Sandown selections Saturday 7th March
The final big day of racing action prior to the Cheltenham Festival, Sandown’s Imperial Cup meeting gives us one final chance to boost coffers before the big week. I have two selections for today’s feature, plus two from another fascinating EBF final that precedes it. Serious Challenge was second for the each-way bet last week (SP 16/1)
Sandown 1.50: Kaka’s Cousin & Gee Force Flyer
Sandown’s EBF Final once again brings together novices who for the most part have just been given the minimum requirement three runs over hurdles to keep them well handicapped for the big day. Both my selections have followed that path to this race.
First choice is KAKA’s COUSIN who was a strong finishing second in a 3m point in Ireland last season before starting his career under rules with a comfortable success over 2m3f at Catterick over Christmas. However the O’Neill’s have dropped him back to 2m since, perhaps to conceal his true ability for the longer test he faces today.
He was no match for Starmount around Wetherby’s flat 2m next time, but given heavy ground at Kelso last time, he was quick enough to score over the minimum trip. His jumping was really slick that day and he seems comfortable racing up with the pace which is a tactic that often works well around Sandown where it can be difficult to close in sticky going. He will surely prove better again back at 2m4f.
I rate Anthony Honeyball as one of the best target trainers in the country, whether it be with a novice like GEE FORCE FLYER or a veteran chaser. Despite being defeated in all three qualifying novice hurdles, I think there is reason to side with him at big odds today.
I though the sharp track played against him at Market Rasen when 8l behind Cinquenta and when he was second at Ffos Las the time before he ran as if a stronger gallop and stiffer finish would be much more to his liking. He will get both today and he already has a 3m Irish point win to his name. I suspect he will turn out to be a much better horse than a 116 rated individual and may have slipped under the radar for this.
Sandown 2.27: Rubber Ball & Mondo Man
There is no more in-form trainer in the country than Neil King right now and with five winners from his last six runners (the only loser was a 50/1 shot) it presents RUBBER BALL with another opportunity to fulfil the big potential he showed last season.
I fancied him strongly for the Greatwood at Cheltenham on his return, but he was well beaten that day. He was then very well beaten in three races over longer trips, even as far as 3m over the winter. It was back to basics though and back to 2m at Newbury last week where he stormed home to a 5l win over a competitive field, being very well backed in the process. He has been raised 8lbs for that, but is only back to the rating he was at in the autumn and a stiff 2m around here should be no issue.
I can’t ignore the claims of favourite MONDO MAN, a horse good enough to finish fifth in the French Derby of 2024. Now he has learned to settle better in his races we are surely going to see more of him in these feature events and an almost inevitable strong gallop should help play to his strengths and get him settled here.
He was given plenty to do when staying on for fourth in the big Christmas handicap at Ascot, but this stiffer finish will mean hold up tactics could work more effectively today. He warmed up for this with an effortless win in a weak Plumpton novice, but it means he can still race off 123 today and surely a horse that is so classy on the flat can exploit this relatively lowly rating.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Kaka’s Cousin – 1.50 Sandown – 6/1 Unibet, Betway (1/5 odds 1st 5)
0.5pts each-way – Gee Force Flyer – 1.50 Sandown – 22/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Rubber Ball – 2.27 Sandown – 13/2 William Hill (¼ odds 1st 5)
1pt win – Mondo Man – 2.27 Sandown – 11/4 general
