"Tominator was a useful stayer on Flat who is progressing over hurdles and is the type to do well now handicapping in this sphere..."
Timeform guide you through the field for Saturday's feature event, the Imperial Cup at Sandown...
Tanerko Emery has been most progressive since switched to this yard, landing novice at Stratford and handicaps over C&D and Lingfield before excellent third in Welsh Champion Hurdle last month. Likely to improve further.
Mr Mole landed Hereford bumper on debut and won on hurdling bow at Exeter (17f) in October. Made mockery of lenient initial mark when beating Home Run at Taunton last month and 12 lb rise looks fair.
General Miller was a leading novice hurdler in 2009/10. Very lightly raced since, fine second to Overturn in 2m Perth handicap in August 2011 and not knocked about when down field on return at Ascot last month.
Valdez was a dual-bumper scorer who didn't take long to do likewise over hurdles this term, landing odds at Huntingdon and Plumpton. Good third under double penalty at Doncaster since, and not dismissed.
Claret Cloak was a bumper winner who ended last season with brace of novice wins over 2m. Shaped well when third in listed handicap at Ascot on return and excused below par run on soft ground in Betfair Hurdle since.
Arnaud won 2m maiden at Limerick last term and fifth in Fred Winter at Cheltenham. Back to best when second in minor event at Cork in January, and though found out in Grade 2 next time is still worth a look.
Shammick Boy was a dual hurdles winner in 2011 who was hit and miss over fences last season, but back to best over timber when beating Whitby Jack in 2m Chepstow handicap 2 weeks ago. Should go well again.
Le Bacardy was prolific in France in 2012, winning 5 times. Claimed for £12,520 in December and better than ever to take 2m Newbury handicap earlier this month. 12 lb rise will make life tougher here, however.
Kazlian looked impressive when bagging brace of wins last term, and better than result when fourth in Fred Winter. Well held in couple of handicaps in the mud this time around, but far too soon to write off.
Minella Definitely was an Irish point winner who made winning start over hurdles at Kempton in November and landed 11-runner novice event at Wincanton last month, though given stiff-looking mark here on handicap bow.
Changing The Guard has shown form more in-keeping with his Flat ability in handicap hurdles around 2m this season, winning 3 times in total. Suspicion handicapper has him about right now, however.
First Avenue was bang in contention when coming down at last in C&D handicap in November. Shaped as if still in good form when sixth at Ascot 6 weeks later, though will remain vulnerable to less-exposed sorts.
Pine Creek had some useful form to his name at up to 1¾m on Flat in France for Andre Fabre and progressive over hurdles this year, scoring in novices at Leicester and Doncaster. Open to more improvement.
First In The Queue returned to very best when runner-up in 2m Ascot handicap in November. Unsuited by conditions last 2 hurdle starts (third in jumpers' bumper at Kempton in between), but even so, others preferred.
Stormy Weather was a dual hurdles winner last season who made winning chasing debut at Wetherby (2m) in November. Has regressed over fences, but new headgear combination and return to timber may re-kindle his spark.
Tominator was a useful stayer on Flat who is progressing over hurdles, taking 17f Bangor novice in October and back on scoreboard in similar event over C&D last month. Type to do well now handicapping in this sphere.
Paintball returned from breathing op with career best to land this event 12 months ago. Hasn't come close to matching that in 5 starts since, but return to this venue may bring about a return to form.
Whitby Jack landed 2m Kempton handicap in January. Never looked like justifying support at Ascot next time, but back on track when runner up to Shammick Boy at Chepstow a fortnight ago, so folly to dismiss.
Solaras Exhibition was in form of his life in first half of last year, following up victories over hurdles at Sedgefield and Ffos Las with success on Flat at Chester. Should be better for recent pipe-opener on AW.
Cayman Islands showed marked improvement when opening hurdling account at Musselburgh (2m) in January. Stamina stretched when runner-up over 2½m at that venue next time and unseated early at Towcester since.
Sporting Boy quickly climbed handicap ranks last year, winning 4 times, and there was enough in his sixth-place finish at Wetherby last week to suggest he'll remain competitive from this sort of mark.
Rockawango won listed hurdle at Auteuil in September and matched that form when second in 2m Ayr handicap on third start for this yard last month, though it's likely he'll find a few better treated here.
Barizan was a front-running Grade 1-winning juvenile hurdler in 2010. Attitude took turn for worse after, but took advantage of drop in weights to beat Home Run in 17f Taunton handicap last time.
Timeform 1-2-3
1. Tominator
2. Mr Mole
3. Kazlian
Timeform Verdict: Mr Mole got the better of subsequent Grade 1 winner Melodic Rendezvous earlier this term, and merits respect, while it would be no surprise to see Kazlian bounce back to form here, but it's the useful Flat performer Tominator who gets the vote, racing from a lenient-looking initial hurdles mark.
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