Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I look forward to the best of Saturday’s action at Sandown and Punchestown.

Jumps Season Finale

The curtain descends on the British & Irish jumps seasons at Sandown and Punchestown this afternoon. It’s Finale Day at Sandown when this season’s top trainer and jockey will be crowned.  Paul Nicholls is once again Champion Trainer and Brian Hughes has long had the jockey’s title in the bag. The big betting race of the weekend is Sandown’s Bet365 Gold Cup and there’s a good supporting card of races.

I won’t be watching the racing from the sofa this afternoon as I’m off to Ripon this afternoon. I wouldn’t normally be looking at the Ripon card but given I will be there, and no doubt will have a bet or two I have had to spend some time looking at the form.  Of course, that means I have more races to look at on Saturday than I want.

ITV are covering five races live from Sandown and one each from Leicester and Haydock on a seven race programme. Add in the final day of the Punchestown Festival and it’s a day brim-full of quality racing.

Saturday Preview

Punchestown

It’s the final day of the Punchestown Festival. There’s two Grade 1’s on the card. The first of them is the Mares Champion Hurdle (3:40). Love Envoi runner-up to Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham will be hard to beat here. Especially as she’s likely to get an uncontested lead. Echoes in Rain wasn’t seen to best effect at Cheltenham and provided she’s not ridden too far off the pace will get closer to Love Envoi.

The second Grade 1 is Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (5:00). Triumph Hurdle winner Lossiemouth will be tough to beat. Besides Lossiemouth Willie Mullins has the next two in the betting in Triumph Hurdle runner-up Gala Marceau and Zarak The Brave. Lossiemouth is the best juvenile we have seen this season. Her biggest rival might not be one of her stablemates but instead Enjoy The Dream.  The filly caused a 33/1 surprise when beating Blood Destiny in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse 19-days ago. However, I don’t think there was any fluke about her success and she open to further improvement on just her third start over hurdles.

Sandown

I previewed the Bet365 Gold Cup (2:15) in Wednesday’s column but there’s a good reason why I’m revisiting the race.

Bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2:15)

Eighteen were left in the race at Thursday’s final declaration stage and they don’t include last year’s winner Hewick. 

Frodon will now carry top weight 12-0. He should give his backers a good run for their money out in front, but will he stay and extended 3m 4f?

Kitty’s Light doesn’t have a penalty for last Saturday’s Scottish Grand National success. You couldn’t rule out what would be an incredible big race double, but the quick turnaround makes me look elsewhere at his current 5/1 and any easing of the ground would be a worry.

Tea Clipper’s 6th of 23 to Corach Rambler in Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham is now looking strong form and his claims would be enhanced on good ground.

Annsam looked better than ever when winning last time and is well suited to going right handed. Stamina for trip is a bit of unknown but if he stays, he’s capable of winning off his new mark.

Revels Hill has solid claims as does Coolvalla. The latter beat Revels Hill a length at Exeter last timeand is 2lb worse off here. However, he knows how to win and if the rain arrives to ease the ground I can see him confirming form.

Paul Nicholls has targeted Enrilo at this race all season and he’s now 6lb lower than when first past the post in 2021.  A case of unfinished business maybe. He pulled up in last year’s race but had wind surgery in the summer. He’s not the most reliable betting proposition but he’s hard to keep off the shortlist for all that.

Can a previous course winner do it again?

Previous winners at Sandown are 0 winners from 63 runners -63 15 placed since 2008 but I’m still sweet on the chances of Certainly Red. A progressive handicap chaser. He made it 4-7 over fences when winning at Wincanton on his last start over fences. A 7lb rise in the weights demand more from the 9-year-old but Caoilin Quinn taking off a handy 5lb.

Last year’s runner-up Musical Slave looked as good as ever when winning a veterans chase at Exeter two starts back. However, he never got involved in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last time. It’s easy to forgive that run as he’s a better horse going right handed. Indeed, six of seven career wins have come going this way around and his record going right handed between January & May is a healthy 6 wins from 12 runs +14.8 9 placed 75% (+18.90).  Like Certainly Red he’s another who must bust that previous course winner trend.

