Hi all,
Compared to recent Saturdays since early November, this looks one of the weakest. Post-Christmas racing is often labelled “turkey sandwich” fare, and that description fits ITV’s Sandown and Wincanton coverage all too well.
The veterans take centre stage at Sandown. The feature is the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final (3:05). Unibet also sponsor a Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle (1:15) and a Middle-Distance Veterans’ Chase Qualifier (1:50).
However, Sandown has already lost the last two running’s of this fixture to the weather, and there’s a danger it could lose this to the frost. This is the first staging of the card since the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle (now the Formby Hurdle) was moved to Aintree’s Boxing Day card, and the card is noticeably weaker as a result. A Listed Mares’ Hurdle (2:25) is a poor substitute.
Wincanton offers only modest fare. ITV are covering a Class 3 and two Class 4 handicaps, which tells its own story. Even so, I do have three fancies at the Somerset track. If you want them, you can get them here.
Inside today’s main piece you’ll find my Saturday ITV verdicts, assuming Sandown and Wincanton survive the frost.
Sandown
1:50 – If Jet Plane gets a prominent ride, he can follow up his recent Leicester success.
2:25 – Jubilee Alpha can get her head in front for the first time this season, but I wouldn’t want to take a short price about her. There will be much better 6/5 shots this winter.
3:05 – Annsam looks a bit of value at 8/1, but his yard is out of form, and he may want more cut. Credo is fine on good ground but needs a proper stamina test. If she gets it, she’ll be thereabouts. Her stablemate Gustavian will relish the conditions and, while short enough at 7/2, is the one to beat.
3:35 – All In You and Hot Fuss are the pair to focus on, I can’t split them nor can the bookies, but I have slight preference for the class dropping Hot Fuss.
Wincanton
1:30 – Silver Thorn is unproven on good ground, but if he’s effective on it, he can follow up his Doncaster win. The return to better ground will suit Vision De Maine, who also wears first-time blinkers and looks a solid alternative.
2:05 – Him Malaya is a C&D winner on a winnable mark, but Premier is my strongest fancy on Saturday, and he can follow up his Taunton success.
2:40 – Got A Dream has live claims of landing the hat-trick. Cruden had a spin on the all-weather last month and should be spot-on fitness-wise. He’s effective on a sound surface and is on a winnable mark. Call Me Legend is consistent and shaped last time as though this longer trip will suit.
Fingers crossed Naas can race on Sunday because it hosts arguably the best novice hurdles of the season so far, the Grade 1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle (1:25). There’s also a decent card at Plumpton where the feature race is the Sussex National (2:35). However, Plumpton faces a Saturday 1pm precautionary inspection to see if it can race.
I’ll be back on Monday to look back at the weekend’s jumps action — assuming we get some jump racing.
Good luck with your Saturday bets.
All the best,
John