Sandown Has Soll

Good Morning and welcome to a bit of a recovery mission after last week, but we couldn't have asked for a better weekend of racing to do so. Sandown take the leading role today as they stage the 2013 renewal of the Tingle Creek won last year by Sprinter Sacre. Unfortunately he cant take his chance today but that opens up the door to a new 2 mile chaser to have his day in the sun. There is also action at Aintree over the National fences with the Becher Chase and the Grand Sefton, both of which are highly competitive. They also go to post at Chepstow and Wetherby over jumps and an evening meeting on the polytrack at Wolverhampton, the days meetings are rounded off by Navan in Ireland.

On Thursday evening we did a preview video with Calum Madell (@Calummadell) and live from Hong Kong Andrew Rideout (@ThouroughbredAR). In the video we covered all of the main races this weekend from Sha Tin including analysis of the Home and International raiders. Watch that episode through the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Palbs_EoXJA

Also we have a current video covering all of today's racing on Channel 4, joining me this week are the regulars Calum Madell (@Calummadell), Adam Webb (@Adamwebb121) and Michael Andrews (@Mytentoryours). You can watch this episode through the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxNHmGYfoCM

But now onto this week's selections!!

12:50 Sandown - Tante Sissi

Alan King's representative has been known to need her reappearances but you cant avoid the fact that she was disappointing last time when pulled up. That was over fences however and she is more well known as a hurdler which is what she returns to today after a failed chasing attempt. She will strip much fitter for the recent outing and the ground is well on her side today as she can usually be a touch keen in her races. With a few pace angles in the race and a good gallop on the menu she could return to winning ways at a nice price this afternoon. (10/1)

1:50 Sandown - Grandouet

Grandouet seems to be a talking horse for all the wrong reasons and unfairly so in my books, he has done nothing wrong and remains a promising 6 year old. He was the best of these over hurdles but unseated on chase debut at the last when under pressure from Hinterland who reopposes. On the whole he jumped well down the back straight but people seemed to forget that he always needs a run to start off his year, that was why he was touted at a Champion Hurdle horse when 2nd to Zarkandar in the International Hurdle. Today he will strip much fitter and we will see the real Grandouet and the main positive is that there is a guartanteed strong pace today as opposed to last time. There are a few contenders that can go from the front and I would be shocked if Taquin Du Seuil doesn't want to make this a real stamina test. Grandouet to silence the doubters and land his first chase. (7/2)

2:40 Aintree - Katenko

This is the second appearance in as many weeks on this blog for Katenko after last week when he ran in the Hennessy. Things were looking good that day until he met one on a bad stride and came down which was also his only mistake of the race. He only completed a circuit of the track last week so he didn't have too much of a hard time and he wouldn't be here if he was feeling any effects from the fall. Before that he had a strong portfolio, more recently when pounding a good Handicap field into submission by 12 lengths at Cheltenham. He looks as if there is a lot more to come and on a personal note I backed him last week for the Gold Cup at 50/1 before that price went. Katenko to make amends for last week. (11/4)

3:15 Aintree - Gansey

Gansey typically needs a run to put him straight and he had just that on the Mildmay course in October when 5th over 2 and a half miles. He hasn't won since 2011 at Newcastle but who could forget that gallant display him and the late Little Josh put on when fighting out this race last year. That was off a 3 pound higher mark and he always looked the type to take to the National fences as he proved last year when 2nd in the race. Ryan Mania gets on well with the horse despite never actually winning a race on board but he showed last April how well he rides the National fences. Of course I speak of the Grand National when he teamed up with his boss Sue Smith to ride Aurora's Encore to victory. Gansey to go one better this year. (10/1)

3:35 Sandown - Soll

Soll represents a Breeders Cup winning trainer in Jo Hughes who of course landed the Marathon with London Bridge. However Soll made a bit of a name for himself over fences last year, most notably when finishing seventh in the Grand National. His outing before that is when he caught my eye when galloping his rivals at Sandown into submission with a round of sublime jumping. A return to this course and a stamina sapping trip could see him return to winning ways. (16/1)

9:20 Wolverhampton - Tokyo Brown

You may remember Tokyo Brown as a selection a couple of weeks ago when running a really good race off the back of a long absence. He turned for home in front that day and looked as if he was going on to score comfortably until the lack of racefitness hit and he ended back in 5th. That was a very promising run over course and distance and should build on that today once again in the hands of Luke Morris. One last point is that he is now a 4 year old (almost 5) and sprinters tend to improve with age, so his promise he showed when 2 and 3 is a big positive. Tokyo Brown to finally break his maiden tag and win tomorrow for Heather Main. (5/1)

NAP - Tokyo Brown
NB - Katenko

As always, happy punting guys!