Andrew's Angles: Pointers for Aintree & Sandown this Weekend

This week’s article looks ahead to Saturday’s action and the stats/trends that should help us to unearth a winner or two at Aintree and Sandown…

12.43 Sandown – Betfair Supports Racing With Pride Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (2m4f)

Recent form

Last time out winners have a five from 19 record since 2015 (ten renewals but there were no qualifiers in 2023) for a profit of £16.00 to a £1 level stake at SP…

…those last time out winners who had raced within the past 28 days fared even better, with five of the 12 qualifiers scoring…

1.20 Sandown – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (2m7.5f)

Jockeys’ claim

Jockeys claiming an allowance of at least 3lb have done exceptionally well in this Pertemps Qualifier…

…landing seven of the past ten renewals (from 30 runners) for a profit of £28.00 to a £1 level stake at SP (+£40.98 at Betfair SP after 2% commission).

2.40 Aintree – William Hill Half A Mill Becher Handicap Chase (3m2f)

Weight rank

Those ranked tenth or lower in the weights have won eight of the past ten renewals…

…and backing all 88 qualifiers returned a profit of £22.00 at SP (+£56.69 at Betfair SP after 2% commission).

Trainer nationality

Surprisingly, given the fine recent record of Irish trainers in the Grand National they have done poorly in the Becher…

…failing to register a win from 34 attempts in the study period.

Distance last time out

Those who prepped over a trip of 2m7f or shorter fared poorly…

3.35 Sandown – Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase (3m4.5f)

The 2019 renewal was a void race, so I’ve gone back to 2014 to get a ten-renewal sample

Age

A real mixed bag, with winners aged between seven and 12.

Market position

All 12 favourites (including joint favourites) were beaten…

Running style

Five winners made the running (L), three were prominent (P) while hold-up (H) horses were just two from 50…

Running style last time out

Backing horses who led or raced prominently in their prep race returned a profit…

Finishing position last time out

Eight of the ten winners finished in the top five in their prep race, one was brought down and the other pulled up…

…backing all 60 who finished in the top five last time out returned a profit of £18.00.

Prep race

Those who prepped in a Class 1 handicap chase had a good record…

The Venetia Williams-trained Tanganyika, who looked in need of his reappearance run when fifth in a Premier Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last month, is top of my shortlist at this early stage though he’s also entered in the Becher Chase at Aintree so hold fire on those ante-post bets.

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