December 06 / 14.33 Sandown

14.33

Good To Soft

Betfair Esher Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £37017.5
  • 3m 0f 37y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfair Esher Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 1116-F BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
3m point winner who made it 3-3 in novice hurdles with Listed win at Huntingdon (2m3f, soft) in February; well beaten at Cheltenham next time; was favourite for last month's chase debut in Wincanton Grade 2 (2m4f, good) and still had a chance when falling three out; there's every chance he'll stay this far and he could be a contender granted a clear round.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 10y

Class 1

14:35 Sandown

Handstands

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Acts on soft ground; overall record is 6-8; campaigned in Grade 2 contests since switched to chasing, falling at Wincanton then winning at Sandown (3m) and Ffos Las (2m3f; only two finished); behind a couple of these opponents on ratings but he's progressive and adds interest.

11/4

1st

1

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 10y

Class 1

14:35 Sandown

Handstands

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Acts on soft ground; overall record is 6-8; campaigned in Grade 2 contests since switched to chasing, falling at Wincanton then winning at Sandown (3m) and Ffos Las (2m3f; only two finished); behind a couple of these opponents on ratings but he's progressive and adds interest.

11/4

1

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 1

13:15 Ffos Las

Handstands

11st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Posted a clearcut success in similar event at Sandown (3m, soft; second chase attempt) last month, bouncing back from his Wincanton fall and taking overall record to 5-7; effective at this trip over hurdles; progressive in the main and has leading claims even with 5lb penalty.

6/4

OUR TIP

6/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 42-112

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Progressive over hurdles in the spring (won on soft) and won on chase debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) before close Listed second at Cheltenham (3m, good) three weeks ago; leading claims on that latest form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

25th Jan 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 2

12:40 Cheltenham

Resplendent Grey

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Posted a personal best when close second in Listed novice here (3m, good) in November and he ran respectably despite making mistakes when runner-up in Grade 2 novice at Sandown (3m, soft) next time; should be just as effective back at 2m4f but has to give weight to some promising rivals.

3/1

4th

2

25th Jan 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 2

12:40 Cheltenham

Resplendent Grey

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Posted a personal best when close second in Listed novice here (3m, good) in November and he ran respectably despite making mistakes when runner-up in Grade 2 novice at Sandown (3m, soft) next time; should be just as effective back at 2m4f but has to give weight to some promising rivals.

3/1

7

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 1

13:15 Ffos Las

Resplendent Grey

11st 4lb

T: Olly Murphy

Form: 9/116- C

Last run: 265 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Well beaten last season on final hurdle start but conditions were extremely tough; he'd previously made it 2-2 in handicaps (good to soft/soft) when winning a useful 2m7f contest here and this lightly raced point winner could take his form to a new level now tackling fences; exciting prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Saint Davy

11st 10lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

raced in second, led 3rd

11/2

4th

1

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Saint Davy

11st 10lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

raced in second, led 3rd

11/2

8

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 1

13:15 Ffos Las

Saint Davy

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Point/bumper/hurdles winner who is likely to complete the full set soon, having posted an encouraging effort in Grade 2 at Sandown (3m, soft) on chase debut, finishing 4l third to Handstands; gets a 5lb pull with that rival and should cope with the drop back in distance; respected.

7/2

Form: 2128-

Last run: 230 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Promising novice hurdler on good/good to soft, finishing second in 3m Grade 2 at Doncaster in January; has had wind op since handicap debut flop in April; this unexposed point winner brings considerable potential to his chase debut and he could play a leading role; a tongue-tie goes on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

6th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 1

14:33 Sandown

Welcom To Cartries

11st 4lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Promising novice hurdler on good/good to soft, finishing second in 3m Grade 2 at Doncaster in January; has had wind op since handicap debut flop in April; this unexposed point winner brings considerable potential to his chase debut and he could play a leading role; a tongue-tie goes on.

7/2

Form: 72P-31 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Two-time point winner who improved upon his hurdle form when easily winning a three-runner novice chase at Wetherby (3m, good) last month on his second run over fences; also effective on good to soft ground; this is a tougher test of his credentials but he's in excellent hands to continue to progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 7f 76y

Class 2

14:25 Musselburgh

Cadell

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

midfield

7/1

4

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 7f 76y

Class 2

14:25 Musselburgh

Cadell

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

midfield

7/1

5th

1

6th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 1

14:33 Sandown

Cadell

11st 4lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Two-time point winner who improved upon his hurdle form when easily winning a three-runner novice chase at Wetherby (3m, good) last month on his second run over fences; also effective on good to soft ground; this is a tougher test of his credentials but he's in excellent hands to continue to progress.

8/1

Non-runners

Riskintheground

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.20
Straight Forecast £6.67
Trifecta £18.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Resplendent Grey

WEST COUNTRY:

Handstands

Daily Record:

Cadell

The Star:

Saint Davy

TOPSPEED:

Riskintheground

D Express:

Handstands

RP RATINGS:

Resplendent Grey

POSTDATA:

Resplendent Grey

The Times:

Resplendent Grey

Telegraph:

Resplendent Grey

Daily Mail:

Resplendent Grey

Daily Mirror:

Resplendent Grey

The Sun:

Resplendent Grey