_edited.png)
13:30 Aintree
A Listed Juvenile Hurdle with challengers from both sides of the Irish Sea, with some important black type on offer. The best for the home team is Addosh after her victory in September but she has failed to complete the last twice and she will have to brush up her jumping to be competitive. Joseph O’Brien’s Six Feet Apart has to be respected after only making her debut in September on the flat, she quickly progressed to hurdles and duly obliged in good style at Fairyhouse. But her overall inexperience may find her out when push comes to shove.
The prize will likely head back across the Irish Sea though with White Pepper likely to take all the beating after her impressive 13L victory at Galway, she was also the best of these on the flat. The ground will be ideal for her and she has had two runs over hurdles so she has more experience than some of her main rivals.
WHITE PEPPER (WIN)
written by Michael Taylor
13:50 Sandown
The first of two Grade 1 races from Sandown this afternoon sees seven novice chasers line up for this two mile contest.
The current market leader Third Time Lucki is on a two race win streak after back to back successes at Cheltenham. He deserves his spot as the bookies favourite but this looks the most competitive chase he’s competed in so far and despite there only being seven runners I’m still going to punt for an each way selection.
Edwardstone made his chasing debut at Warwick and was going well before unfortunately being brought down when four fences from home. He returned to Warwick last time out and atoned for his previous fall by claiming a convincing 7 length victory. This looks a drastic step up in class but based on his hurdling exploits it’d be foolish to rule out his chances.
Despite the above being said I have to admit that Il Ridoto’s recent victory was ultra-impressive when a 6 and a half length winner at Cheltenham. The twelve runner field looked very competitive that day and although it perhaps isn’t as impressive as winning a graded race he showed enough to suggest that he can mix it with the best. As the youngest runner in the lineup he has plenty of room to progress and if he continues on his upward trajectory he can play a major part.
IL RIDOTO (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock
14:05 Aintree
Imperial Aura was on the up last year, before finding Allaho’s pace too hot at Cheltenham. He was upped to three miles, at Haydock last time out, but he fell. He was travelling well that day and could’ve had more in the tank. However, he’s still yet to see the full distance out. Moreover, he’s never ran at Aintree before. He’s a good horse but this could be a hard gallop yet again and experience could pay.
Protektorat seems the progressive type and has won a Grade one at Aintree, last season. He wasn’t beaten far in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, on his seasonal debut and will be fresher for that. Additionally, he had top weight that day whereas today he gains three pounds off a few contenders. However, he’s never been over the distance and this race is quite tough. He could be opposable.
The gallant Native River won this race two years ago and was out-speeded on the extra long run in, last year. He’s not ran since Aintree at the end of last season but has won off a break before. He has to give some weight but that shouldn’t be a problem for him. He’s won over the course and distance twice and has a 50% strike rate on the soft ground. If conditions stay testing then you’d imagine he might try and make it a stamina test.
NATIVE RIVER (WIN)
written by Kieran McHugh
14:25 Sandown
This promises to be a very exciting renewal of the Tingle Creek in which all five contenders will fancy their chances. Chacun Pour Soi hopes to become first Irish victor since 2011 and will be a very short price to do so. Nube Negra did get the better of him when they finished second and third in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham but the form was well and truly reversed in the Irish version of that race at Punchestown.
Greaneteen won the Celebration Chase at Aintree in April but disappointed somewhat on his reappearance. He was giving a lot of weight away that day and he may have needed the run too but he would seem like a risky bet at his odds all the same, in a race of this quality for a trainer who has a very good record in this race. Paul Nicholls also runs Hitman here and both he and Captain Guinness lack the experience of the other three but also both need a leap of improvement to get involved.
I am siding with Chacun Pour Soi to confirm the Punchestown form with Nube Negra and I am picking him to win his first race in England today and enhance his credentials of being one of the best chasers around.
CHACUN POUR SOI (WIN)
written by Tom Bates
14:40 Aintree
Despite being five pounds higher than when successful in this race last season, race regular and two time winner, Vieux Lion Rouge appears a sensible starting point and he would have to come into the reckoning based upon his proven effectiveness around both the course and fences. His return at Cheltenham in October was at the very least, a satisfactory effort and will likely have blown away the cobwebs in preparation for this and respect is afforded despite his advancing years.
Mac Tottie took to these fences well when winning the Grand Sefton and his seven pounds penalty for that appears lenient given he and the second finished a fair way clear of the third. Well backed during the week, a big run would appear on the cards although this trip poses a significant question of his stamina and as such he is taken on.
Chris's Dream appeared set to play a big part when unseating his rider four out in the Grand National, prior to that mistake he had navigated his way around quite beautifully and his return to this venue is intriguing. Off the track since and dropped two pounds by the handicapper, there is every chance he will gain compensation here and Jonjo O'Neil is an eye catching booking for the De Bromhead runner.
Hogan's Height completely lost his form after winning the 2019 Grand Sefton, quite why or what was to blame is anyone's guess though he showed a good deal of encouragement when finishing sixth to Mac Tottie on his return this season and his mark looks fair if he improves for that effort.
