Racecards
15:00 Sandown Park
Toro 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,000 added
- Winner: £2,599
- 2nd: £763
- 3rd: £382
- 4th: £191
- Form 114
- Age 5
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey B J Geraghty
prominent, led 3rd, mistake 5th, ridden and headed when jumped slowly 2 out, plugged on flat to press for 2nd, no chance with winner
- Form 3142-2
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer C R Egerton
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
tracked leaders, ridden and switched right before 2 out where hampered, soon beaten
- Form 125
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey N D Fehily
held up, headway 3rd, challenged approaching 2 out, soon led, clear last, easily
- Form 1-20
- Age 5
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey A P McCoy
led, jumped slowly and headed 3rd, led again before 2 out, soon headed, no impression last, just held on for 2nd
- Form 0P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
took keen hold, prominent until 3rd, soon last, lost touch before 2 out, tailed off
Verdict
TOP OF THE RANGE couldn't cope with Fingal Bay and company in the Challow Hurdle last time but had run out an easy winner at Ffos Las earlier and the drop in distance may not be significant on this stiff track. Nicky Henderson's five-year-old can bounce back to winning ways as Claret Cloak ran green at Newbury and may need more time and an extra half-mile. Keep Kicking was very disappointing on his hurdling debut at Southwell but Avoca Promise has twice finished second at Folkestone and is steadily improving.
Formwatch
Top Of The Range (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up last, headway and went 4th 6th, mistake 3 out, soon beaten, 4th of 5, 30l behind Fingal Bay (11-7) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) sft in Dec.
Avoca Promise (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Chased leader, led approaching 4th, ridden and headed on long run to last, tried to rally as winner idled after last, hung left no extra and well held final 120 yards, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Fourth Estate (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Claret Cloak (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened from last, 5th of 16, 17l behind Carrigmorna King (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Keep Kicking (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, weakened from 3 out, tailed off, 10th of 12, well behind Oscar Nominee (11-2) at Southwell 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gs in Jan.
Laughton Park 100-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, chased leaders, weakened 3rd, tailed off when blundered 2 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by All The Aces (11-0) at Newbury 2m hdl (4) sft in Dec, 7 ran.