Sandown and Exeter Friday Tips by Dave Stevos
Sandown and Exeter Friday Tips: All Live ITV Races
Unfortunately, Sunday continued in the same vein as the rest of the weekend. At least we got a run for our money with Beacon Edge who was just run out of a place in the dying strides. Cask Mate also ran a nice race. If he was 8/1 when I previewed the race he would have been an e/w selection. Cooldine Bog was well beat, but we were on for 6 places and he was only beat a length for 6th! Hearts Are Trumps was on pace making duty and faded between the last two hurdles. Conditions are likely to be very testing at Sandown on Friday, while at Exeter it is heavy too. Check out Dave Stevos’ free Sandown and Exeter Friday tips below…
Sandown and Exeter Friday: 1.50pm – Novices’ Handicap Chase (Class 3)
An exceedingly competitive 20f handicap chase for Novices kicks off the live action on ITV4. A field of 11 go to post and some will be a lot happier than others with the recent rain. Funambule Sivola’s best form has come on decent ground and the same can be said for Morning Vicar. Those two head the betting so I think this is a race that could produce an upset. Quartz Du Rheu is interesting off a mark of 130 on some of his Irish hurdling form.
His two wins for former trainer Willie Mullins came on yielding (19f) and good (16f). However, his efforts on much softer ground in Grade 2/3 events at Naas and Limerick were probably better. He was 2.75L behind the now 151 rated Fury Road on heavy at Limerick (23f). That run in particular suggests he could be nicely treated off his current rating on handicap chase debut.
He made a very low key beginning for his new trainer Jonjo O’Neill at Uttoxeter in October. Richie McClernon kept him very wide throughout, presumably to give him a clear sight at his fences on chasing debut. He was a bit exuberant over a couple but he jumped well in the main. This slower ground might help him to jump even better. Jonjo O’Neill has his string in fine form and hopefully this son of Konig Turf can hit the frame at odds of 40/1.
Sandown and Exeter Friday Tips: Quartz Du Rheu e/w @ 40/1 (4 Places W Hill)
Exeter Friday: 2.05pm – Novices’ Chase (Class 2)
Next up on ITV4 is this 19f chase for novices and only 4 go to post. The Big Breakaway, whose sole defeat came at the festival in March, is a short price to follow up his 24f win at Cheltenham in November. He was a 4/9 shot that day but it wasn’t as easy as the 10L margin of victory suggests. Colin Tizzard’s charge had to be pushed along at times and while he pulled clear at the end, he didn’t exactly shape like he was crying out for this pretty drastic drop back in distance.
Bold Plan is the most likely to trouble the favourite and he should improve for his seasonal return at Uttoxeter. He will need to though as he was only 5th of 8 that day (16f sft). The step back up to the distance of his last win will suit and the 6yo has won twice on heavy ground. He has 13lb to find with The Big Breakaway on the figures. However, he does get a very handy 8lb from his market rival. I think that if Evan Williams’ charge is close enough at the last and it turns into a sprint, he might just have a bit too much speed for the favourite. At odds of 4/1, a small win bet on Bold Plan is recommended.
Sandown and Exeter Friday: Bold Plan win @ 4/1
Sandown: 2.25pm – Winter Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Another small field for this Grade 2 Novices’ Hurdle with just 5 runners going to post. I was very taken by Star Gate on rules debut at Chepstow (19f sft). The former P2P winner hacked up by 6.5L, more or less on the bridle. The 10L 4th boosted the form by winning on his next start. The 4yo son of Imperial Monarch is stoutly bred, being out of a dam who is out of a half-sister to Amberleigh House. So, no doubt his long term future lies as a staying chaser. He showed plenty of zip to score at Chepstow though and if he handles the testing conditions he could be hard to beat.
Evan Williams won’t be rushing him as he is a trainer who likes to take his time and let horses develop slowly. He also lacks the experience of some of his rivals and on this ground he could be worth taking on with Sending Love. Paul Nicholls’ charge looked to relish the testing conditions last time at Ffos Las and Nicholls said he wasn’t fully ready for that run.
The runner up Champagne Rhythm has since gone close in a Chepstow maiden. The 5th home in that race won a novice next time out. That looks like pretty decent form and with trip and ground to suit, he could give the Williams horse lots to think about. However, I am happy to sit this race out and I’ll be watching with a view to the future. No bet.
