Big Guns On Show At Sandown

ALL THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN.

A shorter than normal article this week as I am taking a few days off between the Japan Cup and the Hong Kong International racing - I would say well deserved, others would probably disagree.

I have been keeping on top of the results and the form, but I have given the politics a rest for a week so its straight to the nitty gritty, let’s go find some winners…

YouTube link here for those interested…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0-pGTRU4vw

Saturday racing

Sandown 12.10pm

A Listed novice hurdle over two miles to start our afternoon and a contest won last year by Honky Tonk Highway for the Skeltons. In the last decade Gary Moore (now Gary and Josh Moore), Nicky Henderson, and Colin Tizzard (now Joe Tizzard) have all won it twice, but now we are down the to final declarations, only the Moores remain represented with course and distance winner Hurricane Pat, who was sent off odds-on before winning last month. He can go well, but with all six runners a winner last time out I narrowly prefer the chances of the currently unbeaten Sober Glory. A point-to-point victory at Bartlemy was followed by not one but three bumper victories before his one run over hurdles when making all to win by 12 lengths at Chepstow. He may not get his own way on the front end with Fresh Perspective expected to hassle him from the start, but that may only make this more of a test, and as they haven’t reached anywhere near the bottom of him yet, it will be interesting to see how he gets on.    

Aintree 1.30pm

Our obligatory Saturday big handicap to work with and this time we only have 9 runnings to work with – if only that made life any easier. Two and a half miles on the Mildmay course this time around and a race that must have attracted some pretty decent sorts recently as it is now a Class Two having been run as a Class Three when won by Richmond Lake in 2023 (no race in 2024). Looking at the facts and we note no winners bigger than 12/1 at the off, seven of the eight who finished on their previous start came home in the first three, eight of the nine winners were aged seven or above, eight were officially rated 127 or more, eight were rated 142 or lower, and eight had raced within the last 60 days. Put those together and other than a right old mess, we get the field down to an easier to handle two – Richmond Lake and Margaret’s Legacy. The first named won this in 2023 as already mentioned and he gets to race off 7lb lower in 2025 though that was his latest victory with 11 unsuccessful runs in between, but he has had wind surgery of sorts and a pipe opener when third at Bangor, albeit beaten over 17 lengths at the line. Margaret’s Legacy is only a year younger, but has five less runs on the clock, and may be the one to chase him home. Second at Bangor in November and the winner of both starts last season, he looks a very serious rival, but will need a career best off his new mark of 128 and that is enough to look past him on this occasion.

Sandown 1.50pm

A small field has always seemed likely despite the Grade One status and over £56,000 to the winner, and all we have are four runners with Lulamba scaring off the more serious opposition. Nicky Henderson trains the four-year-old who has rock solid hurdling form with a neck second in the Triumph Hurdle and a win in the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Punchestown the highlights, but he has quickly been switched to fences with an easy 10 length win at Exeter on his debut over the larger obstacles. He didn’t touch a twig that day and has been aimed here ever since, and although his three opponents warrant plenty of respect, it is hard to see the jolly being beaten here barring unexpected jumping errors.

Aintree 2.05pm

Four winning favourites in the eight runnings of this two mile one furlong Juvenile hurdle, and with no winners bigger than 4/1 it seems the markets get this right more often than not. Treasure Planet heads the early betting for the Paul Nicholls stable after winning by 18 lengths at Ludlow, but I am not impressed with that form and would go so far as to suggest he will need to improve to win this. Lord ought to do a lot better back on a better surface after flopping badly on heavy ground at Cheltenham and the 20/1 is just that fraction too tempting each way. The winner of three races over hurdles for Olly Murphy, he was switched to Donald McCain in late October and if he can recapture his better form here he has a decent chance of a top-three finish.

Sandown 3.00pm

My good mate Steve Smith-Eccles will hopefully be in one or more of the hospitality boxes at Sandown this afternoon – after all, he rode Tingle Creek to numerous successes and course records here and deserves his time back in the spotlight ahead of the race named after the ever popular chaser who never fell in an 80 race career.  No-one really thinks we will ever see his lie again with both ability and longevity a rare combination, but we do have some class acts lining up this afternoon, albeit only five of them! Jonbon has won this for the last two years, both at odds-on, but after a disappointing return to action at Cheltenham when second in the Shloer Chase but beaten 15 lengths. Cheekpieces are tried for the first time here and he cannot be written off, but L’Eau du Sud had his measure that day and on only three pounds worse terms, there is no obvious reason to expect that form to be overturned. Il Etait Temps has won five of his last six over fences with a third in the Arkle Trophy the only blip, and with a comfortable defeat of Jonbon here in the Celebration Chase in April there is every reason to think he can win this. Over from Ireland for Willie Mullins, he has a race under his belt after success at Clonmel so fitness will not be an excuse, and Paul Townend ought to be able to steer him home in front once more.    

Sean’s selection:

Win double Lulamba 1.50pm Sandown and Il Etait Temps 3.00pm Sandown