Sandown selections Saturday 26th April
The scene is set for the final day of the British jumps racing season and as far as the big talking point is concerned, I can see no other outcome to the trainers title other than a comfortable success for Willie Mullins by afternoon end. However in terms of betting on the individual races for today the four handicaps on the card are very competitive and look worth getting truck into.
Sandown 1.20: St Pancras
We get underway early with a novice handicap hurdle where several juveniles get to take on their elders. It is one of those in ST PANCRAS who I fancy.
Toby Lawes charge gained plenty of experience on the flat, and was progressive last season winning 2-4 from Martyn Meade including a 7l win on his final start over 14f at Southwell. There was plenty of stamina on show and so it was no surprise to see him picked up by a jumping yard and the horse has not let his new connections down with some splendid performances over the obstacles.
After a sighter at Ascot he was thrown straight into listed company at Musselburgh, responding with a last to first win in the closing stages. He then built on that with a second place in the Grade 2 Adonis at Kempton before justifying short odds with the minimum of fuss at Stratford last month. All of those recent good performances have come on speed tracks, but I think further improvement can be unlocked switching him to a track with an uphill finish here, especially as he is fully proven on good going.
Sandown 1.50: Insurrection & Eyed
This is probably the most open race on the card, so is worth two attempts.
INSURRECTION has promised much this season but is finally starting to deliver now. He showed good form over hurdles last season, including a second place in a Grade 2 here, but his two wins came on much faster ground, similar to today. He started this season with a fine second to Springwell Bay on decent going at Chepstow in October.
A couple of more modest efforts followed, but he was back to his best when scoring by 16l from Asta La Pasta, an easy Ayr winner since at Musselburgh. He ran well enough at the Cheltenham Festival when eighth to stablemate Caldwell Potter having not gained a clear run turning for home. I think this track and slightly faster going will suit him better.
EYED has progressed dramatically from class 5 handicaps during the season and could still have something left to offer on the final day of the season. He eased to a comfortable win at Market Rasen off just 100 in November, his last try at around this distance.
Since then he has successfully stepped up to 3m, winning at that same venue and then at Kempton. He performed with great credit on his last two starts at Uttoxeter and Ayr, finishing second on both occasions and I think he can cope with the drop back in distance.
Sandown 4.10: Minella Cocooner & High Class Hero
If Willie Mullins has not already secured the trainers title by now, he will surely do so in the day’s feature event. The presence of National third Grangeclare West in the field, keeps the weights down for the majority of his raiders, but has also ensured that only three horses trained by other stables are in the handicap proper. As such two Mullins horses are fancied.
MINELLA COCOONER was a good winner of this last season and if he has recovered from his Aintree exertions, can follow up off 4lbs lower. He was going as well as anything turning for home in the National, but ran out of steam over the extended distance having raced a bit keenly. The fact that Johnny Burke’s saddle had slipped early on did not assist the jockey to settle the horse and we know in any case that he stays 3m4f well on this sort of ground.
Good going suits ideally, and whilst he has been contesting Grade 1 races all winter, this is really his grade and he can prove as such again today.
The obviously alternative is one of the novice improvers in HIGH CLASS HERO, the choice of Paul Townend. This horse has missed all the spring Festivals so far, so should be fresher then anything.
He has had just the required three qualification races this term over fences, winning at Punchestown in February. He was beaten in a Grade 2 at Thurles last time, but that was over an inadequate 2m5f and he is expected to improve for the big step up in trip here. He was second to Dancing City over hurdles in the 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival last season, so has the class to compete whilst avoiding the exertions that horse has faced of late.
Sandown 4.45: Ike Sport
The final race of the British jumps season can go to IKE SPORT just as it did twelve months ago.
He was a surprise winner of this race last season, just six days after running out under an inexperienced jockey at Wincanton. That incident though was out of synch with the rest of last spring as he had won his two previous runs from the previous summer at Worcester.
He really has to have decent spring or summer ground, so his modest efforts over the winter in both hurdles and chases can safely be ignored. What those heavy defeats have done is bring down his mark to a workable rating once more. He showed up much better at Aintree last time on drying ground, staying on strongly from the rear around that sharp track. This stiffer track will play more to his strengths.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – St Pancras – 1.20 Sandown – 16/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Insurrection – 1.50 Sandown – 15/2 general
1pt win – Eyed – 1.50 Sandown – 4/1 general
1pt each-way – Minella Cocooner – 4.10 Sandown – 5/1 Skybet, Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt win – High Class Hero – 4.10 Sandown – 9/2 general
1pt each-way – Ike Sport – 4.45 Sandown – 4/1 general
