-5fav (11-12) Keen early, in touch, smooth headway 3 out, soon every chance, led on bit after last, easily, won at Taunton 2m 1f Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-130) (4yo+) (3) hvy in Feb beating Home Run (11-3) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
General Miller 7-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway before 2 out, soon no impression, 9th of 13, 24l behind Kuilsriver (9-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Valdez 12-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, every chance 3 out, ridden 2 out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Minella Forfitness (11-8) at Doncaster 2m NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gd in Feb.
Arnaud (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Chased leader, closed from before 3 out, soon led, strongly pressed 2 out, soon headed, 3rd at last, no extra closing stages, last of 5, 20l behind So Young (11-7) at Gowran Park 2m hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb.
Shammick Boy (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Held up in touch, hit 4th, headway to challenge 3 out, led narrowly last, soon ridden, stayed on well final 100 yards, won at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb beating Whitby Jack (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Le Bacardy (FR) 8-1 (11-5) Held up in last pair, steady headway approachiing 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, led soon after 2 out, pushed along came clear and stayed on strongly run-in, comfortably, won at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs beating Flaming Charmer (11-2) by 6l, 9 ran.
Kazlian (FR) 16-1 (10-6) Mid-division on inside, headway approaching 4 out, driven in 5th before 2 out, soon weakened quickly, tailed off, 14th of 21, well behind Cause Of Causes (10-13) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) hvy in Dec.
Lyvius 40-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 12th of 21, 31l behind My Tent Or Yours (11-2) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Minella Definitely (IRE) 7-2 (11-9) Jumped left, always prominent, led after 5th, hung left approaching last and flat, stayed on well, won at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Master Todd (10-11) by 6l, 11 ran.
First Avenue 25-1 (9-13) Behind, slightly hampered 4th, headway under pressure before 2 out, ridden and hung right before last, hung left and stayed on to 5th flat, 5th of 21, 18l behind Cause Of Causes (10-13) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) hvy in Dec.
Pine Creek 10-11fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, headway before 3 out to go 2nd, ridden to lead towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb beating Ubaldo Des Menhies (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 17 ran.
Stormy Weather (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Mid-division, mistake 2nd, lost place 4th, well beaten before 4 out, last of 9, well behind Prince Of Dreams (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Feb.
Tominator 9-4 (11-9) Chased leader, not fluent 5th, demoted to 3rd 3 oiut, went 2nd last, edged right inside final 100 yards, stayed on under pressure to lead towards finish, won at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Feb beating Leviathan (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Whitby Jack 11-4fav (11-7) Held up behind in touch, steady headway approaching 3 out, challenged next, ridden and every chance last, not pace of winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Shammick Boy (11-6) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Cayman Islands 15-8fav (11-8) Mid-division, badly hampered and unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Darkestbeforedawn (10-13) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Sporting Boy (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, closed 3rd, ridden after 3 out, no extra flat, 6th of 13, 18l behind Meganisi (10-10) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs.
Rockawango (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led 3 out, headed before last, no extra, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Simply Ned (11-6) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Feb.
Barizan (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Raced wide, held up in rear, headway on outside approaching 2 out, went 2nd last, switched right as leader hung badly left flat, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, driven clear, won at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb beating Home Run (10-4) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Claret Cloak (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, never on terms, 13th of 21, 33l behind My Tent Or Yours (11-2) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Changing The Guard 25-1 (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 2 out, weakened betwen last 2, 6th of 15, 6l behind Raya Star (11-12) at Ascot 2m Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Nov.
First In The Queue (IRE) 80-1 (10-0) Behind, no chance when hampered 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by My Tent Or Yours (11-2) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb, 21 ran.
Paintball (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Tracked leader, ridden by-passing 6th, weakened by-passing next, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Quaddick Lake (10-8) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Solaras Exhibition (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, pushed along and soon weakened, 11th of 16, 33l behind Local Hero (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Jul.