Racecards
14:20 Sandown Park
188Bet Future Stars Intermediate Chase (Listed) (Class 1)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 3m 37y
- Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £17,085
- 2nd: £6,411
- 3rd: £3,210
- 4th: £1,599
- Form 1F115-3
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
led to after 13th, chased winner, outpaced before 2 out, no chance after, ridden and kept on when hard pressed for modest 2nd flat
- Form 21F111-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 162
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
tracked leader, went left at 12th, led after next, made rest, drew clear approaching 2 out, unchallenged after, pushed out
- Form P254-21
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
tracked front pair, pushed along and outpaced before 2 out, never on terms, lost place and weakened from last
- Form 21101-8
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
held up 4th and last, outpaced 3 out, ridden and stayed on to challenge for modest 2nd flat, no chance with winner
Verdict
Last season's top novice MIGHT BITE is likely to be a short price on his reappearance. He would have been unbeaten over fences had he not fallen at the last when having the Kauto Star in safe keeping at Kempton last Christmas and later won Grade 1 contests at Cheltenham and Aintree. As De Mee proved his stamina last time at Kelso but can be a little quirky, though makes more appeal than stablemate Frodon who has to compete off level weights with a potential superstar having never won beyond 2m5f. Label Des Obeaux may be the one for forecast-backers as he stays well and will have needed his run at Chepstow, though this is a big ask.
Formwatch
Frodon (FR) 6-1 (11-10) Led until 11th, outpaced 3 out, 3rd and no extra when not fluent 2 out, 3rd of 5, 25 1/4l behind Black Corton (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (2) gd in Oct.
Might Bite (IRE) 8-13fav (11-4) Made all, driven when hard pressed before last, ridden and kept on flat, always doing enough, won at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gd in Apr beating Whisper (11-4) by 2l, 5 ran.
As De Mee (FR) 10-11fav (11-6) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, kept on well from last, won at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Wakanda (11-10) by 7l, 5 ran.
Label Des Obeaux (FR) 10-1 (11-6) Held up and behind, plugged on, never involved, 8th of 13, 14 3/4l behind Rock The Kasbah (10-8) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gs in Oct.