Sandown on Saturday
It’s mad to think that we’ve almost reached the end of the jumps season.
Saturday’s finale at Sandown Park rounds off the UK season, but we’ve still got Punchestown to look forward to next week over in Ireland.
Twominutes Turkish 12/1 is one I think can go well in the opener (13:55). He’ll like a fast-paced handicap like this, and I think he’s still improving.
He’s won on good ground before so that won’t be a problem to him. His trainer, Chris Gordon, had the second in this race in 2018 and he could go one better this year.
Frodon 8/11 should take all the beating in the Oaksey Chase (14:30). He’s had another cracking season and should be tough to peg back if he and Bryony [Frost] get into a good rhythm from the offset.
He likes good ground and should have it all his own way.
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase heroine Put The Kettle On 11/5 features in the Celebration Chase (15:05) and I think it will be a corker of a race.
Even though Put The Kettle On will get the 7lb mares’ allowance, I’m not so sure she’ll love Sandown and, for that reason, I think Altior 5/2 is the one to side with.
He’s a super horse and it would be a top performance if he wins. Looking at it, he’s been lightly raced for one reason or another in the past couple of years and that could help him.
Kitty’s Light 6/1 always impresses me with his jumping and that is key in a race like this (15:40).
He battled well to win at Kelso last time and is certainly at the right end of the handicap for this competitive race.
If you look at where he has run this season, it looks as though this has been the target all along. His connections know how to get one right and his young jockey [Jack Tudor] is a talented young rider.
Pic D’Orhy 5/1 was only narrowly beaten at Taunton last time, despite looking like the winner for nearly all of the race. It didn’t work out for him over fences, so they’ve come back over hurdles.
He’s a talented horse and there could be some unfinished business with him over the smaller obstacles in the 16:15.
Belargus SP is one I like for Nick Gifford in the Josh Gifford Novices’ Chase (16:50).
He was tanking through the race at Sandown last time before he tipped up. He’s improved this season and I think this may have been his long-term plan.
Nicky Henderson has won the last race on this card (17:25) for the past two years and I think his horse Cascova SP – who sluiced up at Ascot last time – has a good chance of completing the hat-trick.
He’s clearly better on better ground and will love the conditions. He’s a strong travelling horse, so I think Nico [de Boinville] will keep a hold of him until the last hurdle, then away they go.
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