Tag: Sandown

Sandown Saturday Preview – Farewell to The Champ

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The day has finally arrived for Tony McCoy to hang up his boots. The twenty times Champion National Hunt jockey will sign off with two rides at Sandown in front of a sell-out crowd on Saturday afternoon. Both are in the colours of his leading long-time patron JP McManus and are certain to carry a vast amount of sentimental support. If McCoy does not use up too much energy on Mr Mole and Box Office, he is still certain to be kept busy by the autograph hunters.

Sandown’s flat race card on Friday produced a couple of turn-ups and left trainer Charles Hills fuming at the state of the ground. He felt that the course officials had over-watered in preparation for Saturday’s jump card and does not intend to support the meeting next year. That will at least be good news for the majority of jump trainers who have produced a very competitive card for the final day of the season.

The opening handicap can go to Alzammaar who looked destined to finish third last time out. He kept finding more for pressure and eventually reeled in the leader to win going away. He is up in the handicap but Sandown’s still finish might suit him.

Al Ferof is the class act in the next, one of three runners for Paul Nicholls. The grey has twice finished third in the King George VI but has never really been convincing over three miles. This two and three-quarter mile trip looks perfect for him. Royal Rebellion ran well in the Grand National for a long way and he could give him most to do, providing his Aintree exertions do not catch up with him.

As well as the inevitable support for Mr Mole in the Celebration Chase, there is also the reappearance of Sprinter Sacre to look forward to. He ran very flat at the festival and Nicky Henderson may be forced to call time on his career if he does not show any sparkle on Saturday. Special Tiara can bounce off this ground and may be difficult to peg back.

The Bet365 Gold Cup, formerly The Whitbread, has attracted a host of Aintree disappointments including the Nicholls pair of Rocky Creek and Unioniste. Both are capable of putting up a bold show here but preference is just for Le Reve who seems better here than anywhere else. He is better off at the weights with Rocky Creek for his defeat in the Racing Post Chase and can give Leighton Aspell another big prize.

Box Office may win the 4.25 for McCoy but he does not look any value at around 7-2. I’m going to take a chance on the improving Wilberdragon while Polly Peachum is well treated in the last. Nicky Henderson’s mare is much better on decent ground and may have most to fear from the consistent Aqalim.

Alzammaar 2.00 @5-1 Coral

Al Ferof 2.35 @11-4 Bet365

Special Tiara 3.15 @7-2 Bet365

Le Reve 3.50 @9-1 Paddy Power

Wilberdragon 4.25 @9-1 Bet365

Polly Peachum 5.35 @15-8 Paddy Power

Sandown Friday Preview

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Betcirca followers have been among the winners this week with four at Epsom on Wednesday and three more at Bath and Beverley on Thursday. Hopefully the good run can continue at a high quality at Sandown on Friday, highlighted by the Group 2 Bet365 Mile.

There is very little between half a dozen of these on official ratings, although it could be argued that Shifting Power is the class act. He chased home Kingman in the Irish Guineas last summer and was only narrowly beaten by Charm Spirit at Chantilly. My worry with him is whether he will be suited by the fast ground and the same certainly applies to Breton Park and Top Notch Tonto.

Bow Creek improved out of all recognition at the end of the season and represents Godolphin but I am siding with Andrew Balding’s Here Comes When. I’ve followed this one since he won at Chester handicap as a three-year-old and he could still be on the upgrade. The Balding horses are in good form and Here Comes When usually runs well fresh.

There is unlikely to be a Shergar in the Bet365 Classic Trial and the withdrawal of Grey Lion has weakened the contest. Commemorative does not have much of a turn of foot so I’d expect him to be prominent but Cape Clear Island has fitness on his side. He was outpaced at Newmarket last week but fairly rattled home and could be good value against the favourite.

Cannock Chase was unbeaten in three starts last season and looks a typical late improver for Sir Michael Stoute. It would be no surprise to see him land a Group 1 this season. He faces Postponed who won the Great Voltigeur for Luca Cumani last season but was behind Cannock Chase at Ascot. Arab Spring showed that Stoute can get them ready to win first time out and I’m prepared to take a chance on the horse’s fitness.

The Esher Cup looks a cracking good handicap to open the card at 1.30 but Purple Rock arrives with a big reputation. He still holds a Derby entry and he would have to win this off a mark of 85 to justify at trip to Epsom. Both Spring Offensive and Tom Hark ran with a great deal of promise in a hot handicap at Musselburgh while Yeenaan was unlucky in running last time out.

Purple Rock 1.30 @9-2 Paddy Power

Cannock Chase 2.00 @9-4 William Hill

Here Comes When 2.30 @11-2 Stan James

Cape Clear Island 3.00 @3-1 Coral

Imperial Cup Preview

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Any punters hoping to top up their wallets before heading to Cheltenham will be dismayed when they see the card for the Imperial Cup. The race has attracted a 24-strong field worthy of next week’s County Hurdle at the festival and will take a good deal of sorting out.

The race that may hold the best clues is the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury won by Violet Dancer. Calipto finished fourth, Arzal sixth and Fascino Rustico fell three out when still in contention. A case can be made for all three but I am just siding with Arzal who was almost brought to a standstill when almost brought to a standstill by a fallen rival.

Jockey Paul O’Brien did well to sit tight and did not rush his mount back into the race, making late progress up the home straight. He was never going to threaten the winner but he looks better value than Calipto at almost twice the price. The Paul Nicholls-trained runner wore a hood that day but it has been left off on Saturday, presumably having made little or no difference. I am just not convinced that he is the sort of horse that will relish a struggle. O’Brien claims a useful 7lbs on Arzal which puts him in with an each-way chance.

