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Preview -
15 Feb 2008
2.35 Sandown Facilities Brade
Handicap Chase Class 3 3M 110yards good ground
1. Without a Doubt – Was only just denied on first run this
season when beaten close home by Harris Bay under a fine Timmy
Murphy ride that day. Most of his best form has been early season
where he has gone well fresh. Lightly raced this season the
conditions will suit much more then the testing conditions last time
at Ascot behind Aon runner up Regal Heights. Winner on soft the
better ground is likely to help him along, but under top weight his
stamina may have some question marks over still as he has the class
to win against these but the weight may tell with lumps being given
away.
Tissue Price – 6/1
2. Jaunty Times – Following Henry Daly horses around the spring
time is usually a good way to go and his consistent hurdler is yet
to show the same ability over fences as he did over the smaller
obstacles. He should have a chance of this weight given that it is
easier then the graded handicaps he has been contesting and the fact
he stays very well over these kinds of trips. Handles right handed
tracks well and has been proven on a stiff finish in the past as
well. The ground however has dried out quite a lot and he may find
things happening quite quick on a jumping track such as this and the
more testing conditions would have allowed him more chance of
winning this handicap as his plodding stamina would have been at
premium today.
Tissue Price – 8/1
3. Bubble Boy – Well exposed handicap chaser for Brendan Powell
has a interesting booking for this track in Micky Fitz and could
well run another big race around this track which seems his regular
outing too. Suited to the right-handed nature of the track and quite
a keen jumper if allowed to pick up from the front, bubble boy has
the most things in favour and has form in the book that should see
him go very well. Best performances have come at this course and
stay the 3M well under these conditions. Needs a personal best if
you take winning marks into account, but a lot of these have
question marks and Bubble Boy has to have a good chance of picking
them off in this event given the small field suiting.
Tissue Price – 3/1
4. The Luder – Still with the champion trainer despite never
looking in the top echelon of the chasing game, can make the odd
mistake and needs to warm to his task, the railway fences will wake
him up quickly as the back straight catches many of good horses out
at those real testing jumping fences and if he isn’t foot perfect
under Sam Thomas he could well end up on the deck. Consistently runs
up to form over this kind of trip he needs to be at his best, which
he did produce when second at Bangor on early winter ground. Mainly
kept to really soft conditions he has performed with credit on the
better surface and if not dropping to far of the pace as he
sometimes does has to have claims with a few pounds falling his way.
Tissue Price – 5/1
5. Alright Now M’lad – Was well beaten last time at Newbury
despite showing up well for most of the race and travelling well
with in himself, he fell apart quite quickly and strike myself as a
horse that may have a breathing problem as he stopped quickly when
getting into contention, the mistake he made after that was a mark
of a horse that had enough and the conditions underfoot may have
taken its toll with the horse but he had previously only enjoyed the
tacky stuff underfoot so until he returns to some form and a shorter
trip then this he can’t be had with any confidence.
Tissue Price – 16/1
6. Milliards’ Lad – has been consistent this season but in recent
races has found it hard to beat all the opponents as he has found
one better handicapped after being raised in the handicap. The
defeat to Irish Raptor isn’t terrible form as that horse ran a
cracker in a much better race then this last time out and the defeat
to spring lover may have been a off day. Natural progression has
been met with a rise in the weights each time and another 2lbs on
the rating is meet this time with a much easier task then last time.
Should give another solid account of himself here and as long as he
jumps well its hard to see him to far away at the finish.
Tissue Price – 11/4fav
7. Dream Falcon – at the foot of the weights for this handicap
and under a claimer who makes him have a featherweight in comparison
to the other runners in the race. Quite exposed in general he has
gone close on several occasions to breaking his duck over fences but
has found the winner just to strong for him. Pulled up behind
Crystal D’Ainny last time in which he was never really travelling
from the word go his form since finishing 2nd to Killard Point at
Bangor hasn’t taken much franking even though the 3rd had thrown
away his chance since then of landing a race over fences. This may
be just a shade above when he is capable off despite the weight he
receives and there is likely to be easier targets for this exposed
horse that has a lot to prove after the terrible run last time out.
Tissue Price – 16/1
Tissue – Milliard’s Lad 11/4, Bubble Boy 3/1, The Luder 5/1,
Without a Doubt 6/1, Jaunty Times 8/1, Alright now Mlad, Dream
Falcon 16/1.
Verdict – Bubble
boy loves it here and has a lot in favour of a big run but he is a
exposed handicapper who could be beaten by something more
progressive, the luder has the ability to beat Bubble boy here if
putting his best foot forward while Without a Doubt may just
struggle conceding weight all-round. Milliards Lad looks to have
another race in him at this level, while Jaunty Times will be tested
today on just how good he is ever likely to be over fences and
wouldn’t surprise me if he was to be back over hurdles soon.
Selection –
Bubble Boy 1pt @ 5-1 (Bf11-2) &
The Luder 1pt @ 11-2 (BF6-1)
Best of luck all
Well Chief
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