Wolverhampton and Sandown Saturday Tips – DS
Wolverhampton and Sandown Saturday Tips
We finished up last weekend with one winner. Our NB Nells Son benefitted from the step up in trip and ended up scoring at 16/1. Things went downhill afterwards though. Kalooki ran a very poor race, as did Democratic Oath. Sweet Street seemed to lose heart after getting bumped and while Bun Doran kept up his end of the bargain, Cedar Hill ran flat. Some Reign was never at the races and Legends Gold showed up well but faded badly. With Cheltenham around the corner, hopefully we can boost the coffers. Check out Dave Stevos’ Wolverhampton and Sandown Saturday tips below.
1.31 Wolverhampton – Handicap (6f)
In the hope that the return to Wolverhampton sparks him back to form, Astro Jakk is the selection in this 6f handicap. Karl Burke also runs Exalted Angel who is shorter in the betting but he has yet to win at this track. Astro Jakk won on his last visit off a mark of 88 and he is in off the same rating today. On that occasion he was drawn wide, and it is a similar story this afternoon.
Sam James rode him in that race back in December and he gave him a superb ride. He managed to tack across to the inside early on and when the gap opened as they turned for home, his mount surged through it and went on to score by a neck from Fizzy Feet. On his next couple of starts at Southwell and Newcastle he wasn’t quite as good but last time out over 7f at Newcastle he did shape a bit better.
The handicapper has given him a chance now and the return of Sam James to the plate is a big plus. Not only is he 1/1 on Astro Jakk, he is 13/104 for Burke with a further 54 top 4 finishes. In 2022 he is 3/14 with seven places (71% frame hitting strike rate). Luck will be required given this horse’s running style. However, if he gets the breaks, he could sneak into the money at odds of 18/1.
Wolverhampton and Sandown Saturday Tips: Astro Jakk e/w @ 18/1
1.50 Sandown – EBF Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
This race is a minefield. Knappers Hill is the favourite after a very creditable effort against an experienced field in the Betfair Hurdle. He has already finished 3rd in a G2 behind Jonbon and he should be competitive off a rating of 135. Nicholls has won this race three times since 2010 and it would be no surprise if Knappers Hill improved that record.
However, this race has thrown up the occasional surprise, like last year when Beauport scored at 28s. If there is going to be a turn up, perhaps Mumbo Jumbo can provide it. This fella has progressed with every run so far over timber. Pulled up on his return, he then finished 4th at Chepstow before chasing home Surrey Quest at Doncaster (19f sft). At Ludlow last time out he was beat just 3L into 3rd, a length behind the runner up Hometown Hero off levels.
Surrey Quest re-opposes here, as does Hometown Hero. Mumbo Jumbo was conceding 1lb to the Henderson horse when beat 7L at Donny but he is 9lbs better off with him here when Nathan Brennan’s claim is considered. He is 2lbs better off with Hometown Hero for a length so he could easily turn both pieces of form around. Emma Lavelle’s charge is bred to appreciate this nicer ground and he has been freshened up for this contest. At odds of 25/1, he is the each way pick.
Wolverhampton and Sandown Saturday Tips: Mumbo Jumbo e/w @ 25/1 (5 Places)
2.05 Wolverhampton – Lincoln Trial Handicap (Class 2)
Last season Summit Star was a huge eyecatcher in this race. Geoffrey Harker’s star should have won and I ended up putting him up for the Lincoln on the back of that run. The now 9yo son of Shamardal was beaten 1.5L off 96 and he is back for another go off 92 this time around. On his Doncaster 2nd to Royal Fleet last September, that mark looks extremely workable.
Royal Fleet was in off 100 that day (Scottish Summit was off 94) and only 0.5L separated them. He has since got to within a length of Lord Glitters at Meydan and after a G3 win, he is now rated 109. It was arguably one of the best runs of Scottish Summit’s career and he wasn’t disgraced on either of his last two starts of the season at Redcar and Newmarket.
This son of Shamardal has a good record when fresh. He has won and placed first time up in the past. With a bit more luck he would have enhanced that record here last year. Regular partner Sam James is in the plate and hopefully he drops this fella in from his wide draw and finishes fast and late. There has been a few quid around for him already but 16/1 is still available. At those odds, Scottish Summit is worth an e/w punt.
Wolverhampton and Sandown Saturday Tips: Scottish Summit e/w @ 16/1 NAP (4 PLACES)
2.25 Sandown – Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
He may have won just one race from 10 attempts over hurdles, but I think Zambezi Fix could run a big race here for Welsh handler Bernard Llewellyn and Sean Bowen. This ex-Irish 7yo grey gelding’s sole win so far came when he was trained by Gordon Elliott. He landed a Wexford handicap hurdle off 112 (16f hvy). However, this horse has arguably shown better form on good to soft without getting his head in front.
Llewellyn picked him up for £32k at the sales in July 2020 and when he has completed, he has finished out of the frame just once (U222f2523). Two of his best UK hurdle runs have come over today’s C&D. in December he beat everyone bar Samarrive off a mark of 126 (16f gd/sft) and then he was beat 0.5L by Hydraplane off 127 two starts ago on heavy. The Ian Williams horse is actually 1lb better off with him today but I’d fancy our selection to turn the form around on this nicer ground.
This horse got to within 1.5L of Funambule Sivola (then rated 136) over fences off 126 a year ago. The winner is now rated 159. I think that run proves that Zambezi Fix surely has a decent pot in him off 128 and a strongly run race around here could be just what the doctor ordered. The booking of Sean Bowen looks significant too (3/15 for the yard with 6 top 4s). At odds of 28/1, Zambezi Fix can hopefully sneak into the money.
Wolverhampton and Sandown Saturday Tips: Zambezi Fix e/w @ 28/1 NB (7 Places)
2.40 Wolverhampton – Lady Wulfruna Stakes (Listed)
This isn’t the easiest of races to weigh up but if Highfield Princess is a 6/1 shot, I’m not sure how Fauvette has been priced up at 33/1. These two met in a conditions race at Chelmsford last time out. The Quinn horse was giving Fauvette 3lbs and on ratings she should have been able to handle that with ease. She led and was able to set her own pace but Fauvette was always well positioned and she picked up well in the closing stages and went and won her race.
The presence of Camachess in fourth has probably caused many ‘experts’ to knock that form but this is a talented filly. She seemed to really relish the step up to 7f and there could be more to come from her at this type of trip. She is versatile tactically so Callum Shepherd will have options from stall 3. While this is a big step up in class, I think she has shown enough on her last three runs to warrant a small e/w investment at odds of 33/1.
Wolverhampton and Sandown Saturday Tips: Fauvette e/w @ 33/1 (4 places Hills)
3.00 Sandown – National Hunt Flat Race (Listed)
If she is fully wound up and ready to go, Eel Pie Island could outrun her odds. This 4yo filly has an interesting profile. She was a rare bumper winner at Exeter (13f gd) for Ralph Beckett back in October. Paul Webber then bought her at the sales for £60k. This will be her first start for 144 days and the fact she starts out in this company suggests that she has been showing plenty at home.
Her full sister, Talking About You, has picked up a pair of Listed hurdles so she is bred to be useful. She had a horse called Iliade Allen 7L behind her in 3rd when she won at Exeter. That filly won next time out and then finished runner up in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Eel Pie Island is completely unexposed, her trainer has a decent record at Sandown and at odds of 28/1, she is a speculative e/w selection in an open race.
