Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I have the luxury of being able to look back at yesterday’s Sandown card. Plus, there’s a selection from Kelso.
Sandown Review
Looking at the times it was close to heavy at Sandown yesterday and more testing than I had been expecting.
The two Sandown handicap chases were won by horses who made all. If a horse can get an uncontested lead and into a good jumping rhythm they can be hard to peg back around here over fences.
Etalon is Aintree Bound
Etalon jumped well to win the Class 3 Team Forces “Ubique” Handicap Chase. The 7-year-old took his unbeaten record over fences to three and comfortably defied a new mark of 131. After the race connections indicated that he would go for the Grade 1 Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree in April.
When he went odds on, I took on Etalon with Gunsight Ride who finished an honourable nine length second. The runner-up won’t come up against such a progressive and well-treated rival and can win a race. I also went with The Last Day each way to small stakes. He ran well enough to finish fourth but isn’t the force of old.
The Grade 2 Jane Seymour Mares' Novices' Hurdle went to the Fergal O’Brien trained Springtime Promise (11/1). The 7-year-old revels in the testing ground and got the better of longtime leader Cherie D'am at the last to win going away. Cherie D'am got her own way out in front but she was no match for the winner after the last.
I went with Aston Martini who finished a well beaten fourth and she didn’t stay 2m 4f on that ground. Her stablemate Either Or ran poorly and was beaten a long way from home.
I’m not sure the value of the form but for the winner can’t have it soft enough.
Farceur Du Large completed the Grand Military Gold/Royal Artillery Gold Cup double. The only surprise to me was his generous 13/8 starting price.
Bretney 16/1, I'll Take That
I got most of the Sandown races wrong but Bretney’s win in the 3m Handicap Chase ensured a generous profit for myself and those who joined my Victor Value service. Bretney was one of two horses that I mentioned in yesterday’s race preview so hopefully some of you were on.
Sam Twiston-Davies got the 9-year-old into a good jumping rhythm out in front and he was never headed.
I was beginning to wonder when my next big-priced winner would come along, and I wasn’t expecting Bretney to go off at anything close to 16/1! I thought he would be half those odds given the pace set up suited and he stays much further than 3m. Mind you I’m not complaining and nor are my subscribers.
Yesterday’s selection Valens Bruyee ran ok in third on handicap debut in the concluding race on the card. His jumping was a bit scruffy, but he’s a big horse with scope and may fare better when going over fences.
Friday Preview
Kelso
The best of Friday’s action is at Kelso. The feature race of a seven-race card is the Racing's Best Ratings With Timeform Handicap Chase (3:25). Course specialist Empire Of Steel, 3-5 at the track including this corresponding race in 2022, heads the betting. The 10-year-old is down in class here and has a favourites chance.
Friday’s selection runs in the two-mile handicap hurdle (2:55) 30 minutes earlier. Cracking Rhapsody has improved with of his three starts over hurdles. And the 5-year-old posted a career best on RPR’s when 3 ¼ length 2nd of 4 to one of today’s rival Ginger Mail over C&D last month. He gets a 4lb pull with the winner and he’s open to the more improvement of the pair.
Friday Selection:
Cracking Rhapsody is strangely easy pick for your humble pundit which never bodes well. If you can get the 11/2 available, then I think you should get a good run for your money.
Kelso
2:55 – Cracking Rhapsody.
Good luck with your Friday bets.
John