Fascino Rustico seems a bit accident prone having taken his fair share of falls in his short career. He was slightly frustrating when trained by Nicholls and is giving Dan Skelton similar concerns. He moved well on the outside at Newbury but had just come under pressure when diving at the third last. The likely favourite is David Pipe’s Bidourey who has been winning novice hurdles easily and now steps up in grade. He will probably be kept right up with the pace but it can be a long way home at Sandown and he is still only four years of age.

Nicky Henderson did Betcirca followers a favour today with Lessons In Milan (tipped at 3-1) and that made it five winners from his last six runners. The Lambourn trainer seems to have his string peaking at just the right time to take on the massed ranks of Willie Mullins at Cheltenham. I’m hoping that applies to Top Notch and Whisper who are carrying my support at fancy prices next week.

He is represented here by the enigmatic West Wizard. He was ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle a few seasons back but has been beaten three times at odds-on. Last time out he came up against a smart recruit in Minella Rocco so it may have been no disgrace to finish seven lengths adrift. He obviously isn’t as good as Henderson originally hoped and must have had his training problems but I cannot ignore him with just 10st 8lbs.

William Hill and BetVictor are offering each-way down to fifth place on this race so check with your bookmaker when placing your bets.

Arzal @14-1 BetVictor

West Wizard @9-1 William Hill

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4,5

Sandown Friday Preview

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The racing has been pretty poor in the UK this week with Cheltenham looming on the horizon. The action perks up a little this weekend at Sandown with the Grand Military Gold Cup and Imperial Cup.

The Grand Military used to be a matter of picking the best jockey but the standard has definitely improved over the years. Paul Nicholls looks to have a strong hand this year with Howlongisafoot and Merrion Square and the market suggests that they will finish in that order.

Howlongisafoot ran well in a couple of handicap hurdles at the start of the season, finishing fifth at Cheltenham behind Unique De Cotte. The winner is a leading fancy for the Martin Pipe Hurdle next week at the festival. He ran here over fences in December and was beaten only a length and a quarter by Generous Ransom, another horse that is festival-bound.

He was well backed last time in a minor race at Taunton and beat Freckle Face by five lengths. He is only up 5lbs for that victory and should give Jody Sole a second winner in the race. He rode Merrion Square to victory here in 2013 but that horse may be in need of the outing this time. He was well beaten at odds-on at Worcester in August on his last start.

For the double I am going for Nicky Henderson’s Lessons In Milan in the handicap hurdle. It has not been the best season so far for the Lambourn trainer but his last four runners have won including 12-1 shot Hurricane Higgins on the flat. That augurs well for his runners next week including Peace And Co and L’Ami Serge.

Lessons In Milan is a lightly-raced seven-year-old by St Leger winner Milan out of a mare by Doyoun. He won a point-to-point in Ireland and was pitched in at Ascot on his debut against odds-on stable companion Out Sam. He was not disgraced in third and then romped to a 37-length victory at Lingfield. Admittedly it was a very poor contest but the handicapper has taken a chance by giving him a mark of 126 here.

His main danger will probably be Ustica for the Jonjo O’Neill – Tony McCoy combination. He has a similar profile but was far less impressive when scrambling home at Uttoxeter from Jalingo. The handicapper has rated him on the same figure as Lessons In Milan.

Howlongisafoot 3.25 @13-8 Paddy Power

Lessons In Milan 4.00 @3-1 Ladbrokes

Horse Racing Preview 31st January

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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

Polamco set for hat-trick bid at Sandown

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The big betting race this weekend is the Betfred Mobile Heroes Handicap Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles at Sandown.

Only 12 remain from the original 28 entries and Harry Fry’s Polamco stands out at the weights. The six-year-old gelding is by Old Vic out of Shanesia by Erins Isle and will be having only his eighth race this weekend.

He showed plenty of promise in National Hunt flat races last season, winning at Taunton on his third start. He was placed in novice hurdles at Newton Abbot and Chepstow but has really come into his own over a longer trip. Noel Fehily sent him ahead with two to jump at Wincanton and he beat Muckle Roe by a length and a quarter off a mark of 114.

The handicapper put him up 7lbs next time for a hot race at Newbury. He raced quite keenly in front and was headed at the last by Morito Du Berlais. To his credit, he battled back and regained the advantage close home to win by a neck. The runner-up has run in some top staying handicaps at Cheltenham this season while Saffron Wells finished a couple of lengths away in third.

Saffron Wells was our each-way selection for the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton earlier this month but found Tea For Two much too good at the weights. He stuck on well enough to finish third and renews rivalry here with Polamco on 3lbs better terms. I expect Polamco to confirm the form, providing that he settles better than he did at Newbury.

Junction Fourteen was all the rage for the Lanzarote Hurdle last year but was already beaten when falling at the last. He ran well to finish fourth to Batavir at Wincanton on Boxing Day and could be returning to form. Imperial Leader was second to Irish Saint in heavy ground at Ascot last year and showed that he stays when third to Fingal Bay over a longer trip at Exeter.

Tony McCoy gave us our third big Saturday handicap winner in a row last weekend on If In Doubt and partners the top weight Mijhaar here.  He was very useful on the flat but has not really shone over hurdles so far. He ran well when third to Dawalan at Aintree but could not win in much easier company at Ayr last time. Polamco gets the vote for Harry Fry to give the yard a boost ahead of Activial’s bid for the Betfair Hurdle a week on Saturday.

Polemco 3.0 Sandown Saturday @100-30 William Hill