14:25 Sandown 27 Apr 2024
bet365 Oaksey Chase
Grade 2 | For The Menorah Challenge Trophy | GBB Race | Class 1 | 5YO plus
Winner £45,560 - 7 ran
waited with in rear, good headway out wide 4 out, closer on inside home turn, angled out before 2 out, went 2nd between last two, led approaching last, ridden and came readily clear run-in
chased leaders out wide, went 2nd at 4th (water), led 6th, headed approaching last, driven and stayed on same pace run-in
raced wide tracking leaders, not fluent 5th, disputing 2nd 10th, outright 2nd 3 out until ridden between last two, no extra in 3rd
waited with in last trio, steady headway in 5th when slight stumble 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, went modest 4th at the last
led until 2nd, chased leader until 4th, chased leaders, went 2nd again 12th, hit 4 out, mistake and lost 2nd 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
held up off the pace in last pair, jumped slowly 11th, struggling in rear 15th (water), tailed off
chased leader, led 2nd, not fluent and headed 6th, lost 2nd at 12th, stumbled badly and lost ground next, mistake and weakened 4 out, tailed off
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| Betfair SP | £12.13 |
| CSF | £62.73 (7, 2) |
| Win | £10.00 (7) |
| Place | £3.30 (7), £3.30 (2) |
| Swinger | £4.10 (2, 5), £7.30 (2, 7), £4.40 (5, 7) |
| Exacta | £64.10 (7, 2) |
| Trifecta | £208.70 (7, 2, 5) |
Expert Analysis
A smart contest, though one in which only the first 2 appeared to give their running, and it was close to well-run, the overall time decent and the winner’s final 4f of 59.71s equal to a 101.9% finishing speed.
FANTASTIC LADY (c152 here, 145 previously) was better than ever in improving 2 places from what she had managed behind Hewick 12 months before, producing a performance that would have just about seen her home in front in the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival (which she and others from the stable missed out on). She was held up in rear before making steady headway out wide, leading approaching the last and staying on for pressure despite edging right. She has not withstood a lot of racing but is worth persevering with judged on this.
GA LAW (c157 here and previously) was back to his best, just unable to contain the improved winner having made most and still been going best after 3 out. This may be about as far as he stays.
HITMAN (c145 here, 157 previously) showed up prominently for a long way but ultimately found little (not for the first time) and was below form.
EASY GAME (c145 here, 160 previously) ran poorly, though it has to be said that his form in small-field affairs is not exactly copper-bottomed. He was held up in rear, made some headway 4 out but weakened before the next.
THE REAL WHACKER (c134 here, 159 previously) may have 2 ways of running, this one of the lesser ones, though he was still well in touch, despite making mistakes and being niggled along at various stages, when taking 3 out awkwardly, weakening thereafter.
STRAW FAN JACK (c116 here, 135 previously)
AL DANCER (c97 here, 154 previously)
Video Highlights
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Replay: 14:25 Sandown 27th Apr 2024
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Good to Soft | 6 | Hewick | 8 | 11 6 | - | 1-21U1F | 43 days | J J Hanlon | Rachael Blackmore | 6/ 5 | 5:42.50 | |
| 2022 | Good | 4 | Saint Calvados | 9 | 11 0 | - | 24U-3P5 | 15 days | P F Nicholls (111 miles) | Harry Cobden | EVENS | 5:53.00 | |
| 2021 | Good | 4 | Frodon | 9 | 11 6 | - | 14-1415 | 36 days | P F Nicholls (111 miles) | Bryony Frost | 4/ 5 | 5:53.00 | |
| 2019 | Good | 7 | Black Corton | 8 | 11 3 | - | 4-2P222 | 56 days | P F Nicholls (111 miles) | Bryony Frost | 15/ 8 | 5:39.16 | |
| 2018 | Good to Soft | 6 | Top Notch | 7 | 11 6 | - | 23-3114 | 70 days | N J Henderson (60 miles) | Daryl Jacob | 4/ 5 | 6:01.20 | |
| 2017 | Good | 6 | Menorah | 12 | 11 10 | - | 31-2523 | 155 days | P Hobbs & J White (161 miles) | Richard Johnson | 9/ 4 | 5:41.10 | |
| 2016 | Good | 7 | Menorah | 11 | 11 10 | - | 2851-P3 | 140 days | P Hobbs & J White (161 miles) | Richard Johnson | 5/ 1 | 5:50.00 | |
| 2015 | Good | 9 | Menorah | 10 | 11 10 | - | 1-91285 | 16 days | P Hobbs & J White (161 miles) | Richard Johnson | 11/ 4 | 5:38.33 | |
| 2014 | Good to Soft | 5 | Menorah | 9 | 11 10 | - | P22-P05 | 23 days | P Hobbs & J White (161 miles) | Richard Johnson | 11/ 4 | 5:44.30 |
