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Racecards

15:25 Sandown Park

Betfredpoker Handicap Chase (Class 2)

  • 5 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 4f 110y
  • Going: Good to Firm (Good places)(Flat Good, Good to Firm places)
  • Surface: Turf
  • £20,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 5m 40.20s
  • Off Time: 15:27:23
  • 5 Ran
1
Silk -
2
Silk -
1
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, EMERALD GREEN sleeves, WHITE cap, EMERALD GREEN spots

Marcel (FR)

15 DC
15/2
  • Form 14117U
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-12
  • Official Rating 137

raced in 4th, went 3rd after 7th, chased winner 4 out, ridden after next, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened soon after

2
Silk - Light Green, Orange sleeves and cap

Tikram

13 CDD
4/1
  • Form 8-0440U
  • Age 10
  • Weight 11-11
  • Official Rating 136

tracked leaders, in 3rd, ridden and lost place after 7th, blundered 12th, rallied between last 2, took 3rd early flat

3
Silk - Brown, Turquoise sleeves and cap

Black Hills

8 pt D
5/2
  • Form 321222
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-2
  • Official Rating 131

tracked leader, led and made most after 8th, in command between last 2, driven and stayed on well flat

4
Silk - Brown, Red spots, sleeves and cap
15/8
  • Form 1F-27P2
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 125

held up in rear, headway to track leaders after 3 out, went 2nd travelling well 2 out, driven and found nil between last 2, well held when jumped right last

5
Silk - Yellow, Royal Blue braces, Royal Blue sleeves, Yellow stars and stars on cap

Big Rob (IRE)

34 p D
6/1
  • Form 2-1PPP0
  • Age 8
  • Weight 11-0
  • Official Rating 125

led until 8th, chased winner after, ridden approaching 3 out, lost 2nd 2 out, soon weakened

In depth

Verdict

Black Hills is selected ahead of Marcel and the talented but frustrating Tikram. The last named can be a law unto himself and does not always find as much as appears to be still untapped. That said, he can be hard to resist when the penny drops and a big run cannot be ruled out. He got no further than the first in the National a fortnight ago, so doesn't come here on the back of a hard race. Marcel won the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle here last year, so his connections have happy memories of the course. The David Pipe-trained gelding has taken well to fences and, even though he is on a stiff mark, he cannot be ruled out. However, preference is given to Black Hills, who has a more consistent profile and, with his liking for a stiff finish assured, he is fancied to nail them with a sucker punch at the end.

Formwatch

Marcel (FR) 16-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear and unseated rider at the 6th in race won by Bambi De L'orme (10-2) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd, 15 ran.

Tikram 125-1 (10-5) Unseated rider 1st unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Silver Birch (10-6) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd, 40 ran.

Black Hills 8-1 (11-4) Always prominent, not fluent 8th, hit 11th, led next, ridden 2 out, headed close home, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Ofarel D'airy (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs (3) gd.

Mr Boo (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Mid-division, lost pace 11th, headway 13th, soon driven, stayed on to go 2nd near finish, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Stern (10-12) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.

Big Rob (IRE) 28-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, every chance 4 out, soon ridden, weakened next, 10th of 17, 31l behind Alderburn (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.