4th-Feb-2023

I think that Green Book has a real chance here, back down to a handicap rating of 134, just 4lb higher than the mark off which he won this race last year.

He only got home by a half a length in the end last year, but he moved to the front early in the home straight, on the run to the second last flight, which is far enough out at Sandown.  He did well to keep on as well as he did, battling on to get home by a half a length from Beauport, who was well clear of the rest.

He didn’t qualify for the Pertemps Final at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, so he ran in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle instead, a Grade 1 race, and he didn’t run badly. 

He will have to do better today than he did on his seasonal debut, but that was on soft ground at Chepstow, his first run since April, his first run since a wind operation, and he just tired in the home straight.  He could show the benefit of that run today, and he should be happier back on better ground, and back at Sandown, where he is one for one.

GREEN BOOK WON (ADV 8/1, SP 6/1)