Hi all,
It’s the last weekend before Cheltenham and Sandown and Wolverhampton provide Saturday’s action for ITV viewers. However, the day’s most valuable race is the Grade B Handicap Chase at Navan (4:30).
There are three competitive handicaps on the Sandown card and ITV are showing all three.
I’m going all in for a big day on Saturday with selections covering six races with five of them being on ITV.
Sandown
1:50 – European Breeders’ Fund Paddy Power ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final (Grade 3) – 2m 4f
The form of this race is usually worth following going forward and it looks a typically competitive renewal of the race.
Fergal O’Brien saddled Barney Dwan to win this in 2016 and he’s got a big contender in Karl Philippe. The 6-year-old got off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles when winning at Exeter 27-days ago. He’s yet to run on ground better than soft but there should be enough juice in the ground for him. Needs to jump better than he did last time but he’s a nice prospect and can go close.
Gladiateur Allen was a recent eyecatcher on his handicap hurdle at Ascot last time. Taking on more experienced hurdlers he travelled through the race looking like a well handicapped horse. His early exertions took their toll in the later stages and he eventually finished 6th of 15. Back against fellow novices today an remains capable of better.
Sam Barton also got off the mark at his third attempt over hurdles with a decisive win in a Doncaster maiden hurdle 43-days ago. The form of the race looks solid enough. Handicap Hurdle debut of what looks a fair mark and looks the sort to continue to improve with racing.
Verdict: Its likely we haven’t seen the best of Gladiateur Allen yet but my two picks in an open contest are Sam Barton & Karl Philippe.
1pt win – Karl Philippe – 6/1 @ Bet365
1pt win – Sam Barton – 10/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
2:25 – Paddy Power Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – 2m
I put up Natural History at 3/1 earlier in the week and you can get 9/2 about his chance with Paddy Power now. I still think he will take plenty of beating although I would like to have seen the Gary Moore yard have a winner this week.
Of the rest Malaya won the race in 2019, off 2lb lower. The mare has been more miss than hit since and was disappointing when only 8th of 15 at Ascot three weeks ago. She has got each way claims if she was to bounce back to her best form.
Nigel Twiston-Davies has saddled the winner of the Imperial Cup twice since 2016. He saddles One True King here. The 6-year-old was in good form in the autumn winning two of his four starts and was only beaten a head in a Cheltenham handicap hurdle. Now 4lb higher after winning a Leicester novice in December. He didn’t jump well enough when a well beaten favourite in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle but fared better when 3rd of 6 at Ascot back in novice company three weeks ago.
David Pipe won this in 2014 and he’s got a contender here with Leoncavallo. The 9-year-old made a good start for the trainer when winning twice on the flat and wasn’t disgraced when 6th in the Cesarewitch on his last start. The 9-year-old goes well fresh and is on competitive enough mark for his return to hurdling. No issues with good to soft ground either.
Verdict: I’m still happy with my number one pick Natural History but I’m going to add Leoncavallo who has plenty of form in big field handicaps in the past and goes well fresh and he could be another big Saturday winner for David Pipe.
1pt win – Leoncavallo – 17/2 @ paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
3:35 – Paddy’s Rewards Club Novices’ Handicap Chase (Listed Race) – 2m 4f
Another good race to enjoy and plenty of the ten declared runners are in with a chance.
Belargus deservedly got off the mark at his eighth attempt over fences here last time. It was an impressive nine length success and he got the strong pace he needs that. The runner-up won here yesterday so the form looks solid enough. Up 9lb, and half a mile in trip and should get the race run to suit again.
No Getaway jumped his rivals into the ground when making all to win over C&D 23-days ago. Hiked up 10lb for that win but there should be more to come from the 8-year-old who is going the right way.
Admiral Barratry won a 2m 5f handicap chase at Fakenham two starts back and ran an improver to ¾ length back at the same venue 22-days ago. Raised just 4lb for that effort but he’s only had three starts over fences and likely capable of more progression. Different track here but he’s a good jumper of a fence and finished 6th of 18 in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final on this card two years ago.
Annsam is a big chasing type who was progressive over hurdles last season. The 6-year-old put in an excellent jumping display for a novice when beating four rivals in a Ludlow beginners’ chase 87-days ago. The handicapper was certainly impressed as he raised him 12lb for that win. Opening handicap mark looks stiff but he looks the sort to improve further for going handicapping and is now 3-3 on soft.
Farinet made a promising start for Venetia Williams when 3rd of 7 at Haydock 21-days ago. That was the 6-year-old’s first start for 221-days and he’s entitled to come on for that run. Might be better over further on this sort of ground but capable of a big run.
Up The Straight ran Umbrigado to 3 ½ lengths off level weights in a Fontwell novices’’ chase two starts back before being predictably outclassed in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase over C&D last time. Should do better now in handicap company for the first time and a reproduction of his run behind Umbrigado makes him look well handicapped. Now issues with good to soft ground either.
