What a fabulous weekend of sport! As well as the Australian Open tennis finals, we have the final of the Asian Cup, the quarter-finals of the African Nations Cup, the Premiership clash between Chelsea and Man City and the Superbowl! Somewhere in between all of that we have to fit in some top quality Horse Racing action from Sandown and Ffos Las.
The Sandown card gets under way at 12.40 and I hope to see Pain Du Chocolat book his Triumph Hurdle ticket. The unknown quantity is The Saint James, now racing in the colours of JP McManus and ridden by AP McCoy. The champion jockey did us proud in last week’s Sky Bet Chase but I’m hoping he will settle for second here.
There could be another Triumph re-shuffle after the second race where impressive Chepstow winner Bristol De Mai takes on a couple of smarter older horses. I generally don’t like backing four-year-olds against their elders but the French imports are a different matter altogether. If this one hacks up, the owners could face a quandary with ante-post favourite Peace And Co also in their colours.
I’ll side with Ballygarry to confirm Ascot form with Ulck Du Lin in the 1.50, although I am slightly worried about the bounce factor. Ballygarry overcame a year’s absence to win last time but Philip Hobbs is a master of his trade. Irish Saint faces four useful opponents in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at 2.25. He was very impressive at Ascot and I think he will have too much toe for Champagne West over this distance. I’m more worried about Splash Of Ginge who won a competitive handicap on New Year’s Day but he ought to be held on hurdles form.
We picked Polamco earlier in the week for the Heroes Hurdle and I see no reason to desert him but the staying chase that ends the C4 coverage looks tricky. Ardkilly Witness and Theatrical Star were second and third last year and this could be a case of horses for courses. I respect There’s No Panic, winner of the London National here, but think he probably needs further.
The highlight of the Ffos Las card is the 2.05 which goes under the grand name of Welsh Champion Hurdle. Of course it is now a handicap so is anything but a Champion Hurdle but it has produced the last two Coral Cup winners. Rebecca Curtis would love to win this for Wales and has booked Paul Townend for the novice Foryourinformation. He had a bit more in hand than it appeared last time here and may have most to fear from Doll In Milan.
I expect the well-bred Souriyan to win the opener for Jamie Snowden and I’m going to side with Global Power in the West Wales National. It would be great if he could provide Oliver Sherwood with his 1,000 winner as a trainer.
Pain Au Chocolat 12.40 Sandown @7-4 BetVictor
Bristol De Mai 1.15 Sandown @6-4 Bet365
Ballygarvey 1.50 Sandown @9-2 Totesport
Irish Saint 2.25 Sandown @9-4 Bet365
Polamco 3.0 Sandown @4-1 Ladbrokes
Ardkilly Witness 3.35 Sandown @8-1 BetVictor
Souriyan 12.55 Ffos Las @13-8 Paddy Power
Foryourinformation 2.05 Ffos Las @9-2 William Hill
Global Power 2.40 Ffos Las @6-1 Bet365
