Hi all,
It’s Tolworth Hurdle Day at Sandown on Saturday. The Grade 1 novice hurdle (2:25) which was won last year by Constitution Hill is the feature race of a seven race card. Another highlight on the card is the Veterans Chase’ Final (3:00).
ITV are covering five races live from Sandown and a further three from Wincanton as part of an eight race afternoon programme.
Inside today’s main piece I preview the best of the action from Sandown and Wincanton and today’s selection can be found at the end.
I begin today’s preview by looking at the two big races on the Sandown card starting with the Tolworth Hurdle.
Sandown
2:25 – Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (2m)
Eight have been declared for the Sandown feature. Recent C&D winner Authorised Speed and Tahmuras are at the front of the betting. Both are good prospects, but the former should be a clear favourite for me.
Henry De Bromhead brings over the exciting Arctic Bresil who won on hurdle debut at Cork last month. Of the rest L’Astroboy is the most interesting. The 6-year-old made a winning hurdle debut at Ffos Las in November and beat Tahmuras in a bumper last season.
3:00 – Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2022 Veterans’ Chase Series Final) (3m)
Plenty were catching my eye when I looked at the race earlier in the week. Eighteen were left at Thursday’s final declaration stage, the only one drop out was Dingo Dollar, and it looks an above average renewal of the race.
Rather surprisingly to me anyway last year’s winner Prime Venture finds himself at the head of the betting on Friday afternoon.
I was impressed with Ramses De Teille’s win at Warwick last time. His jumping was good and if he gets into the same rhythm here will be tough to beat. Despite a 7lb rise in the weights remains on a winnable mark but has yet to win going right handed.
Coo Star Sivola, shaped well on stable debut for Venetia Williams at Haydock in November. He’s another on decent mark if bouncing back to form.
Snow Leopardess is just 2lb higher than for last season’s Becher Chase success and given she’s only had 12 starts over fences she’s possibly capable of bit better. This has likely been the plan and she’s high on the shortlist.
Crosspark has been subject to support this week. The 13-year-old returned from an 18 month absence with a fair effort for his new trainer at Haydock in November. He was a length runner-up in the race 2-years ago and is 6lb lower here.
Run To Milan tends to reserve his best for Exeter and won Leg 1 of the series there in February. Can now race off 4lb lower and shaped with more encouragement when a 14 lengths 3rd of 12 at Ffos Las 16-days ago.
Rest of the Sandown card
1:15 – Read Nicky Henderson’s Unibet Blog Handicap Chase (Class 3) (2m 4f)
Gemirande will be a short price to follow up his recent Southwell win over Our Jet. The runner-up has gone in since so the form is solid. Up 10b for his latest success but should be capable of winning again.
High Stakes ran much better than he had done on his chase debut when a 9 lengths 3rd of 8 at Catterick 7 weeks ago. Needs to jump with more fluency to win this but his yard is in good from.
A bigger rival to Gemirande could be Peejaybee. The 7-year-old won a handicap hurdle here last February and was well backed (3/1 fav) on just his second start over fences at Haydock 8-days ago. Sadly, he never got beyond the 7th fence but the market support he received suggests connections think they have a well handicapped horse. If none the worse for last week’s mishap looks capable of big performance.
1:50 – Unibet Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Handicap Chase (Class 2) 1m 7 ½ f)
Just seven have been declared but you can make a case for most of them. The market leaders both having winning form over C&D. Corrigeen Rock bids for the hat trick after winning over C&D last month. Up 9lb but the 6-year-old is progressive and capable of better in the sphere.
Grey Diamond won over C&D in March 2021, off 5lb lower. No wins from three runs last year but would surely have won at Wincanton but for a bad mistake 12 months ago. Solid form when a 3¼ lengths 3rd of 8 at Cheltenham on his seasonal return in November. The two that finished in front of him that day have gone in again since.
Frero Banbou is another previous C&D winner. The 8-year-old didn’t build on the promise of his seasonal return at Ascot back at that venue last time. Might be worth a try over further but can’t be discounted here if on a going day.
Xcitations has won three of his last four starts over fences. The 8-year-old is up 3lb and in better race than when successful at Doncaster last month but can’t be dismissed given his present vein of form.
