I will be at Sandown Park on Friday for a most informative days action. It is always a pleasure to see National Hunt racing in Esher, with it's iconic Railway Fences and Pond Fence, Sandown is one of the most enjoyable tracks in the country. The racecourse was opened in 1875 after being a site of a priory as far back as 1349 and it has the distinction of being host to the very first televised racing on the BBC in 1948. I'll run down the races in order.
12:48, Daily Tips On Betting.Betfair 'Introductory' Juvenile Hurdle
City Of London 7/2
I had the benefit of being at Wincanton 55 days ago to witness Hot Fuss make his hurdles debut against the classy East India Dock. He is small in stature (ex-flat horse, by Coventry winner Calyx) but managed to give the now Triumph Hurdle favourite a good race after they had both set furious fractions throughout. He could be worth taking on however, as at Wincanton he did weaken after the last and that was on very good ground. He races at a much stiffer track here and on much softer ground, so may be vulnerable considering his only win on the flat came over 7 furlongs and he finished 3rd of 7 on his only start beyond 10 furlongs. He undoubtedly has the form but I'll side with the once raced City of London from the Kerry Lee stable. He is stoutly bred being by Nathanial and out of a Selkirk mare. He ran a huge race on his very first run at Chepstow last month when downed late on by the favourite My Noble Lord who I don't think gave his true running at Cheltenham last month. I expect him to come on bundles for that run and serve it up to the short priced favourite. See The Green is respected but will find it difficult now shouldering a 5 pound penalty for winning a 5 runner maiden hurdle at Ludlow. Marhaba Million and Galactic Charm both make their hurdles debut and could run well, albeit this is a tough little race, whilst Small Fry is expected to improve for his first hurdles run at Fontwell last time out when a disapointing 3rd as the odds-on favourite. They should be monitored in the betting.
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13:23, Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase
Mount Tempest 7/4
There are only 5 runners here but plenty like to get on with it and so this could turn into a real test at the short trip. Calgary Tiger will probably try and make the running as usual but is still above his highest winning mark and consistency is proving his downfall. Invincible Nao will also be pressing the pace and is capable on his day but looks the worse handicapped of these as he's now 10 pounds higher than when winning at Fakenham last season and this trip is short of his best. Mint Gold is still 3 pounds above his highest winning mark over fences. He has won twice in this sphere but both at Musselburgh and this is a difficult track to venture south to. Intimate will most likely go off favourite for the in-form Venetia Williams stable but this is his chase debut and although he is potentially well handicapped off a mark of 113 I'm going to side with Mount Tempest. Dan Skelton's 7 year old won this race last year and it's likely that he has been primed for a repeat. He is only 3 pounds higher than when winning by 8 lengths at Wetherby in January and his course form reads 1st, 3rd. He had a good pipe opener in a tough race at Bangor 22 days ago (Jagwar and Lowry's Bar ahead of him) and should go close to doubling up in this race.
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13:58, Betfair Winter Novices' Hurdle
Quebecois 2/1
This race has a really classy roll of honour with some proper top-notchers claiming it in the way to future glory down the years: Neptune Collonges (2005), Fingal Bay (2011), Taquin De Seuil (2012), Messire Des Obeaux (2016), On The Blind Side (2017). There are 6 runners declared for this year's renewal and it looks a very hot one. It's not clear who will go off favourite but at the time of writing it is just about Kingston Pride. Nicky Henderson's 5 year old shaped nicely in bumpers before outclassing the field on hurdles debut at Uttoxeter last time out. He did have to be kept up to his work a little bit though and his hurdling technique left a bit to be desired. He has yet to run on soft ground and at the prices can be taken on. Bill Joyce was thought enough of to be sent off just 7/1 for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and was put away for the season after being well beaten in that. He bounced back to win easily on his first go over hurdles at Carlisle 33 days ago and now has 4 wins from 5 runs. He is respected, as is Admiral Stewart who looks to have bundles of stamina and a real likeness for soft ground after impressing at Ffos Las last time out from a decent horse; but I think the Paul Nicholls trained Quebecois could be something a bit special. He has only been seen twice since bolting up on rules debut in a bumper at Exeter in December of last year. One was in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham when finding it too hot to handle but he oozed class when hacking up at Chepstow on hurdles debut 38 days ago. He barely came off the bridle that day but came home 8 lengths clear and hurdled with fluency. He looks to have plenty of stamina and is a big hardy horse who should be best suited to this stiff Sandown test.
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14:33, Betfair Esher Novices' Chase
Resplendent Grey 6/4
I was a big fan of Handstands last season as I thought he looked a potential top notcher in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon. He bombed out at Cheltenham since and was beaten when falling on chase debut at Wincanton last month. That was a weaker race than this but his jumping didn't impress and he'll be tested to the max here. Cadell could run well after winning easily last time out but the form is nowhere near as strong as Resplendent Grey's. Olly Murphy's 6 year old could have easily won a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month if he had jumped the last 2 fences better and is the way to go here. He always looked a horse with potential over hurdles but has really improved over fences and has a strong attitude. He should be winning this at the expense of chase debutants Saint Davy and Welcome To Cartries who have been pitched into the deep end on chase debuts.
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15:03, Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Chase
Hoe Joly Smoke 9/4
This is a decent handicap chase but a few look in the grip of the handicapper. On the evidence of 2 chase runs, Beachcomber looks marked about right on 128 and will have to give weight away all round. Tea Clipper continues to tumble down the weights but it is 3 years since his last win and 3 miles on soft ground round Sandown might not be the key to breaking that sequence. Jupiter Du Gite has a decent record round Sandown but is 7 pounds higher than his only chase win and pins are hoped on a step up in trip. Passing Well is the stamp of a 3 mile chaser but I just don't think he puts it all in and is struggling to fulfil his potential in this sphere. Jupiter Allen's win at Exeter last time out looks like strong form and he is respected as a lightly raced 5 year old but consistency is not his strong point and it is taken on trust that he will be in the same form. Moroder has been disappointing recently and can only be watched and King's Threshold has gone the wrong way since winning at Ascot in March on good ground. Bali Boly is interesting as a previous course and distance winner with good form but this is hard off a 377 day absence and I'll be going with Dan Skelton's Hoe Joly Smoke. He finished 2nd to Resplendent Grey on chase debut in October and hasn't been seen since with connections perhaps waiting for softer ground. His hurdles form reads well in this context and a mark of 120 should be readily exploitable.
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15:35, Betfair Racing Podcasts Novices' Handicap Hurdle
I Wish You 4/1
I trappy little handicap to end the day and it's almost impossible to work out who's going to be the furthest ahead of their mark. I Wish You defeated a subsequent winner from the Olly Murphy stable when getting off the mark over hurdles at Carlisle 50 days ago. He's had plenty of experience on soft ground and stamina sapping courses so will be probably be the best equipped to handle this challenge.
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