Good morning/evening everyone I hope we are all well and recovered from last weekend's racing as we take a bit more of a breather this week. Only the five meetings to get through today as Sandown hold the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices Chase and Ffos Las run their feature Welsh Champion Hurdle. We are also treated to a Grade Three at Fairyhouse as well the Grade Two Towton Novices Chase at Wetherby while Lingfield support with a good all weather card.
We have been on a bit of a quiet spell as of late after starting the 2015 strongly but a few unlucky ones have had us tearing our hair out. But I'm not one to complain... Out loud anyway and we go onto this weeks selections full of hope with a hint of desperation... But mostly hope!
As always @OnTheOtherHoof have prepared a video preview for you guys as we run through the Channel 4 action from Sandown, Ffos Las and Wetherby. Unfortunately it is just myself (@Lukeelder13) and @Adamwebb121 on the show tonight but we will do our best to find a winner or two. You can watch the show on replay via the link below or if you are free just after 8pm we will be live, you can find that link via our Twitter page @OnTheOtherHoof.
Scilly Isles Novice Chase Day
Now onto the all important selections!
1:15 Sandown - Jollyallan
I'm going to start off today's first selection with a bit of a moan about the Contenders Hurdle which has been one of my favourite races in the past. The rollcall of winners for this race include Binocular, Detroit City, Afsoun, Celestial Halo, Rooster Booster and Rhinestone Cowboy who all held Champion Hurdle claims at one point in their career, including two winners. If you go further back in history you will find the names of Desert Orchid, Sea Pigeon and See You Then amongst the winners which boosts the race even further. It may now only be a Listed race but that hasn't prevented top class horses from lining up previously and a field of four including a novice and a juvenile tomorrow is disappointing. That is taking nothing away from the field as they are all useful in their own right, however none of them can be considered Champion Hurdle hopes... For this year at least.
Now onto the preview itself after letting off some steam. Jollyallan can land the first renewal of this race since 2011 due to weather when Binocular won for the same connections of AP McCoy and JP McManus. Up and coming trainer Harry Fry has done a brilliant job with him so far this season as he does seem a horse for the future, but that hasn't stopped him winning all three of his hurdle starts to date. You may remember that I put Jollyallan up as part of my horses to follow list but even I was cautious about his chances at Kempton last time out. My worries of the sharper track not suiting him were flawed as he won easily and beating a useful horse of Willie Mullins' in the process. Sandown looks to be the ideal track for him as he can put his stamina to good use in what should be his first real test over obstacles. He was a high class horse in bumpers as well as over hurdles and tried the Punchestown Festival on only his second start, but the likes of Shaneshill and Silver Concorde proved too strong at that stage of his career. He has progressed out of sight since last season as you would expect and can land this competitive Listed race before going on to the Festival in March. (2/1)
3:00 Sandown - Anteros
Our final selection of the day comes in the form of Anteros who represents the rare combination of Sophie Leech and Barry Geraghty. He has had a bit of a patchy profile so far over hurdles and won his race over obstacles in May which ensures he is a Novice for this season. His usual partner of Paul Moloney is also at Ffos Las but Barry Geraghty is a more than able deputy in his absence.
He started off this season with a promising sixth in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow and looked to be a well handicapped horse behind Shelford. Next up was a visit to Cheltenham but he got outpaced at a bad time of the race over two miles which proved too short for him, he did run a lot better than his placing suggests however. After that race he looked as if he could be well handicapped over a further trip so it was a surprise to see him up against Blaklion over three miles in a Grade Two. It was even more of a surprise to see him still going well enough and moving into second off the home bend, but he proved no match for Blaklion which is no disgrace. That effectively ruined his handicap mark but at the same time suggested he was a great deal better than he had shown us previously. He once again showed his improvement when fourth in another Grade Two at Warwick when fourth behind Three Musketeers. He was tenderly ridden that day and only got passed for third on the run in and a mistake at the second last didn't help his claims. Today marks his return to handicap company off his new rating of 130 which still looks workable over this longer trip of two miles and six furlongs. The drying ground is a huge help to his chances but he doesn't mind ease in the ground so the little rain that is forecast isn't that much of a worry. Anteros to mark his return to handicaps with a win for Sophie Leech and Barry Geraghty this afternoon at Sandown. (16/1)
NAP - Anteros
Nb - Jollyallan
Have a good weekend guys and as always, happy punting!
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