Sands handed Movember mission

Ancient Sands could bid to continue his winning streak in the Movember Handicap at Leopardstown on Sunday week.

The five-year-old, trained by Joanna Morgan, is on the crest of a wave having backed up a hurdles success last month with a hat-trick of victories on the Flat in the past fortnight.

His latest win came in a premier handicap at Naas at the weekend over a mile and a half and Morgan would not be concerned about the step up in trip.

“He’ll probably go for the Leopardstown Movember Handicap (registered as the November Handicap). The ground might not be too bad there and it wasn’t too bad at Naas on Sunday,” said the County Meath handler.

“He stays a mile and a half well, so I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t stay a mile and six

furlongs.

“I genuinely don’t know why he’s improved so much in the last few weeks. I thought he was a regular 75 (rated) horse but he’s a big horse and maybe he’s just improved with a bit of time.

“He’s only five and he hasn’t had that many runs. He certainly wouldn’t have struck me as a 97 horse, which is what he is now.

“He has an unusual thing in a staying horse in that he has pace and yet he stays. You can buck him out with the pace and he’ll still find a gear. Long may it last – if it does we could be talking next year about Melbourne Cups!

“He’ll get a break over the winter because he’s so effective on the fast ground, and he could go for the Galway Hurdle next year.

“In fact, he wouldn’t get into the race at the moment off his present hurdle rating (115), but he’s a good jumper and there is no reason why he can’t translate his Flat improvement to hurdles.”