Stratagem beat two rivals, including recent easy Catterick winner Ballymoy,in a Doncaster novices’ chase last time. Handicap debut off what looks a stiff mark of 145 but the 5-year-old is lightly raced and capable of plenty more improvement over the larger obstacles.
Verdict: I can make a case for seven of the ten runners which is indicative of how competitive it is. Admiral Barratry, Annsam and Belargus have big chances here. At the prices I’m happy to go with the first two named.
1pt win – Admiral Barratry – 13/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
1pt each way – Annsam – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Wolverhampton
The start of the new turf season and the Lincoln Handicap is just two weeks away and at Wolverhampton the highlights of a mammoth nine race card are the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes (2:05) and Lincoln Trial Handicap (2:40).
2:40 – Bombardier British-Hopped Amber Beer Lincoln Trial Handicap (Class 2) – 1m ½ f
Born To Be Alive has returned from a 896-days and seems to have retained plenty of ability as he showed when winning at Kempton last month. Up 5lb demands more but another bold show is expected.
Tadleel comes into the race seeking the hat trick after winning his last two starts at Newcastle both over 7f. Last time was a career best from the 6-year-old. On a career high mark now and 4lb higher than last time. Laura Pearson has been booked to take off 5lb which does negate the weight rise. Seemed to stay a mile at Lingfield three starts back and if he stays today’s extra distance won’t be far away. Richard Fahey trained the winner of this 2017.
Mission Boy finished runner-up in the Irish Derby as a 3-year-old. The 5-year-old has run well on both his starts since joining Marco Botti. Finished a 3-length 4th behind Born To Be Alive last time and gets 6lb here. Botti had a handicap winner on Thursday and Ryan Moore has been booked for the ride but stall 13 isn’t helpful.
Man Of The Night is having his first start for 246-days and his first run on the all-weather. The colt put in a career best on RPR’s when 2nd of 11 at Newmarket when last seen in action back in July. That performance came over 1m 2f so takes a drop in trip here. Likely there’s still a bit better to come from the 4-year-old who is being aimed at the Lincoln but if he’s fully tuned up won’t be far away.
Verdict: A tough race. If it wasn’t for the draw, I would really like Mission Boy. That leaves Tadleel and Man Of The Night for me.
1pt win – Man Of The Night – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Tadleel – 13/2 @Bet365
3:15 – Betway Handicap (Class 2) – 6f
Summerghand last season’s Stewards Cup winner is sure to be popular here but does need a strong pace to chase which he might not get here.
A chance is taken with the Kevin Ryan trained Repartee. The 4-year-old was a useful juvenile who finished third in the Gimcrack Stakes at York. He looked set for a good season when winning a Listed race at Windsor on his seasonal return last June. Didn’t build on that performance on two subsequent starts, not beating a rival. He’s 2-2 first time and gets the first time cheekpieces for his all-weather and handicap debuts.
1pt win – Repartee – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
Navan
4:30 – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final (Grade B) – 3m
It’s a 3m handicap chase and the most valuable race of the day either side of the Irish Sea today, and I just couldn’t resist looking at it.
Atlantic Shore comes into the race in great form having won his last two starts at Punchestown over hurdles and fences. Stay’s 3m really well and has a big chance.
The likes of Forza Milan & Key Commander have each way claims.
Arverne beat Atlantic Shore at Punchestown back in December. The 6-year-old was hiked 10lb for that success but comes into the race on the back of a poor run over hurdles at Leopardstown last month. If he can improve his jumping there’s likely some scope off his new mark.
Enjoy D’allen has been in fantastic form this season and hasn’t finished out of the first two on his last six starts over fences. Runner-up here last time to a well handicapped horse over 2m 4 ½ f. He’s been nudged up another 1lb for a return to 3m and the first-time visor replaces the cheekpieces. If he stays, he can’t be ruled out.
Stormy Judge needed every yard of the 2m 4 ½ f when getting up to win here 41-days ago. Three miles could be his ideal trip and he will take some beating here.
The Dabbler was beaten just over seven lengths into 4th behind Stormy Judge. He was another to be doing his best work at the finish that day. That was a career best over fences for the 8-year-old and he’s going the right way. On the negative side he’s 9lb out of the weights although the highly regarded Jordon Gainford takes off 7lb. Should get 3m and he could get into the places at big odds.
Verdict: Despite being out of the weights I could see The Dabbler out running his odds. Stormy Judge is going the right way and could improve for the today’s step up to 3m. The consistent Enjoy D’allen also can’t be ruled out on first start over 3m.
1pt win – Stormy Judge – 6/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt each way – The Dabbler – 25/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (paying 3 places ¼ odds)
Cheers
John