Dreams Of Hope jumped well when making a winning seasonal reappearance at Kelso last month. Up 3lb and another in a better race here but should go well.
Top weight The Last Day took advantage of a good mark to win the valuable Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree in April. The 11-year-old has been hiked up 8lb for that win, but he has gone well off a lay off in the past and isn’t totally weighted out of this.
3:35 – Unibet New And Improved Bet Builder Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) (2m)
Not the strongest of races for the class. Djelo made an impressive winning debut for Venetia Williams at Exeter two starts back but disappointed 10-days later when 2nd of 4 at Haydock. That run may have come too soon for the 5-year-old, but he does have a question to answer from an 8lb higher mark. Yard saddled the winner in 2012.
Lightly Squeeze looked as good as ever when making a winning return after an 8 month layoff at Kempton in November. He’s been raised 6lb but remains on a competitive mark if building on his Kempton performance.
Iceo was the winner of his first two starts over hurdles last season. Not as good on either start earlier this year but wasn’t disgraced when a 4 ½ length 4th of 8 in the Grade 2 Dovecote Stakes at Kempton in March. Handicap debut here but needs to settle better than he did last season to win a race like this on seasonal return.
Arguably the most interesting off the 11 runners is Band of Outlaws. The 8-year-old won the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival and later that year finished a 1 ¼ length 3rd of 18 in the Galway Hurdle. Just had three starts since but wasn’t disgraced when a 6 length 4th of 16 on the flat at the Curragh in May. Has since left Joseph O’Brien to join Ben Haslem but remains in the J P McManus colours.
Wincanton
A couple of small field handicap chases from Wincanton complete ITV’s coverage on Saturday. They are light on numbers but still look potentially competitive races.
1:30 – Trainer Philip Hobbs is 3 from 7, 4 placed with his runners in this 2m 4f handicap chase. He runs likely favourite Celebre D’Allen who wasn’t ideally placed on his first try over 3m in a veterans chase at Warwick won by Ramses De Teillee on his seasonal return. More than capable of giving his trainer a fourth success in the race.
Messire Des Obeaux made it 2-2 over C&Dwhen beating Protektorat in the rescheduled Grade 2 Dipper Novices’ Chase at this meeting in 2021. Lightly raced for an 11-year-old and clearly hasn’t been the easiest to keep sound as he returns from a 385-day lay off here. On a good mark if retaining his ability back at a venue that suits
2:05 – Another Crick won this race last year and can race off 3lb lower this time around. The 10-year-old ran better than on his seasonal return when 3rd of 10 at Lingfield 17-days ago and has probably been aimed at this race once more. The first time blinkers replace the cheekpieces and if they have the desired effect he’s weighted to go well.
Not Available ran a much better race when a 7 length 3rd of 10 to Gamaret at Newbury 7-days ago. There has to be a concern that this race will come to quick for him but the 8-year-old is 1 from 1 when racing within 7-days of his last start which offers some hope that the quick turnaround won’t inconvenience him.
Desque De L’isle was only 5th of 7 to Another Crick in this race 12 months ago. However, the 10-year-old has returned this season in good form and bids for the hat trick after two wins at Ludlow. The latest of then going 18 -days ago. Nudged up a further 4lb makes life harder but he shouldn’t be far away.
Interne De Sivola twice a winner over hurdles last season the 5-year-old is the least exposed of the seven runners. He’s been well held on both his starts over fences this season but looks capable of more progress and trainer Jane Williams has made a good start to 2023 with her runners.
Native Robin, a 13-year-old showed last season when winning four times that he was still more than capable on his day. A five time winner at Wincanton, albeit over around 2m 4f, he ran well for a long way on seasonal return at Cheltenham although ran poorly at Exeter last time. A bold jumper at his best I’m not sure about the drop back in trip and there’s a race over further that he won here last year that could be more to his liking later this month.
Betting Advice:
Sandown
2:25 – Arctic Bresil – 1pt win – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:00 – Snow Leopardess – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook and Run To Milan – 1pt win – 11/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:35 – Djelo – 1pt win – 7/2 – Gen.
Wincanton
1:30 – Messire Des Obeaux – 1pt win – 7/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
2:05 – Not Available – 1pt win – 5/1 – Gen.
Cheers
John