A good day of racing at Sandown today to warm us up for Cheltenham in the right fashion. Most notably the Imperial Cup which is the first part of the £75000 Sunderlands bonus if the winner of the race today can go on and win any race at the festival next week. Without further ado lets crack on with the first race.
2:05
A big handicap to start the day off and a few very interesting horses, none more so than DUALLA LORD from the Paul Nicholls yard and has been running well as of late. He was highly tried earlier in the season when running over fences against Grand Crus but unseating that day. first time in a handicap today and should go close but a place may be his best claim today. AMBION WOOD takes a drop in trip today but is off top weight and may find life tough despite being in great form this year. However in truth he doesnt have to give too much weight away. PRESENTING ACE is the one all the money has come for this and like the first mentioned is in a handicap for the first time, his novice form hasnt been too flattering but the market support is very interesting. ELSAFEER has been finding life a bit tough off his higher handicap rating but is slipping down to a winning mark. JUMPS ROAD hails from the in form Colin Tizzard stable and is highly thought of but has a bit to find on Warwick form with a couple of today's rivals. OFF THE GROUND won a Novice Handicap round here last month and is up 6 pounds for that win, the second has since franked the form, though not in a good race. With that he may be found wanting here. Nicky Henderson has two in the race with his first string being SPEED MASTER who also goes handicapping for the first time today, he has been winning Novice events nicely but in truth they havent been the strongest races and this is a big step up in class on them performances. Henderson's second string is THANKS FOR COMING who has been running well as of late and isnt without a chance at a big enough price. CARRIGMORNA KING won a competitive novice hurdle at Newbury back in January and like alot of these goes handicapping for the first time and has the burden of carrying the 'Pricewise' tag. MERRY KING had JUMPS ROAD back in third in his last run and the latter should reverse that form on paper. But with 17 points in between them in the betting you'd feel that Jonjo expect a bit more from his horse. Preference is for Nick Gifford's KUILSRIVER who is yet to win a race in his career but has been running in some very good company. He ran well in the Lanzarote hurdle off a 3 pound higher mark than today and should go very close.
2:40
All the money this morning has been for DOVER'S HILL who is down to a winning mark nowadays after just slipping down the handicap slowly but surely, however he hasnt really been running with much encouragement lately and may be best watched. BALLYFOY ran a very good race at Fontwell over hurdles in the week just failing to get up on the line, as long as that race hasnt taken too much out of him he should be thereabouts. THE SAWYER is an admirable sort who returns to more realistic company today and has been running well this year, he always gives his all when he runs and loves this rider, one for the shortlist. He was ahead of PROPHETE DE GUYE last time out and it should be the same outcome today, whether they are good enough to get involved when it matters is another question. QHILIMAR has top weight to worry about but loves it round here and shouldnt be too far away. Sue Smith brings down AURORA'S ENCORE who usually comes into his own this time of year but has been badly out of sorts as of late and has something to prove. RICHARD'S SUNDANCE is 6 pounds better off with MARTY'S MISSION today than when they last met at this course, and for that reason we shall side with the former today. Not a young horse by any stretch of the imagination anymore but has been enjoying his racing this year and running some very good races in better company than this, could take all the beating.
3:15
Last week NAMPOUR got us a place at nice odds and looks set to run another nice race after finding just one too good at Newbury, he fell in the race at Taunton won by SIRE DE GRUGY who has been very well in himself this year and will be suited by a flat out gallop, only raised 6 pounds for his win and looks a good bet again this time round. Venetia Williams sends two to this race CICERON and ART PROFESSOR, Aidan Coleman has chosen the latter to ride on grounds that he is 'an easier ride'. The former won a big handicap here earlier in the year but is tough to find right and Coleman has said both are going for place claims. Nicky Henderson also sends two to post this year, his first string being CELTUS who never really took to fences last time and was soundly beaten out of sight, back to hurdles today but he will need to step up his game if he is to reverse form with SIRE DE GRUGY in his earlier years. Hendersons second string is FIRST IN THE QUEUE who's best form this season was when he went down by a head at Cheltenham and is slowly coming back down the weights while still not disgracing himself. Looks to be up against it though. The Pipe family have always targeted the Sunderlands bonus through the years and this year is no different with David sending MASTER OF ARTS here who was last seen over hurdles when 11th in the Triumph hurdle in 2009. It will be interesting to see how he adapts back to hurdling from the flat but the market support this week is encouraging. ILE DE RE won here last time out but in truth it wasnt the strongest race and will have to step up markedly today if he is to land this race. DEVIL TO PAY represents the Alan King stable and is 3 pounds better off on his run behind SIRE DE GRUGY and has more of a chance than Kempton winner LUCAINDUBAI who ran well for a long way in the Kingwell last time until class told. PATEESE wants the ground alot softer than it is today but will have strong place claims whereas JOHNS SPIRIT doesnt look good enough. As much as i hate myself for it i cant get away from TED SPREAD this afternoon after seeing his last win at Taunton in his first handicap, and i would really fancy him to land the Sunderlands bonus were he to win today.
3:50
THE WEE LASS won her only start nicely at Taunton at fancy odds and is possibly over priced today, she had GOWITHDFLO behind her that day and its hard to see that form being reversed, especially if the former improves for her first run. UMADACHAR is a very highly thought of filly and made amends for fluffing her lines first time up with a win second time round and it will be interesting to see how she performs today. BUXOM beat GINGER FIZZ by four lengths on debut and improved to win again at Ludlow in her second run, further improvement would put her bang there with a chance. THE WICKED KEEPER is alot better off than CALL ME A STAR on their last run together thanks to a 10 pound claimer, there may still be more to come from Alan Kings horse today though and is fancied ahead of Martin Keighleys horse. TARADREWE won well first time out and Aidan Coleman booked to ride is a very positive booking today. She will need to improve though. A chance is taken on UMADACHAR though today.
4:25
A race that revolves all around SANCTUAIRE who was oh so impressive on his chase debut and earned quotes of 16/1 for the Arkle afterwards. Paul Nicholls has however opted not to run him there and Aintree looks the target for him. One word of warning, he can have a mind of his own and give the others a 25 length lead sometimes but was on better behaviour last time and looks hard to beat. GRACCHUS is his main rival and is a good horse in his own right but really shouldnt be good enough to beat the favourite if at his best. The same applies for the other two despite getting weight from the two mentioned.
5:00
A mix of horses that are bang in form and horribly out of form in this race today, INSIDE DEALER is one of those in form and can be forgiven his last run. Would maybe have won at Kempton in December but for being murdered by Fruity O'rooney 2 from home. COOL FRIEND ran into the huge improver Hunt Ball last time and on that form easily holds PANJO BERE who doesnt look the force of old. The former looks well handicapped after not being raised for his 2nd last time out. CALUSA CALDERA and COIS FARRAIG have been badly out of form lately and need to prove alot today. ALDERTUNE always seems to find one too good in a race and today may not be any different. Sue Smiths second runner of the day is YOU KNOW YOURSELF and Shane Byrne gets on very well with him, you wouldnt imagine Sue Smith would travel all this way for nothing so he gets the nod today.
as always happy punting
NAP - Ted Spread
NB - Kuilsriver
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