Sandown Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final Guide 2023

Seven-year-old for Stuart Edmunds who won an NHFlat contest at Catterick back in 2021 before being sent hurdling at Ascot in October 2021.

Has since finished in the top four five times in a row, winning at Southwell last December in a class four contest, beating Soldier Of Destiny by nine lengths.

He comes into this on the back of a third-place finish at 11/4 favourite at Carlisle 19 days ago and looks better than the market suggests, although a test he will have to improve for.

Won a bumper on debut for Ella Pickard at Chepstow in October last year before making his debut over hurdles at the same course later that month, finishing seventh of 16 in a class four contest.

Followed that with a third of five at Southwell two months later before scoring at Fontwell in a class four 41 days ago, beating Our Champ by a neck.

Stans The Man needs to find more again to have a chance here in a much stronger field, however.

Won a Newcastle maiden on his second outing over hurdles in November last year before following up with another success at Haydock a month later. Stepped up into grade two company last time out at Cheltenham 42 days ago but was last of ten at 12/1.

He still has potential to fulfil and can discount that run with the massive step up but needs to find best form again if challenging here.

106-rated six-year-old who would be a shock winner here on the back of his previous hurdling outings, finishing third at Lingfield (C3) on debut, fourth at Chepstow (C4), fourth at Lingfield (C4) and ninth of 11 behind a few of these runners at this course and distance 23 days ago.

Of course, upsets can happen, but the Richard Rowe trained gelding would have to defy the odds to claim victory in this field. One to dismiss.

Another one of the lightly raced runners here, only having three outings over hurdles so far finishing fifth at Haydock (C3), first at Catterick (C4) and second at Wetherby (C4) last time out 35 days ago.

He’s been competitive in the same company as a lot of runners here and it looks an open contest with many in the hunt for victory and many coming into this in good form, and Cerendipity is one of them.

Six-year-old for Paul Nicholls who has had five outings over hurdles in his career, winning four of them. Those wins came at Wincanton (C3), Sandown (C4), Exeter (C4) and Market Rasen (C3).

He goes off 130 here following those successes and is second in the ratings amongst the other runners in this race.

He’s looking to make it five wins in a row for Nicholls, but it is Angus Cheleda onboard with Harry Cobden riding Henri The Second, who is next in the market at 8/1.

Henri The Second arrives here in decent form, recording finishes of second, first, fourth and second on his four runs over hurdles for Paul Nicholls.

That win came in the Grade Two Ballymore Winter Novices Hurdle at Sandown in December, before finishing fourth in another grade two at Cheltenham in January.

He was back in action at Warwick 15 days ago, finishing second behind the Dan Skelton trained Pikar when priced at 11/10 favourite.

He was four lengths behind the six-year-old and looks to be in with a shout of bouncing back to first place here with Harry Cobden on board this gelding instead of Hugos New Horse.

Was in decent form prior to his last run, where he was fifth of 11 behind some of the runners here over this C&D 23 days ago.

Had previously shown promise, finishing second twice in a row at Hereford and then Doncaster in class three and four outings.

Has yet to taste success and it looks unlikely that he will do so here in the hands of Jonathan Burke.

Six-year-old gelding for Jonjo O’Neill who has had three runs over hurdles in his career, recording finishes of first on debut at Newcastle (C4) and two second-place finishes at Chepstow (both C4). He was 10/11 favourite last time out but lost to the unbeaten Doyen Star by two lengths in what was a decent run.

Adam Wedge has had the better of Jonjo O’Neill Jr both times after his 21-length debut success at Newcastle in December, but he is rated at 128 and can continue that good form here.

Similar to fellow runner Inneston, Etalon comes into this rated at just 119 after winning a hurdle contest at the third time of asking at Wetherby last time out in a class four contest at 2/5 favourite.

He was a comfortable seven lengths clear of Big Ambitions and was second to Strong Leader on his previous outing beforehand in a class three at Aintree last December.

This looks an open race with many runners in good form and the Skelton duo of Harry and Dan will be hoping for more improvement on Etalon here to be in with a chance of victory.

Six-year-old with just the three runs over hurdles so far, finishing sixth at Newbury (C3), third at Kempton (C2) and second at Exeter (C4).

That third at Kempton was a top effort considering the step up in company and was a fair away ahead of fourth, only finishing behind 2/1 favourite Rubaud and 7/2 shot Rare Edition.

He was 8/15 favourite next time out at Exeter and finished a narrow second to The Carpenter but a massive 57 lengths ahead of third.

He can definitely compete in this company with Brendan Powell on board.

Six-year-old gelding who made his hurdling debut in November last year, beating Hands Off by three and three-quarter lengths at 3/1 favourite at Ascot over 2m 3f.

He was then thrust into grade one company at Newbury in December, pulling up before three out in the Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle won by Hermes Allen.

He bounced back to win at Bangor-on-Dee last time out over 2m last month, beating Waspy by four and a quarter-lengths to boost his credentials ahead of this contest.

He goes off a mark of 123 here for Fergal O’Brien, looking to make it 3/4 over hurdles and has a big chance of doing so.

Churchills Boy has had three runs over hurdles following his NHFlat success at Chepstow early last year.

He has won his last two races at Plumpton and Fontwell after being pulled up on debut over obstacles at Lingfield before two from the finish.

His last win came by a short head to I’d Like To Know and Inneston in third, over 2m 1f 41 days ago and comes into this one bang in form and he could mount a challenge for victory.

He currently looks slightly overpriced considering the form he’s in.

Six-year-old gelding for Milton Harris who has started life over hurdles with sixth on debut, followed by two victories and then a narrow second behind Twin Power at Sandown last month.

Harry Cobden has been on board for the last few runs, but Paddy Brennan is booked here with Cobden on Henri The Second.

His wins have come at class three level and looks to step up here in good form and is one of those rated at 120 or higher.

The third of the Paul Nicholls runners here is Twin Power, who comes into this one having never been out of the top three in his hurdling career.

He boasts those finishes at Wincanton, Plumpton and Sandown, where he won his only race in February ahead of fellow runner Twinjets.

He finished a head behind Inneston last time out and brings good form into this one and looks like a good each-way play at 12’s in the market currently.

Adrian Heskin is booked to ride the six-year-old.

Cuthbert Dibble comes into this contest as the market favourite at 5/1 on the back of his first win over hurdles at Leicester last time out.

That followed two third-place finishes at the same course in class three races before moving up in trip to 2m 4f for that win.

He has been backed into favouritism here after winning comfortably by 19 lengths and goes off a mark of 125, 14lbs higher than his last outing.

He looks to be a leading contender, but there are a lot of runners in top form here so he will need to improve again.

This five-year-old is rated at just 117 following his first victory over hurdles last time out at Sandown over 2m 3f, beating Twin Power by a head and although stepping up here, he looks promising to be able to do so for a top yard.

That win followed two third-place finishes in class four races at Newbury on debut and Fontwell second time out.

Inneston is a lightly raced gelding who has every chance of making it two on the bounce for Gary Moore and Jamie Moore is onboard here.