Sandown and Exeter Friday Tips: No Bet
Exeter 2.40pm – Handicap Chase (Class 3)
We go back into handicap company for the next race on ITV4 this Friday. Only 7 go to post in this 19f chase and I think King’s Odyssey could run a big race at decent odds on his return to action. Evan Williams trains this 11yo son of King’s Theatre and he has run well on his last three seasonal comebacks. Last year he was beat just 3L into 2nd by Rocco at Stratford off 137 (19f sft). In 2018 he was also 2nd on better ground at Aintree off 139. In 2017 he was only 2L behind Nuts Well in a class 2 conditions chase (16f sft).
Yes, the 19f trip today is short of his optimum distance, but that has been the case for all of his best comeback runs. He is running off 139, the same rating he last won off at Chepstow last season (24f sft). He is 2/4 on heavy ground and his other 2 wins came on soft so conditions here will pose no problems. Tom Scudamore takes over from the injured Adam Wedge in the plate and at odds of 12/1 with 3 places on offer from SkyBet, King’s Odyssey looks well worth backing each way.
Sandown and Exeter Friday Tips: King’s Odyssey e/w @ 12/1 (3 places Skybet)
Sandown 3.00pm – Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
This qualifier for the Pertemps at Cheltenham in March has attracted a field of 10 horses. On ground this testing the 23.5f trip will take some getting. Given that he is proven at the distance on heavy at Sandown, Dream Berry could be worth chancing each way. Last year’s runner up off 136 on similar ground to today’s has failed to reproduce that level of form since. However, he hasn’t had heavy ground since and his three career wins have come on soft or very soft ground. His sole start on heavy came in this race last year and he seemed to relish it.
He headed to the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in March and he was sent off at just 14/1. However, he suffered an overreach during the race and was well beat. He ran a nice race on good on his return at Market Rasen (20f) to finish 3rd, but he was poor last time at Newbury (24f gd). I am hoping the return to testing ground sparks a revival and he is likely to be trying to achieve a top half finish in this race at least to secure a spot at the Festival again in March. With 4 places on offer from a few firms, Dream Berry is the e/w NAP of the day at odds of 14/1.
Sandown and Exeter Friday Tips: Dream Berry e/w @ 14/1 NAP (4 Places)
Exeter 3.15pm – Handicap Chase (Class 3)
Things don’t get any easier in this marathon 30.5f handicap chase. This race won’t be for the faint of heart and it will be a proper war of attrition. Lithic heads the market but he has yet to prove he stays this far, especially on heavy.
Bermeo won over half a mile shorter at Cheltenham two starts ago. He then followed that up with another excellent placed effort there on his last outing. He is now 11lb higher than for his win though, and effectively 8lb higher than when 2nd if his jockey’s claims are considered. Dawson City is a two time C&D winner on soft and good to soft but he tends to come to hand in the Spring.
Petite Back For Another Go
Petite Power was 2nd in this race last year off 125 with Liam Harrison claiming 7lb and the two are back to try and go one better. He is proven on heavy and of those at the head of the betting he definitely makes most appeal. However, another one that has loads of stamina and that is proven on heavy is Holdbacktheriver. A course winner over 21f (hvy), he flopped in this race last season. He is back for another go off a 1lb lower mark and Conor Ring takes off another 3lb.
This son of Presenting was well beat on his return to action at Ffos Las behind the highly rated Hill Sixteen. However, that run came over just 19.5f and that is well short of his ideal trip. This step back up in distance is sure to suit this 8yo who was a winner at 26f last term at Chepstow (hvy). He has winning form at the track, he is effectively 1lb lower than his last winning mark thanks to Ring’s 3lb claim and at odds of 16/1, Holdbacktheriver is the each way selection.
Sandown and Exeter Friday Tips: Holdbacktheriver e/w @ 16/1 NB (5 Places Skybet)
Sandown 3.35pm – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
The finale on ITV4 on Friday is this 20f handicap hurdle for the mares. Nine will line up at the start and as the betting indicates, it is a tight affair. Given the underfoot conditions, a few can probably be discounted. Kentford Heiress would prefer good to soft or better. The same can be said for Misty Bloom, Bit On The Side and Vegas Blue. The favorite Emmpressive Lady won on good to soft last time but she at least ran well on soft on her previous start. However, her sole heavy ground start resulted in a 21L defeat.
At the odds, it might be worth taking a punt on former heavy ground winner Miss Honey Ryder. This daughter of Stowaway was bitterly disappointing on her seasonal return at Warwick (21f gd). However, she won a maiden at Huntingdon (20f hvy) on her final start of last season. The runner up on that occasion boosted the form by winning on her next outing. She also had Whitehotchilli 5.5L behind in a 21.5f maiden at Wincanton last season, getting 6lb, and she is now 4lb better off with that rival. Admittedly, the form of her trainer Warren Greatrex is the big negative. However, if this filly produces her best, she could go very well off 120 at odds of 20/1.
