Heroes Handicap Hurdle

3.00 Sandown
totescoop6 Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £18,813

Picks: Lush Life & Kilcrea Kim (each/way)

Quarts De Thaix: Improved with every run last season, impressive when beating Pontop by 5 and then 4 lengths at Cheltenham and Perth, handling an 8lbs rise inbetween; Improved again to win at Aintree (very strong effort to win comfortably); Had too much to do up in grade at Cheltenham and Reelkeel Hurdle sixth gives him excellent chance.

Pause And Clause: Was an impressive winner of the Martin Pipe Hurdle at the festival last season but just hasn't taken to fences; Every chance that he's still as useful as ever but is now off-putting that he's higher in the weighted than when last seen over hurdles.

Lush Life: Took some serious scalps in his first season novice hurdling, including Menorah; Didn't seem suited by the longer trip when he was ninth at Cheltenham first time out but showed his liking for longer trip when winning competitive handicap hurdle at Cheltenham and every chance here. 

Roll Along; High class staying chaser who's been absent for a while through injury; Trainer adept at preparing one from long lay-off and jockey gas good record in races if this type, so Market check needed. 

Kilcrea Kim: Created deep impression when doubling up in novice hurdles and then winning his first handicap; Ran a great race in Cheltenham handicap last time out and should like the less testing trip he gets here. 

Alfie Spinner: Has been in great form this year, coming fourth behind Salden Licht in a 2 mile handicap and then coming a close second in Pertemps Qualifier; Drop in trip should help and only small rise in weights to contend with so should be right there.

Dansimar: Unpredictable and not won for two years, although yard are in much better form of late and has claims of his useful previous run.


Mister Hyde; Has had a good season, winning well in a novice hurdle (good race for the track) at Plumpton last time to follow up his good sixth in an excellent Cheltenham handicap last time.

Dantari: Has become a victim of his own consistency, having won three times; Could still run well off his mark, but seems set to run off 130 forever the way he’s going. 

Prince Tom: Hasn't been seen since landing a 3m handicap at Taunton in November;13lbs rise by no means insurmountable but this steep rise in class and has it a lot tougher. 

County Zen: Has a lot on his plate here, certainly more than when well behind Alfie Spinner last time; Drop back in trip will help and holds every chance but more needed to make an impact.

Numide: Was beneficiary of fine ride when finally taking advantage of drop in weights to win at Ffos Las last time; Can't be relied on at this trip to reproduce that effort. 

Arkrose: Hasn't won over fences for a long time, his jumping having let him down a lot; Useful hurdles form and should be happier here, but more needed and not fancied. 

Supreme De Pallie: An effortless winner of his last two starts raised to his trip, and looked up to defying a 19lbs rise last time out; Needs a lot more but seemingly up to this harder task. 

Mr Jay Dee: Unlucky to bump into useful Cucumber Run 2 starts ago but unable to go one better last time against lesser opposition; Has a tough mark on his handicap debut. 

Gee Nee Den: Lost his way since accounting for a next time out winner over jumps in the summer; Hard to see him winning. 

Miss Overdrive: Has run well in handicaps the last twice after winning Novice Hurdle & might be vulnerable in this grade.


Althihar: Formerly useful juvenile hurdler; little impact in 3 starts over fences this season, and return to hurdling needs to revitalise him.

Like A Hurricane: Impressed with winning attitude when coming home clear at Ascot in October and has to be a threat to all at the foot of the weights if going on again from that, so not hard to see in the finish even if his bare form not too impressive.

National Guard: Won three times at unto 3 miles for three different yards but laboured in sellers and has a lot of ground to make up here.

VERDICT: The addition of a 5lbs claimer to LUSH LIFE may make all the difference, allowing him to race off the same mark as he did when winning a good race at Cheltenham last time. KILCREA KIM will enjoy a less testing race than at Cheltenham last time and can go close along with Alfie Spinner.