Ten Line Up For Chandler

Ante-post favourite Dempsey and chief market rival Hoo La Baloo head a field of 10 runners for the rearranged Victor Chandler Chase at Sandown.

Dempsey has won his previous two starts at Sandown, which will help Mark Pitman’s cause after the initial race was abandoned due to frost at Cheltenham last Saturday.

Hoo La Baloo was not among the original entries for the race but with his preference for racing right-handed, trainer Paul Nicholls had no hesitation in nominating his five-year-old as his sole representative.

Paul Nolan will send over Old Flame, four lengths behind Queen Mother Champion Chase fancy Fota Island on his last outing, while Tikram takes his chance for Gary Moore.

Sue Smith will rely on Town Crier after Mister McGoldrick takes up his engagement in the Agfa UK Hurdle on the same card.

Tysou attempts to turn the form around with Dempsey on their last Sandown appearance, while Bambi De L’Orme represents trainer Ian Williams.

Locksmith, Kalca Mome and Jurado Express complete the line-up.

However, trainer Mark Rimell has decided not to run stable star Oneway because the ground is unsuitable.

Oneway had been among the fancied runners when the race was originally scheduled for Cheltenham last weekend but the conditions at the Esher track forced Rimell into a rethink.

“The ground could be quite unusual tomorrow as they’ve hardly had any rain since they last raced on Boxing Day,” said Rimell.

“They’ve had a lot of frost in the ground which will make it quite dry and they’ve also watered as well — It could be quite false ground.

“I’ve been brought up to be wary of running horses on watered ground if you don’t have to, and we do have other options for him.

“He could go for the Game Spirit at Newbury next week and I’ll have a look at the ground.

“But I wouldn’t be averse to taking him to Cheltenham without another run if I can get a couple of racecourse gallops in to him.”

Victor Chandler Chase

Sponsors bet: 5-2 Dempsey, 7-2 Hoo La Baloo, 6-1 Tikram, 6-1 Town Crier, 8-1 Bambi De L’Orme, 10-1 Old Flame, 10-1 Tysou, 16-1 Locksmith, 25-1 Kalca Mome, 33-1 Jurado Express

? PA Sport