Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (3YO plus)
1m 7f 216y Soft (Heavy in places)
wore hood to post, midfield, smooth headway to press leader 2 out, ridden to dispute lead approaching last, soon led and kept on gamely
disputed lead, led outright before 3rd, pressed for lead 2 out, ridden and joined approaching last, soon headed, kept on but always held
slowly away, held up in rear, midfield 3 out, ridden and headway 2 out, soon chased leaders, kept on run-in, not reach leaders
prominent, ridden and in touch 2 out, soon faded
disputed lead, headed before 3rd, not fluent 3 out, ridden and lost position 2 out, soon faded
always in rear, tailed off before 2 out
held up in rear, midfield 3 out, soon driven and weakened
midfield, dropped to rear before 3rd, ridden and tailed off before 2 out
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | £20.53 (7, 2) |
| Tricast | £98.01 (7, 2, 9) |
| Win | £6.80 (7) |
| Place | £1.70 (7), £1.40 (2), £2.00 (9) |
| Swinger | £3.40 (2, 7), £2.80 (2, 9), £3.70 (7, 9) |
| Exacta | £16.80 (7, 2) |
| Trifecta | £105.20 (7, 2, 9) |
The winner is now 3/3 at Sandown after this battling success. The runner-up has also winning course, distance and going form when competing as a fresh horse. I am not sure how much depth there was in the race, but the performances of the leading trio could turn out to be fairly reliable form.
GO DANTE After being held up in the early stages he took closer order from the third hurdle. He challenged the eventual runner up on the approach to the second last hurdle and came out on top in a hard fought battle, with the pair well clear of the third horse.
KNICKERBOCKERGLORY For the second year in a row he has competed to a very high level in this contest. He has won on his seasonal debut three years in a row prior to this second place finish. Unfortunately he has failed to add to that initial success in any of the three seasons; consequently, it will be interesting to see if he can change this pattern of behaviour at the fourth attempt.
AFADIL It was mildly concerning to see him so slow to get going from the flag. He certainly looked a tad reluctant for a few strides which is hopefully not a sign of things to come. This testing surface would not have been for him and so, on balance, I feel he has done extremely well to get so close to two horses competing in perfect conditions. He has an excellent record at Musselburgh so presumably the race he has contested there in each of the last two seasons in early February will once again be his main target for the winter.
METIER Although he was beaten a long way by the leading trio, at the same time, it was encouraging to see him race with enthusiasm for most of the race. Hopefully his connections will feel that the promise of this fourth place finish will give them something to build on.
GLYNN BRAE Maybe he can be forgiven this apparently disappointing finish after he tried to match strides on the front end with a horse like Knickerbockerglory who was competing in near perfect conditions. It is also possible that the very soft conditions did not work in his favour.
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Heavy | 6 | Knickerbockerglory | 8 | 10 10 | 132 | 9-1765P | 251 days | D Skelton (102 miles) | Harry Skelton | 13/ 8 | 4:21.35 | |
| 2023 | Heavy | 10 | Spirit D'aunou | 4 | 10 10 | 129 | 21111-4 | 42 days | G & J Moore (28 miles) | Niall Houlihan | 4/ 1 | 4:22.70 | |
| 2022 | Soft | 9 | Love Envoi | 6 | 11 10 | 139 | 111112 | 230 days | H Fry (134 miles) | Jonathan Burke | 6/ 4 | 4:13.30 | |
| 2021 | Good to Soft | 11 | Samarrive | 4 | 10 7 | 130 | 11-7 | 42 days | P F Nicholls (111 miles) | Harry Cobden | 8/ 1 | 4:12.25 | |
| 2020 | Heavy | 10 | Benson | 5 | 10 6 | 127 | 14R7-11 | 33 days | R & J & J Insole (116 miles) | Gavin Sheehan | 9/ 2 | 4:14.26 | |
| 2019 | Heavy | 13 | Mack The Man | 5 | 10 1 | 122 | 8732P-1 | 29 days | Evan Williams (155 miles) | Adam Wedge | 6/ 1 | 4:18.70 | |
| 2018 | Heavy | 10 | Man Of Plenty | 9 | 10 7 | 123 | 52-6504 | 7 days | Mrs S Leech (126 miles) | Sean Houlihan | 8/ 1 | 4:14.00 | |
| 2017 | Good to Soft | 11 | A Hare Breath | 9 | 11 11 | 139 | P-41370 | 246 days | B Pauling (114 miles) | Daryl Jacob | 8/ 1 | 4:00.40 | |
| 2016 | Good to Soft | 10 | Brain Power | 5 | 11 10 | 142 | 0121-38 | 20 days | N J Henderson (60 miles) | Sam Twiston-Davies | 9/ 2 | 3:59.30 | |
| 2015 | Soft | 10 | Lil Rockerfeller | 4 | 11 11 | 146 | 411-233 | 25 days | N B King (82 miles) | Trevor Whelan | 8/ 1 | 4:06.80 | |
| 2014 | Soft | 8 | Snake Eyes | 6 | 10 11 | 123 | 324-46 | 315 days | N J Henderson (60 miles) | A P McCoy | 3/ 1 | 4:15.50 | |
| 2013 | Good to Soft | 13 | Deep Trouble | 6 | 10 11 | 125 | 22-2122 | 22 days | B I Case (76 miles) | Leighton Aspell | 7/ 1 | 4:01.90 | |
| 2012 | Soft | 12 | Petit Robin | 9 | 11 12 | 147 | 2U39-51 | 15 days | N J Henderson (60 miles) | Nico De Boinville | 11/ 1 | 4:11.80 | |
| 2011 | Good to Soft | 12 | Ubi Ace | 5 | 11 5 | 133 | 162451 | 21 days | T D Walford (225 miles) | R Walford | 7/ 1 | 4:09.90 | |
| 2009 | Heavy | 9 | Tasheba | 4 | 11 12 | 140 | 113-347 | 28 days | N J Henderson (60 miles) | B J Geraghty | 8/ 1 | 4:19.00 | |
| 2008 | Good to Soft | 12 | Sunnyhillboy | 5 | 10 12 | 128 | 14-311 | 21 days | J & A O'Neill (95 miles) | A P McCoy | 9/ 2 | 4:07.40 | |
| 2007 | Soft | 13 | Ring The Boss | 6 | 10 0 | 119 | 48111-1 | 6 days | P Hobbs & J White (161 miles) | Tom O'Brien | 7/ 4 | 4:08.90 | |
| 2006 | Heavy | 17 | Overstrand | 7 | 10 12 | 120 | 023671 | 6 days | R & J & J Insole (116 miles) | S P Jones | 8/ 1 | 4:07.60 | |
| 2005 | Heavy | 19 | Verasi | 4 | 10 13 | 124 | 210F-91 | 28 days | G & J Moore (28 miles) | Jamie Moore | 12/ 1 | 4:16.00 |
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