Snow Leopardess has some fairly rock solid form in the context of this and she won well at Bangor the last day. Still quite lightly raced and with further improvement likely, she looks a likely player if taking to the fences and is feared.
Achille started to look exposed last season despite racking up a sequence of fair efforts, he would appear to have little margin for error off this mark though his yard are going well. Mighty Thunder could be the dark horse and his record of 4-7 since chasing is eye catching. Likely to have more left in the tank, his connections must surely have seen enough in his jumping to come here and he looks to have a favourites chance. Kimberlite Candy and Tout Est Permis are others worth considering though our vote shall be split between Chris's Dream and Hogan's Height in what looks an open contest.
HOGAN’S HEIGHT (E/W)
CHRIS’S DREAM (E/W)
written by Chris Connolly
15:00 Sandown
A competitive handicap chase over a stamina sapping three miles five furlongs.
With the going still currently only on the soft side of good, this shouldn’t be too gruelling despite the trip.
Salty Boy is an interesting contender. He really has come into his own over marathon trips and only really looked to be getting going in the latter stages of his victory last time. He still has room with his current mark, but the fences come thick and fast here and there’s a chance he could end up out of his ground and get detached. That being said, he would however be interesting in a race like the Eider at Newcastle.
It would be complete folly to rule out a four timer for Strictlyadancer, but this looks the deepest race he’s contested lately.
Larry is definitely another live contender. He was ultimately quite impressive winning at Ascot last time, seeing the race out really strongly. He’s unexposed at these marathon distances and should go well.
The value option is The Mighty Don and he will be the each way selection (14s at time of writing).
The reason he’s such a tempting price is purely down to his jumping, it’s shoddy, and that’s being polite! Having said that, he does possess a touch of class and off a mark of 137 he’s more than capable. If he can keep mistakes to a minimum and keep in touch in the first half of the race, he’ll be finishing better than anything else.
THE MIGHTY DON (E/W)
written by Matt Polley
15:15 Aintree
A large field in a class 2 handicap finishes the card off at Aintree Saturday and a number of these runners you could make a case for.
At the time of writing Tamar Bridge is favourite for Olly Murphy and is on a nice mark after winning 3 of his 4 starts who is very lightly raced for a 6 year old you can see why he is likeable in the betting market.
Midnight River won 3 hurdle races last season, had a wind op over the summer but his return at Carlisle was poor and falling quite badly 3 out and fell on his previous race before that. That would concern me but you can't rule out a Dan Skelton horse. In what could be a big weekend for the yard.
It's a slightly risky betting proposition and he hasn't shown much over hurdles in recent times but at a big price with most bookies paying 4 places (SKY Bet 5 Places) Ballyandy looks a decent price and wouldn't be ruled out. Ballyandy isn't getting any younger but his last two runs have been on good ground and I simply think he doesn't want that anymore. Will get soft ground today and also has conditional Finn Lambert onboard who take a very handy ten pounds of Ballyandy back. Ballyandy looks on a very attractive mark and doesn't usually go through the season without running a big race perhaps maybe today could be his day and at around 16/1 at time of writing is certainly an E/W shout.
Pounding Poet would be another selection for me. Tom Lacey horse re appeared for a good 2nd last time out should come on for that run. looks on a nice mark here. Again, softer ground will help with his last two wins on soft and good to soft ground. Should be in contention today and would be another with an each way play. Robbie Dunne onboard who's probably glad to be riding today rather than in front of a panel after a challenging week. Pounding poet is still only 5 so you'd like to think there is more progression or big wins with this horse to come.
BALLYANDY (E/W)
POUNDING POET (E/W)
written by Luke Tucker
15:35 Sandown
Hudson De Grugy has already shown his liking for Sandown, posting three wins and a second from four runs here, with all four coming over the same trip as he encounters today. A victory here last month confirmed his fitness and a rise of 4lbs for that effort doesn’t look excessive so for me he rightly sits at the head of the market. That said, all of his successes to date have come in conditions more testing than those forecast here.
Two likely dangers arrive in the form of Benson and Metier. The former is a prior course and distance winner who has winning form on ground ranging from good to firm right through to heavy and is likely to strip fitter for a spin over too far a trip at Cheltenham in November, while the latter was an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Tolworth here at Sandown in January and won first time up last season. Like the favourite, his hurdle victories have also come in more testing conditions however he put in some decent efforts in better ground when racing on the flat so the ground doesn’t worry me too much. Given the opposition I expect the race to be run to suit, with Metier likely to either make the running himself or sit in just behind the leaders before being sent for home a couple of furlongs out. He is fitted with a first time tongue tie for todays’ race and to me looks the one to side with.
A final mention goes to Elegant Escape who is much better known as a chaser and hasn’t been seen since contesting the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup, however boasts an excellent record when fresh (results of 1212 on first run of the season) and with his stable firing in the winners it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he were to outrun his early odds of around 33/1.
METIER (WIN)
written by Dean Kilbryde
Comments