November 12 / 16.00 Sandown

16.00

Soft

Sri Lanka Awaits You Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2723
  • 1m 7f 216y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Sri Lanka Awaits You Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.20

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
60,000euros foal, 185,000euros 3yo; third foal; half-brother to French 2m1f hurdle/chase winner Topaze Mystique; unraced dam half-sister to winners Tatenen (smart 2m-2m6f hurdle/chase) and Tandori (French Listed-placed 7.7f-10.7f); one to note from his hugely powerful yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 4

15:00 Chepstow

Touquet

11st 6lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Seemingly aided by new tongue-tie when winning twice at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft/soft) during the winter, and was not discredited when second to revitalised subsequent winner at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) last month; sometimes races a bit too freely but should be fine on this left-handed track; respected.

5/2

2nd

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:37 Wincanton

Touquet

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Always the risk his reluctance to settle will temper his late effort, as it did when over 1l behind A Great Excuse at Lingfield in December; 2-2 at Huntingdon since, however, deriving the benefit of the tongue tie once again when making most there latest (soft); 5lb rise appears pretty fair.

11/8

1st

4

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

12:28 Huntingdon

Touquet

11st 7lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Last year wasn't all plain sailing but he delivered on previous chasing promise when scoring over C&D (good to soft; first-time tongue-tie) just before Christmas and should be fine on the slower ground today; respected.

5/2

7/2

  • Place: £3.90

Form: 2

Last run: 184 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to three hurdle winners; dam useful Flat/hurdle winner; 50-1 for a seven-runner bumper at Market Rasen (2m, good to soft) in May but gave the 1-3 Henderson favourite a big scare, the pair well clear; promising.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

16:32 Newcastle

Diamond Koda

11st 5lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Nick Kent

Accounted for Peckforton Hills when getting off the mark over hurdles at the 12th attempt at Doncaster (2m4f, Class 5 conditionals'; good to soft) in February; down the field (from 8lb higher) in a stronger contest at Newbury subsequently; now drops back into a more suitable looking novice.

5/2

5th

9

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 183y

Class 3

13:50 Newbury

Diamond Koda

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nick Kent

Runner-up in nine of his first 14 races, before finally off the mark when well backed for 12-runner handicap at Doncaster (extended 2m3f, good to soft) three weeks ago in second-time cheekpieces; drew 12l clear for that breakthrough but this 8lb higher mark seems to demand another step forward.

14/1

1st

1

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 5

13:50 Doncaster

Diamond Koda

12st 0lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Nick Kent

0-14 but runner-up on nine occasions and he ran well for a long way in first-time cheekpieces (retained) here (3m, good to soft) in December before fading into fifth; could be in the mix now back down in trip.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
10,500euros yearling, £20,000 3yo; third foal; dam was a fair 2m1f/2m5f Flat and 2m2f-2m5f hurdle winner, half-sister to useful 2m-2m4f hurdle winner Field Commander and bumper/2m hurdle winner Rathmuck Native; stable has the odd bumper winner, including one here four seasons back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

6th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:42 Fontwell

Drumheller

11st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Nick Gifford

Not solid on his hurdling exploits (0-7) and he ran no race on chase debut last time (2m4f); this longer trip is probably a better fit for him so may leave that latest run behind.

20/1

6

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:28 Warwick

Drumheller

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Mixed form over hurdles this season but runner-up at Plumpton (3m1f, good) two starts ago and stable has much better strike-rate with chasers than hurdlers nowadays; not ruled out on first run over fences.

10/1

2

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

16:50 Fontwell

Drumheller

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Did not show a great deal in his qualifying races last season (2m3f-2m5f) and unseated rider at third flight when upped to 3m2f for handicap debut in March (race subsequently declared void); returns from six-month break.

25/1

Form: 3

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beat the only other finisher in a 2m4f British point and made £110,000 later in April; 9-1 for bumper at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) 15 days ago and his third of 15 showed plenty of ability and promise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

14th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 185y

15:37 Downpatrick

Martin Plage

11st 4lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

2m4f point winner; ran in these colours when based in Britain, running his best race when third in a Cheltenham bumper in October 2023; later beaten 8l and 12l in two runs over hurdles; back from a long absence but retains some potential on debut for Willie Mullins.

6/4

5th

5

4th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

13:40 Haydock

Martin Plage

11st 4lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: B F Brookhouse

2m4f point winner; promising third at Cheltenham in the first of his three bumpers and he wasn't beaten far when fifth on hurdling debut at Wetherby (2m3f, good to soft) in October; that was behind a useful prospect and has each-way claims if he can build on that over this longer trip.

