SANDOWN SATURDAY 2.55

HEROES HANDICAP HURDLE (CLASS 1) 2M7F98YDS

ÃPOSITIVE TRENDS

BHA rating and weight 9/10 since 2009 were rated 135 or lower (9/94 +£5.50) and carded to carry 10st 13lb or less. Topofthegame (2018) was rated 142 and carried 11st 7lb to victory. Two winning riders claimed 3lb and one claimed 5lb. Horse suffix and sire name 8/10 horses bred in IRE are 8/90 (-£8) in this race since 2009. The sire Flemensfirth is 2/9 (+£8.50) in that time. SP 8/10 were sent off between 5-1 and 10-1 (8/52 +£16). Days since run, distance and class 8/10 had a run within the previous 35 days and had run over at least 2m6f in the past. Horses that ran in Class 2 company or better on their latest start are 9/86 (+£9). Trainer Paul Nicholls is 2/10 (+£7.50) since 2009. Philip Hobbs is 2/8 since 2009 (+£4.50) and Venetia Williams is 2/7 (+£17). Age Five winners since 2009 were aged eight (3) or nine (2) - 5/44 (11% +£27). Five were aged five (1), six (3) and seven (1) – 5/86 (6% -£51).

ÄNEGATIVE TRENDS

Age Those aged 10+ are 0/19 since 2009. Favourites The eight outright favourites since 2009 finished 2P8P31P7. The joint-favourites in 2017 and 2019 came 6P57. Horse suffix FR-bred horses are 1/27 since 2009 and those bred in GB are 1/29 (-£12).

CONCLUSION

Nine of the ten winners since 2009 were officially rated 135 or lower (+£5.50). The same number were carded to carry 10st 13lb or less and horses that ran in Class 2 company on their latest start are 9/86 (+£9). Philip Hobbs is 2/8 in that time and his representative STELLAR MAGIC (135) has a likeable each-way profile after staying on into a close second over a slightly longer trip at Wincanton on Boxing Day.