Side with Benbens as veterans take centre stage at Sandown
The New Year kicks off with meetings at Sandown and Chelmsford, and the Channel 4 cameras will be there to see all the action
The Veterans Series Final in the 3.00 at Sandown looks to be a highly competitive race with many horses having a good chance.
Selection goes to Benbens for the Twiston-Davies team who is dropping in class after finding the Hennessy Gold Cup too difficult last time out.
This race is a significantly easier and Benbens should have every chance having recorded plenty of good efforts in races at three miles and further which include a third in last season’s Scottish Grand National.
Benbens won at Aintree earlier this season and should go very close again on Saturday.
His main challenger could be Soll who bounced back from a poor reappearance to run a cracking race in the Becher Chase when fourth and comes into this race off an unchanged mark.
He recorded two wins last year and also ran a respectable race in the Grand National. Course form is always a positive and Soll has won over the course and distance.
A final horse of note is Reaping The Reward who made a good reappearance behind Sego Success and should hold every chance, with the fact that Richard Johnson is also booked for the ride another positive.
Tango set to lead
Intense Tango makes her debut on the all-weather at Chelmsford on Saturday and is taken to make it a winning one.
She comes into the race off the back of a couple of hurdles appearances so fitness should not be an issue, and the fact she was pitched in at the highest level over hurdles last time shows the quality she possesses.
She could also be on a lenient handicap mark if she can convert her hurdles form to the all-weather.
She made some good appearances on the flat turf in the summer, including a second out of fifteen at Newmarket behind a smart rival and should face easier competition on Saturday.
Main opposition could be Paddy’s Motorbike, a three-year-old who could still be open to plenty of improvement.
He runs off a very low mark when considering his jockey’s 7lb claim and the step up in trip on Saturday could help him improve past his current handicap.
A final one to consider is proven stayer Percy Veer who recorded a victory over 1m 6f in November, so should have no problems on Saturday if he is ready to show his best after only five days off the track.
Pearls set to be a Legend for punters in Sandown 1.50
Pearls Legend has been extremely consistent in recent months having not been outside the first three in his last nine runs and looks set to give a good account again.
That consistency was rewarded at Cheltenham last time out when he recorded a much-deserved success.
He won twice at Sandown in 2015 and this course form is a positive in this competitive affair.
His main threat could be Barrakilla who has already recorded a win on testing conditions which should stand him in good stead for Saturday, particularly as he only has to carry 10-03 which should help in Saturday’s testing conditions.
He had some good performances in similar races last season and did well on his reappearance. He should be fitter for that run and a performance of that standard should see him go close.