9/1

5th

5

4th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

13:40 Haydock

Martin Plage

11st 4lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: B F Brookhouse

2m4f point winner; promising third at Cheltenham in the first of his three bumpers and he wasn't beaten far when fifth on hurdling debut at Wetherby (2m3f, good to soft) in October; that was behind a useful prospect and has each-way claims if he can build on that over this longer trip.

9/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ninth foal; half-brother to winners Golden Boy Grey (2m-2m3f hurdle/chase), Onewayortother (bumper), Sevros (French 9.5f AW and 2m4f-2m5f hurdle) and Korinna (French 1m); dam French 11.5f winner; trainer won a bumper with a newcomer in April.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

10th Jun 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:50 Fontwell

Jack Sparrow Grey

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Well beaten on handicap hurdle debut in January but 3-3 since switched to fences with tongue-tie/cheekpieces fitted this spring, with all three wins gained over C&D on good ground; comfortably pulled 10l clear of Summer In Milan 16 days ago and his latest 11lb rise is partially offset by Freddie Mitchell's useful 5lb claim today; makes obvious appeal.

11/10

1st

3

25th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:43 Fontwell

Jack Sparrow Grey

11st 8lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Well beaten on handicap hurdle debut in January but 2-2 since switched to fences in cheekpieces this spring, with both wins gained over C&D on good ground; might still be improving and makes obvious appeal.

13/8

1st

3

25th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:43 Fontwell

Jack Sparrow Grey

11st 8lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Well beaten on handicap hurdle debut in January but 2-2 since switched to fences in cheekpieces this spring, with both wins gained over C&D on good ground; might still be improving and makes obvious appeal.

13/8

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
£6,000 3yo; 11th foal; brother to fairly useful 3m-3m7f chase winner Magna Sam, closely related to useful 2m4f-3m1f hurdle/chase winner Scotsbrook Cloud, half-brother to four winners including Cultivator (useful bumper/2m-2m5f jumps); dam fair 1m Flat and 2m-2m2f hurdle winner; market may guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:23 Newton Abbot

Super Sabre Sam

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

Dual hurdle winner who hit a personal best with his last success at Fontwell (2m5f, good) in May; 6lb higher on his return but he's a brother to a useful chaser and needs a close look on this switch to fences.

7/2

5

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:23 Newton Abbot

Super Sabre Sam

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

Dual hurdle winner who hit a personal best with his last success at Fontwell (2m5f, good) in May; 6lb higher on his return but he's a brother to a useful chaser and needs a close look on this switch to fences.

7/2

1st

1

15th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

19:10 Fontwell

Super Sabre Sam

11st 12lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Neil Mulholland

Won his maiden here over 2m3f on soft; hasn't look on that good a mark in handicaps but was beaten under 5l over C&D last time in first-time cheekpieces; each-way claims.

4/1

Form: 30-

Last run: 199 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
18l third of 11 at Wetherby (soft; 50-1) in March on debut but he did not fare so well at Warwick (good; 25-1) in April; the first of those efforts earns him a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

18th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:52 Bangor-on-Dee

Streamsforth Lad

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Gary Hanmer

Jumping has been an issue but it's improved in his last two races when runner-up behind winners who were well backed and well handicapped; has course form; big shout.

6/1

2nd

3

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Streamsforth Lad

11st 11lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Gary Hanmer

He's fallen/unseated on three of his five starts over hurdles but was going well when exiting two out at Stratford (2m6f, soft) last month and ran well when runner-up to well-backed winner at Bangor (3m, good) a fortnight ago; major player granted a clear round.

7/2

2nd

4

31st Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Streamsforth Lad

11st 12lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Gary Hanmer

Maiden; three times third over hurdles; 0-4 over fences and yet to complete the course, yet he was bang in contention when falling two out at Stratford three weeks ago (2m6f, soft; has form on good); if avoiding the mistakes he should have a role to play.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.80
Straight Forecast £9.74
Trifecta £83.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Martin Plage

POSTDATA:

Touquet

THE NORTH:

Diamond Koda

WEST COUNTRY:

Touquet

The Sun:

Touquet

The Star:

Touquet

The Times:

Diamond Koda

RP RATINGS:

Martin Plage

TOPSPEED:

Martin Plage

Telegraph:

Martin Plage

D Express:

Martin Plage

Daily Mirror:

Martin Plage

Daily Record:

Martin Plage