Sandown and Wincanton Saturday Tips – DS
Sandown and Wincanton Saturday Tips
We had to make do with a measly place on New Year’s Day. Thereisnodoubt plundered e/w money at 18/1 for us but that was it. Cedar Hill didn’t stay, he’ll be one to watch dropped in trip. Deyrann ran below par and Langer Dan had too much to do but wasn’t disgraced. Brinkley was bitterly disappointing. Let’s hope we can nail a couple of places and maybe even a winner this weekend. Check out Dave Stevos’ Sandown and Wincanton Saturday tips below.
1.15 Sandown – Unibet Handicap Chase (Class 3)
On Thursday the ground at Sandown was described as soft, good to soft in places. However, the rain they have been forecast will surely mean there will be no good in the description on raceday. It can be stamina sapping at Sandown when the ground is testing and soft ground is a huge worry for the favourite in our opener, Gemirande.
He landed a handicap at Southwell (20f gd) off 114 last time. The handicapper gave him a 10lb hike for that win, but today’s ground is a bigger concern. He did win on very soft in France but his best form by far is on good to soft or quicker. A horse at a price who will absolutely relish the underhoof conditions is High Up In The Air.
Two For Moore
Chalked up at around 22/1, he is one of two runners here for Gary Moore. Stable pilot Jamie Moore prefers the chances of Sopran Thor, a 20L winner at Lingfield off 122 on his seasonal comeback in 2021. He’s finished 2nd on his last two visits to Sandown, the ground is fine for him and the bookies make him an 8/1 shot.
His stablemate also loves to get his toe in. A five time winner over fences, Niall Houlihan takes off a handy 3lbs. That means he is in off effectively 115 here, 11lbs lower than when winning by 9L at Fontwell and 5lbs lower than when landing a novice handicap chase at this track on heavy over 16f.
He’s a front runner when on song, so it could be that Moore is planning to use him as a pacemaker for his other one. Now, after two lifeless efforts this season, it is hard to be hugely confident about this lad but there was good in the ground description for both of those runs. If the return to softer ground (and to Sandown) sparks a revival, he looks handicapped to run huge if he can repeat the level he showed for his two February wins last year. There’s a lot of ifs in there so don’t be having the house on, but at 22/1 he’s worth a couple of quid e/w.
Sandown and Wincanton Saturday tips: High Up In The Air e/w @ 22/1
1.30 Wincanton – Handicap Chase (Class 2)
There’s lots of rain forecast overnight at Wincanton so the ground will likely be soft. Unfortunately, in what is a recurring theme there this weekend, there’s a small field for this handicap chase. Just six run and none is priced bigger than 13/2. A very easy race to pass over. No Bet.
Sandown and Wincanton Saturday tips: No Bet
1.50 Sandown – Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Another small field of just seven but quite a few bookies are paying 3 places. With her horses in such good form and with the handicapper giving him a real chance, maybe Gladiateur Allen can get back on track in this 2 mile handicap chase. This fella has won two of his fifteen starts, both in novice company. Because of those wins, the handicapper has had him in his grip. He was rated 136 after beating Elixir Du Nutz in December 2021 and he then came up short in Graded company.
After failing to complete on his last four starts of last season, he returned with a couple of handicap chase runs at Newton Abbott and Exeter. There wasn’t much encouragement to be had, bar the fact that he managed to get round. On his last outing at Lingfield (16f hvy), he finally showed a little bit more, finishing 4th of 10 carrying a welter burden of 12st 1lbs.
The assessor has now dropped him to a mark of 123, 9lbs lower than he was for his return. He ran well over 20f (sft) in a G3 handicap hurdle at Sandown off 131 back in March 2021 so we know he acts on the track and he carries just 10st 10lbs today. Jane Williams’ 2023 runners have returned form figures of 11221, hopefully this talented but quirky sort can add another 3, 2 or 1 to that sequence at odds of 25/1.
Sandown and Wincanton Saturday tips: Gladiateur Allen e/w @ 25/1 (3 places) NB
2.05 Wincanton – Handicap Chase (Class 3)
Another seven runner affair and again, a few bookies will pay 3 places. However, the two horses at bigger odds are hard to make a case for. If there was no rain forecast, Native Robin would be of big interest at his favourite track. He is a five time course winner but all on good to soft. His form figures on soft or worse here read 452, beat a combined distance of 78.5L. Kauto The King also loves nice ground, with all 8 of his wins coming on good. Desque De L’Isle and Another Crick look the most likely winners, but the bookies haven’t missed them. No Bet.
