bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race).
Sandown · Saturday, 25 Apr · 15:45
· 1m 7f 216y
· Class 2
· TURF
WEIGHEDIN
Status
12:45
Off time
15
Runners
Good (Good to Firm in places)
Going
🎯 Tipster's 1·2·3
Sporting Life pick
🏆 Top pick
WAY OF STARS (IRE
🥈 Second
MINELLA YOGA (IRE
🥉 Third
WILSTAR (IRE
Betting forecast
Market prediction · 19 runners · sorted by price
01 · 🏆 FAV
3.25
9/4
02 · 🥈 2nd
5
4/1
03 · 🥉 3rd
7
6/1
04 · —
8
7/1
05 · —
11
10/1
06 · —
11
10/1
07 · —
11
10/1
08 · —
11
10/1
09 · —
12
11/1
10 · —
13
12/1
11 · —
15
14/1
12 · —
15
14/1
13 · —
17
16/1
14 · —
21
20/1
15 · —
26
25/1
16 · —
34
33/1
17 · —
34
33/1
18 · —
34
33/1
19 · —
81
80/1
Sporting Life forecast prices — published the night before the race. Top 3 highlighted as market favourites.
Runners
| Pos | No. | Dr | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Wgt | Best decimal odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | — |
Cosmic Connection (G)
Point winner who has made a bright start over hurdles, making it 2-3 when seeing off 8 rivals on 2m Chepstow handicap debut (good) 14 days ago. Had a bit in hand so a 6 lb rise looks fair with further progress on the cards.
|
Sam Twiston-Davies | C Gordon | 5 | 76.2 kg |
7
6/1
|
| — | 2 | — |
Kadastral (G)
Bumped into Supreme runner-up Sober Glory either side of his win in a 2m Newbury maiden (good to soft) in December. His finishing effort was underwhelming when turned over at short odds at Uttoxeter last time but he retains potential for h…
|
Harry Skelton | D Skelton | 6 | 74.4 kg |
5
4/1
|
| — | 3 | — |
Wilstar (G)
[T]
Bumper winner and it's really clicked with him over hurdles in recent months, landing Southwell maiden (soft) and Warwick novice (good to soft) over 2m. Should be more to come in handicaps and seemingly preferred by Sean Bowen to yard's ot…
|
S Bowen | O Murphy | 6 | 74.4 kg |
11
10/1
|
| 4th | 4 | — |
Kocktail Bleu (G)
Made successful start over timber at Fontwell in November. Runner-up 3 times subsequently (including Kempton Grade 2) before resuming winning ways in 2m Newbury novice (good) last month. Looks feasibly treated in his first handicap.
|
Tom Cannon | C Gordon | 6 | 74.4 kg |
8
7/1
|
| 5th | 5 | — |
Minella Yoga (G)
FAV
Sold for £360,000 after making a winning debut in academy hurdle at Fairyhouse and has won 2 of his 4 outings for Paul Nicholls since. This strong traveller jumps well and appeals as one who will cope well with the demands of a big-field h…
|
H Cobden | P F Nicholls | 4 | 73.9 kg |
3.25
9/4
|
| 10th | 6 | — |
Desertmore News (G)
Made short work of his rivals when making all on 2m Southwell hurdle debut in February. Found the Grade 2 Dovecote too much at Kempton just 19 days later but resumed his progression with another all-the-way success at Sedgefield (17f) last…
|
Miss Gina Andrews | T Ellis | 6 | 73.9 kg |
11
10/1
|
| — | 7 | — |
Next Twist (G)
[H]
Second hurdle success when landing short odds in 2m Ayr novice (heavy) in February. Handicap debut after 2 months off. Sean Bowen looks elsewhere but still no surprise were he to go well.
|
Non Runner | O Murphy | 6 | 72.6 kg |
15
14/1
|
| — | 8 | — |
Last Round (G)
Irish point recruit who was much improved when making it third time lucky over hurdles in maiden at Fontwell (2¼m, good to soft) 4 weeks ago. Handicap debut.
|
Ben Jones | B Pauling | 5 | 72.1 kg |
34
33/1
|
| 2nd | 9 | — |
Race To Base (G)
[T]
Fairly useful 2m novice winner for Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies but pulled up in EBF Final here (2½m, soft) on handicap/stable debut last month. Has had a breathing operation since.
