It’s an all-chase card at Sandown on Saturday afternoon with the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase and the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase – the latter rescued from last weekend’s Cheltenham Trials Day card – providing the feature dishes.
Racing at the Esher venue is from 1.15pm-4.05pm with six contests and you can watch them all – as well as every UK and Irish race – via live streaming when logged into MansionBet. Our tipster has selections for all of the Sandown action.
1.15 – Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (1m7½f)
The Paul Nicholls-trained Dolos attempts to win this race for a third straight year and is only 1lb higher in the ratings than when he held off First Flow last year – that rival a Grade 1 winner in the Clarence House recently. Mr One More and Caribean Boy can get involved, though perhaps Nicky Henderson’s charge would ideally want further. The opening selection is PADDY’S POEM for trainer Nick Gifford. He was back from a year off when finding only progressive scorer Ibleo too strong over C&D (soft) last month and the winner advertised that form when going in again at Doncaster last weekend. Paddy’s Poem is 8lb higher in the ratings now but should go well off bottom-weight.
Selection: Paddy’s Poem @ 11/2
1.50 – Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1, 2m4f)
The recent renewals have been pure class
The Grade 1 @VirginBet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase features on our all chase card on Saturday and we cannot wait for it! pic.twitter.com/pgPKKRUTvF— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) February 4, 2021
A really pleasing renewal of this Grade 1 novices’ event. Hitman found only leading Arkle contender Allmankind too strong in the Henry VIII over shorter here last time and is a player upped in distance, while Messire Des Obeaux was a strong winner of the Dipper last month at Wincanton, readily taking care of smart rival Protektorat. He’s much respected but Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase winner SHAN BLUE is fancied to cope with a drop in trip today. He’s an excellent jumper and can put pressure on his rivals from the outset with his front-running style. Sporting John stopped very quickly at Exeter on chase bow in November and is one to monitor closely with an eye on the future.
Selection: Shan Blue @ 5/2
2.20 – Virgin Bet Cotswold Chase (Grade 2, 3m)
A treat here as this Gold Cup trial has been saved from Cheltenham’s abandoned card last weekend. The three leading protagonists have stood firm, namely last year’s first and second – Santini and BRISTOL DE MAI – and the 2018 Gold Cup kingpin Native River.
Santini is partnered by Aidan Coleman for the first time, with trainer Nicky Henderson keen to give him the experience in case both Santini and Champ make the Gold Cup next month. Both he and Native River were inconvenienced by the omission of jumping tests at Aintree in December when Lake View lad outsprinted them in the Many Clouds Chase. Arguably, losing a furlong in distance here won’t help them either.
In any case, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ grey is the selection. He won the Scilly Isles in his only Sandown start back in 2016 and will be right at home on the testing ground round here. He won another Betfair Chase in November and the grey can avenge his defeat to Santini in this a year ago at Cheltenham.
Selection: Bristol De Mai @ 5/2
2.55 – Virgin Bet Warriors Handicap Chase (2m4f)
Benatar could be dangerous if he builds on his comeback in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup at Cheltenham but he’s got top-weight here. Alnadam. meanwhile, flopped at Kempton over Christmas but is better judged on his previous C&D win. Back here in these conditions, he can have a big say for a Dan Skelton team in superb recent form.
EVANDER won very easily at Doncaster in December and was unfortunate to run into Capeland at Wincanton last month when finishing second. He’s only inched up 1lb for that effort and could eke out more now fitted with a tongue-tie. He’s a major player for the Oliver Greenall stable.
Selection: Evander @ 5/1
3.30 Sandown – Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (3m)
The one race on the card where a lot of the contenders are struggling. Coo Star Sivola appears to be toying with the idea of getting back on track and again sees his mark sliding, but it’s Kiltealy Briggs and ASK ME EARLY that make most appeal stepping out of novice company against exposed rivals.
The former was not disgraced from the front in a Grade 2 at Ascot in December and should be fine up in trip now handicapping but he’s giving 5lb to the dual Chepstow winner Ask Me Early for trainer Harry Fry and Sean Bowen. He’s improving in this sphere and may be up to making it 3-3 over fences.
Selection: Ask Me Early @ 2/1
4.05 – Virgin Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (1m7½f)
Dostal Phil beat a progressive rival at Newbury last month on his chasing bow and can go well for the trusted Philip Hobbs/Richard Johnson axis here. He’s the preferred choice of the front two in the market over High Up In The Air, Gary Moore’s charge seeking a four-timer but now taking on a better standard of rival.
Both can be trumped by ANTUNES for Dan and Harry Skelton. He got on the board at Chepstow (2m, heavy) in November on just his second chase start and perhaps was asked for too much, too soon in an Ascot Grade 2 the week before Christmas (SP 20-1 there). The stable is in red-hot form and he can quickly get back on the up.
Selection: Antunes @ 15/2
*All odds correct at time of writing