Sandown Review

There were only 39 runners featuring in the six races at Sandown Park on Friday but there were some smart performances nevertheless. The headline act was Top 40 entry No Drama This End who confirmed he is one of the best novice hurdlers on this side of the Irish Sea with another authoritative victory in the Grade 2 Winter Novices' Hurdle - it was Paul Nicholls' sixth win in the two and a half miles event. Three weeks earlier, the ex-UK pointer had won in impressive fashion on his hurdles bow in a similar event and was forced to carry a five pounds penalty here. However, it didn't prevent the Walk In The Park gelding from producing an almost identical performance barely coming off the bridle having hit the front soon after the second last. Harry Cobden nursed his mount five lengths clear without moving a muscle. His connections nominated the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury (29th December) as his main first half of the season target at Cheltenham last month but it remains to be seen whether the five year old will be asked to turn out in 24 days time. The Turners Novices' Hurdle at the Festival is the ultimate goal and time will tell whether he runs again between now and March - slow ground appears important to him. 

Earlier on the card, Macktoad (3/1) made an excellent start to his career in the UK when winning the opening introductory hurdle by three and a quarter lengths. Featured in the French Revolution section of OJA, the grey had won an AQPS Flat race in May in his native country before being purchased for €125,000 at the Arqana Summer Sale in July. A big strapping gelding by Beaumec De Houelle, Gary & Josh Moore's runner was well supported and justified that confidence with a convincing display. Always in the firing line, he jumped neatly and only had to be pushed out on the run-in to win hard held. While the Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow (27th December) is a possibility later this month, he is an exciting prospect for the future with the scope to jump fences one day, too.

Stablemate Salver relished the step up to three miles for the first time in the Grade 2 Esher Novices' Chase. Rated 148 over timber and placed in the Triumph Hurdle behind Majborough a couple of seasons ago, he ran creditably on his chasing bow at Exeter last month. Beaten over ten lengths by Lulamba over two miles one at the West Country venue, the five year old was more in his comfort zone over this longer distance. Despite a few novicey errors early on, he warmed to his task and readily reeled in the front running Doyen Quest jumping the second last. The Moore runner then stretched away to score by a dozen lengths. While a drop back to two and a half miles in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at the same track is an option in early February, he is more likely to be kept over longer trips. The Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton (26th December) may come too soon but the Grade 2 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase at Ascot (14th February) could be tailormade for him before a tilt at the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.