Pace dynamic sure to suit 2019 winner Monsieur Lecoq in competitive finale

3.35 Sandown
Unibet Casino Deposit £10 Get £40 Handicap Hurdle | 2m | 4yo+ | RTV/ITV4

The way a race is run is the most prevalent factor in determining the final result. Working out the likely tempo is a fine art, especially over jumps, but when Totterdown is in the field you know they are going to go a decent gallop.

The Fergal O'Brien-trained ten-year-old only has one way of running such is his want to race with the choke out, and he wasn't far off putting those tactics to good use when leading for much of the way in this contest 12 months ago before fading into third late on.

Although an all-the-way victory looks unlikely after a poor display when last seen, his exuberant racing style is sure to whittle the field down and only his hardiest rivals will be there to pick up the pieces.

One of those is 2019 winner Monsieur Lecoq, whose career-best effort came in a fast-run Grade 3 handicap hurdle at Ascot in December later that year won by Not So Sleepy, who invariably races in a similar fashion to Totterdown. The fact he finished a clearcut second that day on heavy ground signifies this race may be run to suit and two quiet prep runs should have him spot on for this.

Another horse with two preps under his belt is Highway One O Two, though it's fair to say those efforts didn't go to plan. A sharp novice hurdler last season, when we won the Grade 2 Dovecote, Highway One O Two has failed to complete in two chase outings this campaign and reverts back to hurdling, which should bring about an improved performance.

Stepping up from a novice hurdle to a competitive handicap may be the undoing of the improving Guard Your Dreams, while a 13lb rise for his Wincanton success means Friend Or Foe needs to show drastic improvement.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

What they say

Chris Gordon, trainer of Highway One O Two
He had a soft fall over fences when he was tired at Ffos Las and nine times out of ten Tom [Cannon] would have stayed on him at Carlisle next time. As we're kicking on in the season, I thought we'd go back over hurdles and start afresh over fences next term, but we haven't had a smooth run with him as he's had sinus problems. We'll try to get him to settle a bit as that's half his problem.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Friend Or Foe
He won very nicely the last day at Wincanton, but that was a flat track and his best form has come on flat tracks, so we need to see him do it at somewhere different like Sandown. He's gone up in the weights but he seems to be in very good order. I'm hopeful of a very good run.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Gemirande
He was excellent when winning last time. It's a competitive handicap hurdle and I'm not sure he'd want bottomless ground like it usually can be at Sandown, so we'll see how he handles this test.

Gary Moore, trainer of Zamperini
He'll benefit from the run. He's going well at home and is as fit as I can get him, but the race will bring him on a fair bit. We haven't had a chance to see the best of him as he won at Plumpton a long time ago, but it was on ground firmer than he likes and he's paid the price for it. His owners have given him plenty of time and he doesn't look like a nine-year-old.

Seamus Mullins, trainer of The Pink'n
Conditions will suit, but it's a struggle with a five-year-old who keeps going up the handicap. I'd be hopeful of a good run and it's a stepping stone for somewhere later in the spring.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

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