Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I’m looking at the best of the action at Sandown this afternoon.
Sandown’s two-day Tingle Creek meeting gets underway this afternoon. The fields are small, but it’s a good card with two Grade 2 contests the highlights.
Sandown
No Drama This End is a warm favourite for the Grade 2 Betfair Winter Novices' Hurdle (1:45). The 5yo looked a smart novice hurdle prospect when winning a Grade 2 at Cheltenham on hurdle debut last month. He has a 5lb penalty to carry but connections will be disappointed if he can’t see off his four rivals.
The Grade 2 Betfair Esher Novices' Chase (2:20), worth £37,018 to the winner, has attracted just four runners.
Doyen Quest took advantage of race fitness and chasing experience to beat Quebecois at Exeter 28 days ago. He jumped well from the front, and you would expect Harry Skelton to adopt similar tactics here. Quebecois can win races over fences but provided the ground doesn’t ease too much I think Doyen Quest can confirm Exeter form.
Laurens Bay won the EBF Final over hurdles here in March and jumped soundly when beating a sole rival on chase debut at Uttoxeter last month. On RPRs he’s already a better chaser than hurdler and looks open to further improvement. His yard remains in tremendous form.
2:55 – Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m
Hidden History was progressive over hurdles in the spring and made a winning chase debut at Aintree last month. A 2lb rise looks lenient and he has obvious claims of following up.
Champagne Twist, a progressive handicap hurdler, won the EBF Final here in March 2024, two seasons back. He struggled in open company last season but bounced back to form when a two-length third to Hidden History at Aintree on return. He needs to jump better but is capable of better.
In d'Or, a progressive novice handicap chaser at around three miles last season for Venetia Williams, makes his debut for Fergal O’Brien. He probably didn’t stay 3m6f but wasn’t disgraced when sixth of 18 to Haiti Couleurs in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival. It’s his seasonal return, but he won first time up last season, so can go well fresh.
Java Point won a C&D handicap chase in February 2024 and was beaten a neck by Hoe Joly Smoke over C&D in March for his previous yard. He’s handicapped to be competitive but may be vulnerable to more progressive rivals on debut for a new yard.
Tommy The Tank makes a quick switch to chasing after just four runs over hurdles. He’s bred to do better over fences, and a mark of 122 looks workable on chase/handicap debut if he does take to the larger obstacles.
Kelce, progressive in handicap chases last season, made a solid return when a 1¼-length fourth of 18 at Cheltenham. He was said to be unsuited by the softening ground when only 7th of 16 back there last month. He’s interesting now returning to less testing ground.
Tomorrow I’ll be looking at the best of Saturday’s action.
Good luck with your Friday bets.
John