Sandown and Wincanton Saturday tips: No Bet
2.25 Sandown – Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Eight are due to go to post in a very competitive looking Tolworth. I was really impressed by L’Astroboy at Ffos Las on his hurdling debut. Evan Williams usually takes his time with his horses but the fact he is pitching this lad into G1 company on just his second hurdle start has to be noteworthy. The problem is, his price has already collapsed. The 25s around earlier this week has evaporated and you’ll be lucky to get 12/1 at this stage.
I like horses that do things wrong and still manage to win, especially inexperienced animals. The way that Colonel Harry sweated up at Sandown (16f hvy) last time would have worried punters hugely but he still managed to make all in decisive fashion and win by 7 lengths.
Injection Of Pace
He jumped off in front, hurdled well and then quickened at the half mile pole. That injection of pace put paid to his rivals and while he was low over the last, he put his head down and galloped on strongly to the line.
A former P2P winner, the son of Shirocco will likely stay further. However, 16f on bad ground looks ideal for him at the present moment and his trainer continues in excellent form. I’d imagine he earmarked this race straight after his win and he has freshened him up since.
This is obviously a much stiffer task than last time and other possess stronger form but even so, he showed enough to suggest he could make an impact at this level. When you consider how sweaty he got before his win he could be even better if he relaxes in the prelims and he’s the only course and distance winner in the race apart from the fav. 33s looks far too big a price about Colonel Harry so he is the e/w pick.
Sandown and Wincanton Saturday tips: Colonel Harry e/w @ 33/1 NAP
3.00 Sandown – Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final (Class 2)
A class turnout for this veterans’ final with a full field of 18 declared. Last year’s winner Prime Venture is back to defend his crown off the same mark. He’s sure to be ‘primed’ for this race and the softer it is, the better it will suit this dour stayer. At the opposite end of the market, I’m willing to give Kauto Riko one more chance at odds of 33/1.
Tom Gretton’s horse has been very frustrating to follow the last couple of seasons. I was convinced he had a Festival win in him on the back of his Paddy Power Gold Cup 4th off 142 in Nov 2020 but unfortunately, it never materialised. Since that fine run his best effort came over this trip at Doncaster when beat 0.5L by Two For Gold off 138. He never rediscovered that form in five runs after, but I thought he showed a modicum of promise over 20f in his qualifying run for this race at Cheltenham.
That was on good ground but today’s conditions will suit better. Three of his six career wins came on soft, as did that Paddy Power run at Cheltenham. If it turns heavy, he has only finished out of the first 2 once on that type of ground (6212). He’s never run at Sandown but his form figures going right handed read 131225. This type of race probably now represents his best chance of landing a big pot and at odds of 33/1, Kauto Riko is the e/w selection.
Sandown and Wincanton Saturday tips: Kauto Riko e/w @ 33/1 (6 places)
3.35 Sandown – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
Eleven runners but it is hard to make a case for any of the outsiders. Imphal would be of interest on better ground on his return. Palladium is a C&D winner on bad ground but he hasn’t been seen for nearly two years. Poseidon is another one for whom conditions are a big worry. Band Of Outlaws is talented but he hasn’t been seen over jumps for 555 days (232 days since last flat run).
Ex De Bromhead
That leaves us with the rag, Tiger Voice. Formerly trained by Henry De Bromhead, Bernard Llewellen now trains this son of Poet’s Voice. Bought for 18k at the sales, he has his first run for his new handler today. He was last sighted running a very respectable race off 89 on the flat in September. He was well beaten on his last handicap chase start at Leopardstown (17f sft) but two runs previous to that, he landed a Punchestown heat off 128 (16f sft).
Robert Williams takes off 3lbs so he is effectively 1lb lower today. He has won and been placed after similar breaks in the past so his lack of a recent run isn’t that much of a worry. Both of his chase wins have come going right handed on soft, so track and ground should suit. It all depends on how fit his trainer has him and the most likely scenario is that he’ll come on for the run. However, there’s enough positives to warrant a small e/w interest at odds of 40/1.
