Hi all,
ITV are covering seven races from Sandown & Ayr today. The feature races of the seven races are the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle (2:25) and the Veterans Chase Series Final (3:00) at Sandown.
It’s a shortened Saturday preview today but let’s hope we can begin 2021 in the same form we ended 2020.
Sandown
1:50 – Ibleo is the right favourite. A solid and consistent handicap chaser he’s 3lb higher than when finishing runner-up to Sky Pirate at Cheltenham three weeks ago. Sure to be thereabouts if reproducing this seasons efforts.
Moonlighter was sent off the 7/4 favourite for a Newbury handicap chase on Ladbroke Trophy Day. Sadly, for those who backed him, he fell at the fifth. An excellent second to Greaneteen in the Haldon Gold Cup on his seasonal reappearance. The top-weight won’t be far If none the worse for his Newbury fall.
Early Du Lemo returned from a mammoth 689-days lay off when beaten just a neck by a stablemate Darebin over C&D at the Tingle Creek meeting. Fell at the 7th at Ascot 14-days ago but if non the worse for that mishap won’t be far away on ground that suits.
1pt win – Early Du Lemo – 11/2 @ Bet365
1pt win – Moonlighter – 4/1 @ Ladbrokes
Nothing really appeals in the Tolworth Hurdle so it watching brief for me.
3:00 – Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase (The Final Of The 2020 Veterans’ Chase Series) (Class 2) -3m.
Sixteen old favourite’s are set to go post for one of the most popular races of the winter jumps season. Here are my shortlisted six.
Jepeck beat Regal Flow by a short head 12 months ago. The 12-year-old can race off the mark as last year and although he hasn’t been in the same form on his two starts this season, pulling up on both occasions, the first-time tongue tie/cheekpiece combination are applied today and this has been the likely target.
Regal Flow meets Jepeck on 3lb better terms today and went into the tracker when finishing third in the London National here last time. That run showed the 14-year-old has lost none of his enthusiasm for the game. Three mile is his bare minimum these days, last win came in the 4m 2f Midlands Grand National on heavy ground, but he still makes plenty of each way appeal if the ground is soft enough
Sir Ivan had run well to finish third over hurdles on his seasonal return at Aintree and then was an excellent 2nd of 7 at Leicester (2m 4f) 34-days ago. Has won over 3m in the past but that win did come on better ground. If he stays 3m on this sort of ground won’t be far away.
Seeyouatmidnight might be a 13-year-old but hasn’t had too much racing for his age. He showed he was still capable of winning races at a good level when winning a series handicap chase Carlisle back in February, off 1lb lower. He made a mistake six out on his seasonal return at Haydock 31-daya ago and that was race over. Ground/distance are fine and he should go well.
Valtor can be forgiven a poor run at Warwick last time, much better going this way around, and probably needed his seasonal reappearance at Ascot. He’s on a decent mark and can go well.
Crosspark is a consistent staying handicapper. He finished one place ahead of Regal Flow in the London National. Up 3lb and now racing off a career high mark but the 11-year-old won’t be far away provided the ground isn’t too testing.
Verdict: A cracker of a renewal. Jepeck should male a bold bid for back-to-back wins in the race Provided they go a good gallop it’s hard to see Crosspark being out of the frame. Regal Flow is another with each way claims as is Sir Ivan, if he stays 3m on soft ground, and Seeyouatmidnight is hard to keave left out of calculations.
1pt each way – Jepeck – 11/1 @ Ladbrokes (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
1pt win – Crosspark – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:35 – Monsieur Lecoq won this race two years ago off a much lower mark but he improved after that and can race off the same mark as when 3rd of 14 in last season’s Greatwood Hurdle and 5lb lower than when runner-up to Not So Sleepy in that seasons Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot. The 7-year-old hasn’t looked in the same form on either start this season but he’s a classy hurdler when at his best and the yard had a winner at Warwick on Thursday.
1pt win – Monsieur Lecoq – 3/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Ayr
ITV are covering three races from Ayr and the meeting looks likely to take place on heavy ground. The first two of the races are the ones for selections.
2:05 – Charmant can race off the same mark as for his last win at Wetherby last January. The 9-year-old has yet to hit form on either start this season but handles the ground, is 2-4 at Ayr and has Brian Hughes a four-time winner on the 8-year-old, staying in the saddle.
Flowery was a good second here over shorter on his seasonal return 63-days ago. Today’s 2m 4 ½ f is more his trip and he goes well on heavy ground. Capable of going close if in the same form as last time.
1pt win – Charmant – 15/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
2:40 – Eight handicap hurdlers have been declared for what is the best race on the Ayr card.
Justatenner has won his last two over C&D and is suited to testing going. This is better race than his win here on October but he should run well.
Illegal Model winner of a Lingfield novice in January put in a good effort when 3rd of 13 at Uttoxeter on his return to action. Didn’t quite build on that promise when only fifth at Sandown last time but he’s only had four career starts and remains open to being better than a mark of 131.
Big Penny ran well on her hat trick bid when 2nd of 7 at Lingfield 32-days ago. Needs to find something more to win but the first-time visor replaces the cheekpieces and such progress could be forthcoming. Showed heavy ground didn’t inconvenience last time but 3m on heavy will test the mare’s stamina.
Portstorm’s best RPR came when runner-up over C&D (Heavy) in January. Once again showed a liking for testing ground when winning a 2m 5 ½ f novice hurdle here 19-days ago. Handicap debut here and if he improves for it won’t be far away.
1pt win – Portstorm – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John