March 09 / 16.40 Sandown

16.40

Soft

betting.betfair.com Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £10406
  • 2m 4f 10y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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betting.betfair.com Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

25/1 (Won)

  • Win: £23.00
  • Place: £3.90

Form: 114P75

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Becoming well handicapped again but his form has nosedived since he began the season with 3m1f wins at Ludlow and Newton Abbot; unconvincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:57 Ludlow

Jet Plane

12st 6lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Still in front when falling on his return to hunter chasing in January but ran miserably at Leicester next time where soft ground was no excuse; had been in good form in handicaps before those setbacks and would take some beating if back on song.

6/4

3rd

2

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:50 Leicester

Jet Plane

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Good form in handicaps this winter includes a Leicester success; still in front when falling at Warwick returned to hunter chasing last time; retains all of his ability and is top on the figures in this field.

1/2

2

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:18 Warwick

Jet Plane

12st 6lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Commendable second in last season's Aintree Foxhunters' (2m5f, good to soft) and as good as ever in recent 2m4f handicaps; stays 3m well and won't be fazed if the ground turns soft (unraced on heavy); ought to be hard to beat on return to hunter chasing.

6/5

9/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 94-233 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Made a good return to chasing when a close second at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) in October but has gone backwards in two runs since, including when ridden by Harry Cobden at Ludlow last time; needs a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

15:40 Exeter

Can You Call

11st 3lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Evan Williams

All wins have come on left-handed tracks, the latest comfortably at Cheltenham in December (2m4f, good to soft; 7lb lower); does have form going this way around and just appeared to have an off-day last time at Sandown; considered.

5/1

11

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 2

14:05 Fontwell

Can You Call

10st 9lb

T: Evan Williams

Just 1-12 over fences but was in good form last winter when last seen, finishing second on consecutive outings at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) and Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft), and Sean Bowen is a good booking here.

5/1

13/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 31P-3F CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
A regular at Sandown with four wins from ten goes; however, not at his best of late and he'd made several mistakes before falling two out over 3m here last time; now below his last winning mark but carries risks.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:52 Carlisle

Hudson De Grugy

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Brings very strong credentials to this series final, having posted sound performances over C&D (good to soft) in last two starts, comfortably defying top weight latest; 2-6 overall for current yard; respected.

6/1

1st

1

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 4

16:25 Carlisle

Hudson De Grugy

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Back in good form for his current yard, landing 3m handicap chase at Wetherby in December and posting a good second of seven over C&D last time; very much one to consider off an unchanged mark.

7/2

Form: -3431F D

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Just one win from seven outings over hurdles but immediately looked a better chaser when scoring emphatically at Southwell (2m4f, heavy; made all) in February; departed early at Kelso last week; open to improvement and may still be ahead of his mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

19:42 Uttoxeter

Imperial Bede

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Landed his second win over fences, at Catterick (2m3f, soft) in February with the assistance of first-time cheekpieces (retained since); ran well when runner-up at Haydock (2m4f, good) in April but emptied quickly at Warwick last month; claims if putting his best foot forward.

5/1

5th

1

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Warwick

Imperial Bede

12st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Cheekpieces fitted in last three races; won at Catterick and back to form when a clear second at Haydock (2m4f, good); back up 3lb but still well handicapped on old exploits.

2/1

2nd

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 4

15:55 Haydock

Imperial Bede

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Evidently not the force of old but he built on an encouraging C&D reappearance when winning in first-time cheekpieces at Catterick (2m3f, soft) in February; made early mistakes when a disappointing favourite at Hereford since but it's possible he'll be happier back on a left-handed course and likely he's still on a winnable mark if putting his best foot forward.

100/30

Form: 6P3-5P CD

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced in recent seasons and hard to fancy on two well-beaten runs this term; however, Sandown seems to bring out the best in him and he was a close third in this race 12 months ago off a 6lb higher mark, so he's impossible to rule out with a tongue-strap/cheekpieces on for the first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

1st Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

16:35 Fakenham

Belargus

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Runner-up off a reduced mark at Huntingdon (2m7f, good; first-time blinkers) last April and didn't run badly at Stratford (2m5f, heavy; no blinkers) on next start in October; now back from another absence and he's not as good as he was.

7/1

3rd

4

1st Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

16:35 Fakenham

Belargus

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Runner-up off a reduced mark at Huntingdon (2m7f, good; first-time blinkers) last April and didn't run badly at Stratford (2m5f, heavy; no blinkers) on next start in October; now back from another absence and he's not as good as he was.

7/1

Form: 2-2334 D BF

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Winless since early in 2022 but has made the frame all starts this season, fading only late on when fourth of six at Leicester on latest; second and fourth in the last two runnings of this contest and now 8lb lower than last year; unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Nocte Volatus

10st 11lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Justified favouritism in the 2025 Stayers' Veterans' Chase Final at Sandown (good) most recently, taking record over 3m to 2-3; in top form aged 11 and still unexposed at this distance.

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: F6P131 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
4-13 over fences and two of those wins have come at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft/heavy) this season; stuck on well to score by 5l three weeks ago and he's respected once more, but he's up 5lb and this race looks stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:52 Newton Abbot

Sheldon

11st 2lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Seamus Mullins

Infrequent winner, but running well since the turn of the year and his recent Newbury second (2m6f, good to soft) was solid; nudged up 1lb for that but he remains on a workable mark and is high on the list of dangers.

3/1

2nd

2

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 4

16:07 Newbury

Sheldon

11st 8lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Seamus Mullins

Not overly consistent and can make mistakes, as was the case when the clear leader for a long way over 2m7f here a month ago (soft; fine on good to soft); that was a good run all things considered and won't mind coming back in distance.

12/1

3rd

8

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Sheldon

10st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Seamus Mullins

Not overly consistent and can make mistakes; however, ran well for a very long way on testing ground at Exeter before no match for an unexposed winner over C&D; could give another good account of himself.

12/1

Form: 3-3233 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Has bumped into some well-handicapped rivals this season, placed behind Ginny's Destiny (twice) and Blow Your Wad on his last three starts; best chase effort when 6l third of 12 at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) on latest; still lightly raced for his age and this looks a good opportunity for him to get off the mark over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

23rd Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Es Perfecto

11st 8lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Has more to prove than the other 11yos in this field, with form this season suggesting that age may be catching up with him and virtually all of his chase outings at 2m4f; it remains to be seen whether this longer trip sparks a resurgence.

10/1

6th

7

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

16:05 Kempton

Es Perfecto

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Has some strong handicap form to his name and this isn't quite so demanding as Cheltenham's feature 2m4f early-season handicaps; he is now 11 and the handicapper hasn't been overly generous is dropping him just 3lb for those heavy defeats, but unwise to put a line through him.

25/1

5th

18

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Es Perfecto

10st 6lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

in touch with leaders

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £148.00
Straight Forecast £223.45
Tricast £1640.95
Trifecta £908.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Es Perfecto

TOPSPEED:

Imperial Bede

Daily Record:

Sheldon

POSTDATA:

Imperial Bede

WEST COUNTRY:

Imperial Bede

Telegraph:

Imperial Bede

D Express:

Imperial Bede

Daily Mirror:

Imperial Bede

RP RATINGS:

Es Perfecto

The Times:

Es Perfecto

The Guardian:

Es Perfecto

Daily Mail:

Es Perfecto

The Sun:

Es Perfecto

The Star:

Es Perfecto