Sandown Scilly Isles Saturday Tips
Our attention this weekend is at Sandown, where conditions will be testing and the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase headlines the card.
Only four go to post for the race and they will no doubt be hoping to enhance their credentials ahead of the spring festivals.
There are a number of good quality handicaps to support the main race, most notably the Heroes Handicap Hurdle.
There are seven races in total and we have selected our best bets in all of them.
12:50 - Novices' Hurdle (1m7f)
A four-runner nonvice hurdle gets us underway and the slight preference is for Old Cowboy. He made his rules debut for the Moore stable in January, running well in what looked a fair race. He is entitled to come on for that effort and can take a step forward here. Diamonds For Luck is the biggest threat and was a good winner last time, but has to carry a penalty as a result which can sway the race in the favour of Old Cowboy.
Selection: Old Cowboy
13:25 - Novices' Handicap Hurdle (2m4f)
With conditions likely to be very testing it is hard to look past Sole Solution for Charlie Deutsch and Venetia Williams. His bumper win two years ago has worked out reasonably well and he showed his aptitude to go on heavy ground that day. Since returning from a lay-off this season his two most recent runs have impressed, once again coming in testing conditions. He won comfortably last time out, shaping as if there is more to come and an opening handicap mark of 114 looks lenient.
Selection: Sole Solution
14:00 - Handicap Chase (1m7½f)
A good quality field with, but a number in here don’t look well handicapped. Classic Maestro does look to be well handicapped though and will handle the testing conditions. A good third when last seen in December, with the form of that race working out with the second winning since. That was over 2m4f and a drop back to 2m can only be a positive, as prior to that his previous three runs over two miles all ended in victory. With Luke Scott claiming 5lb Classic Maestro looks well weighted to win.
Selection: Classic Maestro
14:35 - Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (2m4f)
Only four go to post for this Grade 1, but it is a race bursting with quality. Jango Baie is a short price and should be too good for the field. His win on chase debut was one of the best novice chase performances we have seen this season. He can take another step forward and enhance his credentials for the spring festivals. Kalif Du Berlais has won his last two starts and receives weight, he can finish second.
Selection: Jango Baie
15:07 - Heroes Handicap Hurdle (2m7½f)
A competitive affair with many having won or gone close on their most recent runs. The preference is for Henri The Second though, with him having won impressively over course and distance in similarly testing conditions in December. What A Johnny should give a good account and the first-time cheekpieces can bring improvement, he could be best of the rest.
Selection: Henri The Second
15:42 - Masters Handicap Chase (3m)
In d’Or has been thriving, winning on both starts this season, however, the handicapper is catching up to him as a result and Gustavian looks to be better handicapped. He had been dropping down the handicap before finishing a close second most recently. His best form is on soft and heavy ground and he should run a big race under Sam Twiston-Davies.
Selection: Gustavian
16:12 - Open National Hunt Flat Race (2m)
With limited form to use as a guide the preference is for A Pai De Nom and the Skeltons. He ran well to finish second on debut in October and should be able to go one better here. Mondoui’boy is an interesting runner for Harry Derham with the form of his Point-to-Point working out reasonably well, as he makes his stable debut under David Maxwell.
Selection: A Pai De Nom
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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation