Sandown selections Saturday 25th April
The British jumps season comes to its traditional end with Sandown staging the final fixture this afternoon. Despite quick going we have a cracking end to the season and I am looking at four races on the card including the final Grade 1. Moudan was a winner for us at Ayr last week (advised 6/1) whilst Big John Wayne (advised 7/1) and Captain Hugo (advised 9/2) were both placed for the each-way bets.
Sandown 1.45: Kadastral & Minella Yoga
Class is likely to come to the fore in this novice handicap and two horses from the big stables are fancied.
KADASTRAL landed the valuable sales bumper at Newbury last season on similar good going, making short work of grade 1 winning hurdler Talk the Talk in the process. His form over hurdles this season strongly suggests that good going is essential for him to give of his best.
A second to Sober Glory, so nearly the winner of the Supreme at Cheltenham was a strong start to his campaign. He then followed up with a cosy win at Newbury before Christmas over today’s opponent Legal Weapon. A second to the classy Hurricane Pat at Chepstow was not a bad effort, but he was surely undone by a combination of soft going and a step up in trip at Uttoxeter last time as he went from cruising to struggling two out. Back at 2m on a sound surface there should be more to come from this 6yo.
However if MINELLA YOGA is as good as I think he is, they will all struggle to defeat Paul Nicholls’ juvenile. Having won on debut in Ireland he was sold to current connections and he caused a big upset when defeating subsequent Cheltenham Festival second Act of Innocence at Newbury.
From there he was a creditable third in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham. I thought he might have been an ideal candidate for the Fred Winter, but instead connections opted to miss the big Festivals and instead sent him for a small race at Taunton where he cruised home to an easy win. A really good jumper it would be no surprise to see him sent chasing next season to take advantage of the weight allowance so taking a big prize over hurdles on the way would be a nice way to finish this season.
Sandown 2.55: JPR One
A fascinating contest in which Jonbon bids to retain his record of never finishing outside the front two in a race, Thistle Ask bids for a first Grade 1 under what should be ideal conditions, and Solness will aim to go one better after a brave second to Grey Dawning at Ascot. However with Skybet offering three places, I like the look each-way of JPR ONE.
A winner going right-handed over 2m4f at Musselburgh this winter, he has since run with great credit in two Grade 1’s over that distance at Cheltenham and Aintree. Slick jumping is his forte, but I felt he could not use that to maximum effect over the longer trip and he looked to be wanting for stamina late on.
Back at the minimum trip his bold jumping can be used more efficiently and he could have too much natural pace for Solness and Jonbon. Of course Thistle Ask comes here fresh and could be too good for all, but at fancy odds JPR One does appeal.
Sandown 3.30: Road to Home & In D’Or
A wide open looking Bet365 and I have two suggestions for the big race.
ROAD TO HOME came so close to landing Willie Mullins a first Cheltenham Festival handicap chase winner last month, just finding Ask Brewster too good in the Kim Muir. I have slight concerns about the winner operating right-handed, so Road to Home could well get his revenge here having been rerouted from the Scottish National due to softening ground.
This horse is definitely best on top of the ground and is totally unexposed in marathon chases – that Cheltenham run proving his stamina after a series of solid efforts at around 2m4f. A nice racing weight of 10-13 should set him up nicely.
IN D’OR may well have been targeted for this all season after a very light campaign to date. Bought at the David Maxwell dispersal sale by Fergal O’Brien, he made a promising start here over 3m in December where he shaped as if longer would suit.
His only run since came at Ascot in January where again he just lacked the pace over a straight 3m but showed enough to indicate he is well handicapped. A good going winner at Ascot last season, he was a fair sixth in the National Hunt chase at Cheltenham last season, so a long trip on good going should be just what this gelding needs.
Sandown 5.15: Lucky Manifest & Fasol
Two tentative selections for a very tricky finale.
LUCKY MANIFEST clearly relished good going when winning back to back at Kelso in May and October whilst summer ground prevailed. Whilst those were weak races, he ran even better at Cheltenham next time despite filthy conditions on the day. He did not quite get home at the same track over 3m next time, though only beaten 8l.
Since then he was a fair third at Plumpton on soft going and did as well as could be expected over too short a trip in the Morebattle at Kelso. Since then he has had a wind op and a tongue strap is fitted today. A return to good going could be just as important and he must rate a danger of 122.
FASOL is not the most reliable, but he usually gives his best efforts on goodish going and on right-handed tracks, so he does rate each-way value.
He finished a solid third at this meeting in the 2m novice handicap last season and then won a novice at Wincanton in the autumn and a competitive handicap at Musselburgh on decent going – all right-handed tracks. He ran pretty well for fourth in the Sussex Champion Hurdle at Plumpton recently, but going the other way around and stepping back to 2m4f should be in his favour.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Kadastral – 1.45 Sandown – 9/1 Skybet (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt win – Minella Yoga – 1.45 Sandown – 3/1 general
1pt each-way – JPR One – 2.55 Sandown – 11/1 Skybet (1/5 odds 1st 3)
1pt each-way – Road to Home – 3.30 Sandown – 13/2 William Hill (1/4 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – In D’Or – 3.30 Sandown – 6/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Lucky Manifest – 5.15 Sandown – 11/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 4)
0.5pts each-way – Fasol – 5.15 Sandown – 11/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 4)
