'He's still quite well treated' - who will win this competitive handicap hurdle?

Saturday: 3.35 Sandown
Unibet New And Improved Bet Builder Handicap Hurdle | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Few 0-145 handicaps at this stage of the season can boast such an impressive roll of honour, as three of the previous seven winners – Guard Your Dreams, Call Me Lord and Rayvin Black – climbed through the ranks to strike at Group 2 level before long.

Focusing on the less-exposed, younger types with the capacity to rate higher feels the prudent course of action and there are several for whom cast-iron cases can be made. Former Triumph Hurdle hope Iceo heads that group on his handicap debut.

Iceo hacked up on his first start for Paul Nicholls last December at Kempton and was sent off a 15-8 chance to beat Pied Piper in the Grade 2 Triumph Trial at Cheltenham subsequently. However, a combination of his free-going nature and quick ground found him out there, and he emerged with more credit when fourth in the Grade 2 Dovecote at Kempton next time.

The return to a slower surface could be the key to Iceo and there is a lack of front-running form among his opponents. Harry Cobden will be wise to that and there is a fair chance the pair can and will make all.

In The Air's profile is similar to Iceo's as he was tried in the Grade 1 at Aintree after showing ability on soft conditions earlier in his career. The Gary Moore-trained five-year-old has slipped to a mark of 120 after a few underwhelming runs on quicker going and might leave his recent efforts well behind on this ground.

Djelo let down short-priced favourite backers at Haydock last time and rates a vulnerable market leader in a better race, but there is certainly a positive case to be made for Hardy Du Seuil at the early prices.

Hardy Du Seuil finished second to the smart Minella Drama in a Grade 2 novice chase at Haydock on soft ground a year ago, but for one reason or another has been largely kept away from that terrain since joining Jamie Snowden. There is little doubt he is well treated off an 11lb lower hurdles rating.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Haslam hoping to get a tune out of Band

Cheltenham Festival winner Band Of Outlaws left Joseph O'Brien's yard in November and is set to make his first start for Ben Haslam.

The eight-year-old won the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and was not disgraced in Grade 1 company at Aintree on his next start. He was last seen finishing fourth on the Flat at the Curragh in May.

Haslam said: "Band Of Outlaws is a fragile horse so we've had to tread carefully and find the right sort of ground for him. He's a high-class horse but he's sure to come on for his first run for us.

"It's hard to find races for him but hopefully he can come back in one piece and we can then find something else for him closer to home."

What they say

Harry Fry, trainer of Lightly Squeeze
He won on his comeback after an extended layoff at Kempton. He was raised 6lb for that win but did it nicely and he'll relish the conditions at Sandown. I'd like to think that there's still a bit of progress in him and he seems in particularly good form. He's still quite well treated, so hopefully he can be very competitive.

David Pipe, trainer of Poseidon
He looks a nice addition to the David Pipe Racing Club. It's a tough ask, but we'll let him take his chance and we'll know where we are with him afterwards. He ought to give his new owners lots of fun.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Iceo
He's playing catch-up a bit after a tiny hold up in the spring but he's lightly raced and the idea is to give him a run here over hurdles and then go chasing.

Jamie Snowden, trainer of Hardy Du Seuil
He had a very good novice chase campaign last year utilising his weight-for-age allowance, but he was a bit of a mixed bag over fences so we were always going to come back over hurdles. The ground was too quick for him in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and he didn't quite get home last time, so these conditions should suit him much better.

Gary Moore, trainer of Imphal and In The Air
Imphal is having his first run back from a long time off so may well come on for it. In The Air has been disappointing but seems in good order at home and hopefully can step up.
Reporting by David Milnes

Read more of Saturday's previews:

12.40 Sandown: 'We've had this race in mind all season' - Love Envoi primed for Listed success

1.15 Sandown: Gemirande out to sparkle for in-form Williams and Deutsch combination

1.30 Wincanton: 'He seems in great form' - Messire Des Obeaux returns after latest setback

1.50 Sandown: Corrigeen Rock bids to boost Lucinda Russell's Sandown record

2.25 Sandown: 'I couldn't be more pleased with him' - trainers on the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle

3.00 Sandown: Can Evan do it again? Prime Venture bids to repeat £100,000 veterans' final win

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