|
J M Quinlan | Nick Scholfield | 6 | 71.2 kg |
34
33/1
|
| 11th | 10 | — |
Kapitein Kool (G)
Made a successful hurdle debut at Newton Abbot (17f) in October and dug deep to double his tally in a heavy-ground novice at Exeter (17f again) in February. Could only manage seventh of 9 on subsequent Newbury handicap debut, though.
|
Paul O'Brien | J W Mullins | 5 | 71.2 kg |
26
25/1
|
| 3rd | 11 | — |
Bespoke Tailor (G)
[T]
Fairly useful bumper winner and similar form when placed in maiden/novice events on first 4 starts over hurdles. Pitched into the ultra-competitive Morebattle at Kelso on handicap debut and wasn't disgraced, leaving the impression a return…
|
G Sheehan | O Signy | 6 | 71.2 kg |
11
10/1
|
| 6th | 12 | — |
Dutch Corner (G)
[HT]
Half-brother to high-class hurdler/chaser Yorkhill who has made steady progress with each start over hurdles, looking suited to a switch to front-running tactics when off the mark in 18.5f Newton Abbot maiden 3 weeks ago. Handicap debut.
|
Harry Skelton | D Skelton | 5 | 71.2 kg |
13
12/1
|
| 8th | 13 | — |
Ambiente Friendly (G)
[H]
Placed in the Derby and Irish Derby in 2024 but this keen-goer's career has gone the wrong way since. Did manage to win a Huntingdon novice hurdle (soft) in December but his limitations in this sphere have seemingly been exposed since. Tod…
|
J J Burke | James Owen | 5 | 70.8 kg |
17
16/1
|
| 13th | 14 | — |
Legal Weapon (G)
[T1]
Course bumper winner who has shown fair form when reaching the frame in 5 maiden/novice hurdles this season. Fitted with first-time tongue now moving into handicap company. Ben Jones on stablemate Last Round.
|
Brendan Powell | B Pauling | 6 | 69.9 kg |
81
80/1
|
| — | 15 | — |
Stanners Glen (G)
[T]
Point/bumper winner in Ireland and going the right way over hurdles, placing twice before justifying favouritism in maiden at Wincanton (15f, good) 33 days ago. Handicap debut. Should continue to go progress.
|
Bryan Carver | H Fry | 7 | 67.6 kg |
21
20/1
|
| 7th | 16 | — |
Talakan (G)
A fair winner on the Flat in France and has made a promising start over hurdles for his new stable, hampered last when second of 11 in 2m Warwick juvenile 7 weeks ago. Open to improvement now moving into handicap company for the first time…
|
K Brogan | T Lawes | 4 | 67.6 kg |
12
11/1
|
| 9th | 17 | — |
Secret Sniper (G)
Brother to connections' useful performer Secret Squirrel and runner-up in 2m novice hurdles at Huntingdon (good to soft) and Taunton (good) on his last 2 outings. Handicap debut. Steadily progressive.
|
Thomas Bellamy | H Morrison | 5 | 67.6 kg |
15
14/1
|
| 12th | 18 | — |
Way Of Stars (G)
[H]
Useful on Flat for Andrew Balding and going the right way over hurdles for new connections, making it third time lucky at Taunton (2m, good to soft) last month. That Flat ability provides the hope for better now handicapping. Gets the vote…
|
Jack Tudor | D Pipe | 4 | 66.2 kg |
11
10/1
|
| — | 19 | — |
Love You Back (G)
Improving middle-distance winner on Flat. Promising runner-up in 2m juveniles on first 2 starts over hurdles but weakening in a well-held fourth when falling at the last at Stratford (19f, soft) last time. Drops back in trip for handicap h…
|
Freddie Mitchell | G & J Moore | 4 | 64.4 kg |
34
33/1
|
Betting forecast: Minella Yoga (9/4), Kadastral (4/1), Cosmic Connection (6/1), Kocktail Bleu (7/1), Bespoke Tailor (10/1), Desertmore News (10/1), Way Of Stars (10/1), Wilstar (10/1), Talakan (11/1), Dutch Corner (12/1), Secret Sniper (14/1), Next Twist (14/1), Ambiente Friendly (16/1), Stanners Glen (20/1), Kapitein Kool (25/1), Race To Base (33/1), Love You Back (33/1), Last Round (33/1), Legal Weapon (80/1)
Prize money
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| P1 | 51440.0 GBP |
| P2 | 23650.0 GBP |
| P3 | 11830.0 GBP |
| P4 | 5910.0 GBP |
| P5 | 2960.0 GBP |
| P6 | 1470.0 GBP |
| P7 | 740.0 GBP |
| P8 | 370.0 GBP |