Rest of the Sandown card

Taking a brief look at the other four Sandown races on ITV.

1:05 – bet365 Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle – 2m

Paul Nicholls has won two of the last three running’s of this race and he’s got three of the 16 runners.  The best of his trio could be the Harry Cobden ridden Killaloan who completed the hat trick when winning at Ludlow last month. Up 6lb but probably open to further improvement.

Nicky Henderson has a couple of live contenders in the lightly raced pair Under Control & Iberico Lord. The first named is a filly going the right way who appreciated the return to better ground when winning a valuable mares’ only handicap hurdle at Cheltenham 9-days ago. Provide the ground remains good she’s a big player off 7lb higher. Iberico Lord got off the mark at the third attempt over hurdles when winning at Stratford (heavy) 28-days ago. He produced a nice change of gear to win last time and must be of interest on handicap debut especially if the rain has arrived.

Celtic Art a useful flat handicapper, made it 2-3 over hurdles when winning at Wincanton 86-days ago. Likely has been aimed at this race since winning last time and he looks on a workable mark for his handicap hurdle debut.

1:40 – bet365 Celebration Chase – 2m

Just the five for the Grade 1 on the card. Recent Aintree Grade 1 Novice Chase winner Jonbon goes into open company and if he does run, he will be tough to beat.

Greaneteen needs respecting in his bid for a race hat trick. Good ground and C&D suits but any further ease in the ground make Jonbon’s claims even stronger.

Captain Guinness posted a career best when a 10 length 2nd of 7 to Energumene in Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last time. Likely to give his running but needs a couple of these to falter to win.

Editeur Du Gite has already had a good season winning the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton in December and the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham. Not in the same form when a well beaten fourth in the Queen Mother Champion Chase last time. Likely to get his own way out in front here though and could bounce back to his best.

Funambule Sivola, fell early in the Champion Chase last time and looks held by Editeur Du Gite on his running behind that one earlier in the season. However, he does like good ground.

2:50 – bet365 Oaksey Chase – 2m 6 ½ f

Seven have been declared for this Grade contest and they include Hewick (also in the Bet365 Gold Cup). The sponsors make him the 5/4 favourite and given he’s 10lb+ in hand of his rivals on official ratings you can see why.

Any rain will help First Flow.  A high class chaser two seasons back. He showed he retains plenty of his old ability when a 7 ½ length 3^rd of 7 to Pic D’Orhy in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on his seasonal return. Unseated his rider in the Grade 1 in Betfair Ascot Chase last time. Had a light campaign but needs the rain to arrive to win.

Solo gained a second chase success when winning the Grade 2 Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton last time. He jumped well out in front at Kempton and his rivals won’t want to give him an easy time of it out in front. He needs to improve again to win but this is his second start since wind surgery and he could be capable of doing so. Trainer Paul Nicholls bids for a fourth successive win in the race.

3:25 – bet365 Josh Gifford Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 2m 4f

Hudson De Grugy relished the return to testing ground when winning over C&D last month. That was the 6-year-old’s fourth course success all on soft or heavy ground. A 3lb rise in the weights is workable but he will need the ground to ease significantly to defy it.

The Paul Nicholls trained Cap Du Mathan is sure to be popular with punters given his 2023 form figures are 1122. He doesn’t find as much at the finish as he often promises though and at the prices I can happily look elsewhere. Stablemate Quel Destin was a neck behind Hudson De Grugy over C&D last time and is 2lb better off here. He’s another whose best form has come on softer ground and if the rain arrives, he’s competitively weighted.

Gloire D'athon completed a handicap chase hat trick when winning over C&D in December. And wasn’t disgraced when a 4 ½ lengths 2^nd of 6 at Plumpton last time. The return to a galloping track will suit the 7-year-old and a 75 day lay off shouldn’t be an issue as he’s won fresh in the past. Just 3lb higher than for his last win and looks to have a good chance here,

Saturday Selection:

Sandown

3:25 – Gloire D'athon – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Good luck with your Saturday bets.

John