Hi all,
Not the most exciting of Saturday’s compared to recent months. The ITV Racing cameras are at Sandown & Wincanton this afternoon. The highlight of the Sandown card is the Veteran’s Handicap Chase at 3:00 which is being run this year in honour of the late Houblon Des Obeaux who lost his life at the course last month.
All in all, it looks a quiet day on the betting front for me.
Sandown
3:00 – A field of 14 runners go to post for the veterans’ chase
Jepeck goes well from the front and could get an uncontested lead, likes jumping right-handed and handles soft ground. All three starts this season have been over hurdles and looks to have been laid out for this race. Plenty to like about his chance.
Dark Flame returned from a 736-day break to run in Houblon Des Obeaux to three lengths back in November before running in the void London national here last month, finished second. Get’s the first time cheekpieces today and is just 1lb higher than last time. Despite being an 11-year-old, he’s just had the 12 career starts. Can get behind in his race and hopefully the headgear will allow him to travel better in the early stages of the race. Goes well around here, will be suited by the drying ground and should go close.
Shanroe Santos has winning form round here and was only beaten a short head at Carlisle 20-days ago and can race off the same mark today. In the mix and has each way claims.
Vieux Lion Rouge showed he was no back number when winning at Chepstow on his seasonal reappearance, off 1lb lower. He remains on a winnable mark on his best form and it’s worth noting he’s 3 wins from 3 runs in January and he’s 5 wins from 7 runs going right-handed. I have always felt he was best off a lay off but his record when racing within 30-days is a respectable 4 wins from 10 runs. Consistency isn’t his strong suit and he was well beaten in the Becher Chase be hard to leave out of calculations and trainer David Pipe did win this race in 2016.
Evan Williams saddles Kings Odyssey & On Tour. They both have chances with the latter racing in the first-time visor today having finished third in this race 12 months ago. Was runner-up, beaten a neck on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow behind Vieux Lion Rouge. Has a similar chance to the Pipe horse. Not so good next time at Aintree but could bounce back with Richard Johnson in the saddle. Kings Odyssey won a qualifier at Warwick on his last start but has 5lb more to carry today. He’s unexposed at 3m but I’m not so sure going right-handed is what he wants.
Verdict: It should be cracker of a race. Jepeck’s three runs over hurdles suggests connections have been protecting the 11-year-old’s mark for this. Vieux Lion Rouge comes with risks attached as to his well being but is hard to rule out. Kings Odyssey looks capable of a bold show as does stable mate On Tour who was third in this last year. Dark Flame should be there or thereabouts if the headgear works and rates a bet.
1pt win – Dark Flame – 6/1 @ William Hill
0.5pts each way – Vieux Lion Rouge – 14/1 @ Bet365 (paying 3 places ¼ odds)
3:35 – Gunnery was an impressive winner at Doncaster just six days ago but the ground will be softer this time and he goes right-handed here. Has a favourites chance but from a value perspective I prefer to look elsewhere.
Colin Tizzard saddles previous C&D winner Eldorado Allen who returns from a 392-day break but did win first time up last season. Handicap debut off a mark which looks stiff on what he’s achieved so far off a mark of 145 but the 6-year-old could still be high class in the sphere. Ainchea is the other Tizzard runner. He returns from an even longer absence of 770-days, but he won a novice hurdle over C&D 2-years ago so no issues with the track for the 7-year-old. Handicap hurdle debut today and looks on a workable mark if he’s fit for his return to action.
Blu Cavalier 3rd of 14 in the rearranged Betfair Hurdle run at Ascot in February. Well beaten in a Grade 2 at Ascot on his seasonal reappearance in November. The 9-year-old stripped much fitter when bouncing back to form to win a handicap hurdle at Doncaster last month. Up 4lb but Ben Jones takes off a valuable 5lb which negates his rise in the ratings and despite his age could be up to winning a race like this.
Verdict: The pace could be strong which will test the fitness of the Tizzard horses, although Eldorado Allen is a very interesting runner on his handicap debut. Blu Cavalier has claims as he could get the race run to suit.
1pt each way – Blu Cavalier -12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Now a couple from Wincanton but both come with risks attached.
Wincanton
2:05 – A few quirky customers in this 1m 7 ½ f handicap chase. None more so than Admiral’s Secret. A C&D winner in December 2018 he was also in the process of running a big race back over C&D in February when falling three out. Twice refused to race last season, which is a worry, but he did at least race when runner-up on his seasonal return at Taunton. Not sure about the form of the Victor Dartnell stable but the 9-year-old is in with a good chance if he decides he wants to race, and it is a big if.
1pt win – Admiral’s Secret – 13/2 @ Bet365
2:40 – Air Horse One has been hard to keep sound and the 9-year-old has only had four starts under rules. Could be well handicapped on the form of his 3rd of 14 behind Hang In Three at Exeter 74-days ago. Yet to race on ground as soft as he’s likely to face here so underfoot conditions are a big unknown.
Sir Ivan is another who comes with risks attached. The 10-year-old hasn’t won since winning a jumper’s bumper race on the all-weather at Kempton in March 2018. Showed he was still capable of winning in the sphere when runner-up at Exeter last March, off 4lb higher. Was also in the process of running a good race on his seasonal return at Plumpton when unseating his rider three out. Pulled up last time here a month later which surely wasn’t his true running and trainer Harry Fry is in much better form now. Gets the first time cheekpieces now and even under-top weight must be considered a big contender, if anything like his best.
1pt win – Sir Ivan – 9/1 @ Bet365 & Betway
Cheers
John