Sandown Saturday 07/01/2022
I wanted to start a weekly blog where I gave my opinions on some of the races and what better way to start than a tricky weekend at Sandown.
13:50 SANDOWN — Handicap Chase (Class 2)
I’m not surprised to see Gunsight Ridge currently heading the market with his form tying in recent winner L’homme Presse. He doesn’t look like the most reliable horse though, being a beaten favourite on his last four starts. Not to mention the yard are in horrid form with one winner from their last 34 runners.
I’m split between two of the more exposed rivals in MOONLIGHTER and Monsieur Lecoq, with a slight preference for the former. A runner in the race last year he returns off a 6lb lower mark and in a field that looks weaker. He’s a winner over the C&D, will appreciate the soft ground and has an eye-catching jockey booking in Harry Cobden. I looked at the stats for Nick Williams when he jocks up Harry Cobden and he comes away with a 27% strike rate and a +16.75pts
MOONLIGHTER 13/2 Win
14:25 SANDOWN — Tolworth Hurdle (Grade 1)
The race all revolves around Constitution Hill, I expect him to win this and he will firmly cement himself as a supreme horse. That being said he is a 1/3 shot so I've tried to find the forecast for you.
I’ve landed on SHALLWEHAVEONEMORE who ran a really good race given how keen he ran on hurdling debut. The form of that run is mainly untested but he did have Peking Rose in behind who managed to win by 11L on his next start. Peking Rose ran to a high level as a bumper horse placing in the Grade 2 Aintree bumper and has been given an opening mark of 135.
1st CONSTITUTION HILL 2nd SHALLWEHAVEONEMORE
15:00 SANDOWN — Veterans Chase (Class 2)
The class horse in this race is Aso and it will be no shock to see him go and win tomorrow. There are a few doubts about him, the first and main concern I have is him staying up that Sandown hill. He finished a tired horse at Haydock and looks up against it to me carrying that big weight.
It’s not a confident selection but I think FINAL NUDGE can go well again following his win last time out. I can see this race becoming a real test of stamina and this horse has that in abundance, as we saw last season in the Midlands National.
FINAL NUDGE 7/2 Win
15:35 SANDOWN — Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
A chance is taken on NAVAJO PASS to bounce back to form. He’s still a young horse and time is definitely on his side. You don't have to look back far to see some solid form like his 4th in the Triumph and it was only last season when he won a Grade 2 beating the former champion hurdler Buveur D’air.
He was disappointing on his return to the track in December, running a touch keen and on ground that would've been on the quick side. He now finds himself off a workable mark of 145 and teaming up with a very good 5lb claimer in Theo Gillard. They've reached for the first time cheekpieces which are interesting but I'm more looking forward to seeing him on stamina testing ground and powering up the stiff Sandown hill.
NAVAJO PASS 8/1 E/W (3 Places)
