Sandown hosts a competitive Saturday card – centring around the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle. Our expert has assessed the chances of the market leaders for all seven races on the day – labelling them either a ‘banker’ or a ‘blowout’. Check out the verdicts below, alongside an exclusive bet £10 get £20 in free bets Virgin Bet sign up offer.
MALAKAHNA (12:05pm, Unibet Extra Place Races Every Day Juvenile Hurdle) 6/5
The last three favourites have gone in for this opening juvenile hurdle, but the Ian Williams trained MALAKAHNA could struggle to make that four in a row.
This filly ran out an impressive winner on her hurdles/stable debut at Fakenham in October, but the horses that ran in that contest are a combined 0-16 since.
She herself was beaten when upped to Listed level at Aintree last month, where not looking the easiest ride under pressure and appearing to find the ground a little softer than ideal.
With similar conditions to contend with here, she can be opposed. Gary Moore’s Moulins Clermont bombed out on stable debut at Fontwell in November, but he has been given time to get over that and these softer ground conditions could see him to much better effect – he rates the most likely winner.
Verdict: Fakenham form has been let down since and soft ground is a big concern, so opposable at the prices. BLOWOUT
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GAULOISE (12:40pm, Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Mares’ Hurdle) 6/5
Willie Mullins and Paul Townend team up for just the one runner on the Sandown card, GAULOISE, which may prove a tip in itself.
This 6yo was not far short of top-class in novice company last season, with a Cheltenham 11th the only real blot on her copybook. She ended the campaign with a dominant 10l Punchestown Festival victory, and that form has worked out well with the four horses directly behind all winning since.
Given her connections, Gauloise’s unlikely to have been left cold for seasonal reappearance, and although she admittedly has a few pounds to find with Martello Sky this right-handed track on soft ground may well prove her optimum conditions.
Verdict: Sole runner on the card for her powerful connections and unlikely to be undercooked on reappearance. BANKER
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FARINET (1:15pm, Read Nicky Henderson’s Unibet Blog Handicap Chase) 9/4
The Venetia Williams trained FARINET showed great stamina reserves to score over course and distance in March, just his second start since joining the stable.
He failed to complete when sent off at odds of just 13/2 for the Racing Post Gold Cup on seasonal reappearance last month, but there were potential excuses for that showing having been found to have lost a shoe.
Better can be expected dropped into this grade, but he does have a hefty weight to carry and comes up against some in-form opponents, so the value call is to look elsewhere – Goa Lil possibly heading that list.
Verdict: Excuses for latest run and is a C&D winner, but worth taking on at the prices with the in-form Goa Lil. BLOWOUT
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GUNSIGHT RIDGE (1:50pm, Unibet Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Handicap Chase) 7/4
Olly Murphy’s GUNSIGHT RIDGE has run up a sequence of placed efforts recently but remains winless since taking a Doncaster novice hurdle back in November 2020.
He lost little in defeat chasing home the smart L’Homme Presse at Exeter last month, yet he did receive a 3lb rise for that and this drop back in trip looks no obvious plus.
Although he looks sure to get his head in front over fences at some stage, the call is to take him on here with Numitor looking a particularly bid danger under regular rider Tom Scudamore.
Verdict: Chased home a smart rival last time but dropped in trip here and 3lb rise no help, whilst faces a consistent opponent in Numitor. BLOWOUT
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CONSTITUTION HILL (2:25pm, Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle) 2/5
Few horses have created quite the impression that CONSTITUTION HILL provided when demolishing a talented field on last month’s rules debut.
That victory came over C&D, so he will have no issues with this track, whilst should they go a decent clip on the forecast ground it should bring his stamina into play.
There are some useful opponents in attendance, but all have something to prove; Shallwehaveonemore (keen), Mr Glass (trip), Jetoile (form), and that makes Constitution Hill tough to oppose, particularly with the potential for further improvement.
Verdict: Demolished his rivals over C&D on rules debut last month and this race was immediately nominated as a future target. BANKER
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ASO (3:00pm, Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase) 3/1
A popular fixture in the calendar, the Veterans’ Handicap Chase has attracted a smart field that includes one-time Ryanair runner-up ASO.
Venetia Williams’ now 12yo has proven generally regressive of late, but he showed he still retained some of his enthusiasm for this game when runner-up at Haydock last month – his first start in veterans’ company.
That Haydock run came behind Blaklion, who has since franked the form in impressive fashion.
The concern is that the handicapper has pushed Aso up 2lb for that showing, and whilst he has defied higher marks in the past, he has to concede upwards of 9lb to these rivals and comes up against some fresher legs.
Although he hasn’t been at his best for a while now, Prime Venture has slipped to a tempting mark and could prove rejuvenated for the reapplied cheekpieces.
Verdict: A class above these rivals at his best but it’s been a while now and a mark of 149 is no gimmie. BLOWOUT
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HERMES BOY (3:35pm, Unibet Casino Deposit £10 Get £40 Handicap Hurdle) 11/4
The Williams yard took this with Monsieur Lecoq back in 2019 and can gain another victory courtesy of HERMES BOY, who went into plenty of notebooks when staying on for second at Worcester in October.
The winner there, I Like To Move It, has since gone in at Grade 2 level and is rated 138, which makes a mark of 124 for Hermes Boy look potentially lenient.
He deservedly got his head in front at Exeter last time, when given anything but the full oracle under rider Chester Williams. That was his first run on a right-handed track (has hung that way previously), and he looks considerably less exposed than most of his rivals, so is therefore tough to oppose.
Verdict: Deservedly got his head in front at Exeter last time out and now makes his handicap debut off what looks a workable opening mark. BANKER
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