I will be at Sandown for the Jumps Finale and to see Willie Mullins become back-to-back British Champion Trainer unless Dan Skelton can perform some sort of miracle. I like the first race from a betting viewpoint.
13:20, bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle
St Pancras 12/1, 0.5pts each-way (4 places)
Nardaran 10/1, 0.75pts each-way (4 places)
2 of the past 4 renewals of this race have been won by 4 year olds and I fancy 2 here at double digit prices. St Pancras was fairly useful on the flat but has stepped up a gear since sent hurdling by new connections. He won a fair race at Musselburgh at big odds in January but jumped well (has scope to) and backed that up by finishing 2nd in a Grade 2 at Kempton a couple of weeks later. He's since won well at Stratford and looks to be going the right way. He's not been hit harshly by the handicapper and I think a big field scenario with plenty of pace on is just what this horse needs. At the bottom of the handicap is Paul Nicholls' Nardaran. Ok, he has been deserted by stable jockey Harry Cobden but champion jockey elect Sean Bowen takes over and I think this fella is peaking at the right time. He comes here fresher than most after having just 3 runs this season and he looked like a nice horse when I saw him earlier in the season it's just taken him time to come into his own. If he can now tap into his potential then his opening mark looks very fair.
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