January 06 / 12.40 Sandown

12.40

Soft

Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £13007.5
  • 1m 7f 99y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Handicap Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 5P-513 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten over C&D, in this race 12 months ago (soft) and in six-runner event in November; not disgraced when third of six at Newbury five weeks ago; unlikely to be far away in his bid to make it 3-3 at Sandown.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Xcitations

11st 2lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Pam Sly

Grand servant for the yard with eight wins (six over fences) and he showed he was no back number when second of four at Leicester (2m, soft; handles good) in February; took the wrong course last time; has form here and should be thereabouts.

7/1

1

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

14:50 Stratford

Xcitations

12st 1lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Pam Sly

Grand servant for the yard with eight wins (six over fences); showed he was no back number when second of four in returning cheekpieces (left off here) at Leicester (2m, soft) 13 days ago; should run his race.

9/4

2nd

2

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Xcitations

12st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

Veteran who achieved nothing at Uttoxeter on reappearance but may be back in better form with that outing under his belt; gained last three wins at Sandown but he's 1-1 at Leicester.

4/1

Form: 1518-F C

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Talented 7yo who won three soft-ground novice hurdles last season, two of them over 2m here; in front and going best when falling two out in novice chase at Ascot 15 days ago, having jumped soundly until that point; has untapped potential and should go close with a clear round.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

11th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

20:05 Warwick

Authorised Speed

11st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Useful hurdler; fell on two of his three chasing attempts last season and comes with obvious risk here but proved his wellbeing when placed in competitive handicap hurdle at Sandown (2m4f, good) a fortnight ago and has the raw ability to be very dangerous if all goes to plan.

5/2

Form: 3P/15- CD BF

Last run: 399 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Like Xcitations he's a previous winner of this race (in 2022); showed he goes well fresh when making a successful reappearance in six-runner race at Aintree (2m, soft) in November 2022 and he was far from disgraced there the following month; now returns from a 399-day absence off just a 2lb higher mark than for his last win; solid contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:03 Uttoxeter

Gunsight Ridge

11st 5lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Mike Sowersby

Smart at his best for Olly Murphy but last season never got off the ground and he's moved yards.

10/1

6th

1

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

15:40 Exeter

Gunsight Ridge

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Had a disappointing season and usually goes well at Sandown where he disappointed last time; has since undergone a fourth wind operation.

7/2

7th

2

31st Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

14:02 Sandown

Gunsight Ridge

11st 11lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Olly Murphy

Below-par fourth at Cheltenham in both outings this term; however, has form figures of 1321 at Sandown, most recently winning this race (off current mark on heavy ground) last year; possibilities back here.

6/1

Form: /5P3-F D

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 10lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Veteran who won the competitive Red Rum Chase at Aintree (2m, soft) two seasons ago, and he again made the frame in that race last April; 10l down but yet to be fully asked for his effort when falling four out at Ascot (28-1) on reappearance; can't be ruled out but he was well held behind Xcitations in this race 12 months ago and others have more potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

15th Feb 2024

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 3

13:55 Sandown

The Last Day

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Evan Williams

Won twice on heavy early in career; Aintree brings out the best in him and he was below form last January on his only start at Sandown; Wetherby second last time (the race in which Xcitations and Gunsight Ridge came a cropper) was a step back in the right direction but others are preferred.

10/1

2nd

3

13th Jan 2024

Soft

1m 7f 36y

Class 2

14:15 Wetherby

The Last Day

11st 10lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

didn't jump with fluency, held up in rear, awkward jump 1st, headway and disputing third 8th, left in second 4 out

13/2

Form: 13-281 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Seemed to come alive in first-time blinkers when scoring over C&D (soft; 11-2) four weeks ago, clear turning for home before wandering and coming back to his nearest pursuer; a 5lb rise could underestimate him if the headgear has the same effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

12th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

15:52 Chepstow

Mount Tempest

10st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Sophie Leech

Ex-Dan Skelton; started off for Sophie Leech with two disappointing French hurdle runs this summer (wore cheekpieces) but caused a 50-1 shock when back over fences at Worcester (2m4f, good to soft; blinkers) last month; subsequent 4lb rise is not insurmountable if he's in the same form.

11/2

1st

10

15th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:00 Worcester

Mount Tempest

10st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sophie Leech

Last win for the Skeltons was off this mark last December (1m7f, soft) but he's offered little since, including in two French hurdles for current yard.

20/1

4

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Mount Tempest

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

towards rear

12/1

Verdict

An intriguing contest featuring the 2022 and 2023 winners plus two unexposed 7yos. Narrow preference is for GUNSIGHT RIDGE who has a good record fresh and returns off just a 2lb higher mark than when making a winning reappearance at Aintree last season. Xcitations has a perfect C&D record and must be respected but the novices Mount Tempest and Authorised Speed (second choice) are feared even more.[Richard O’Brien]