Sandown Veterans' Final Day Tips
After a Christmas of the highest-quality racing, we slip into the more comfortable territory of a card at Sandown which is headlined by horses who are all aged at least 11.
The veterans' series has been a big hit over the last decade and the flagship final of the stayers' series (3.00) is the feature across this weekend.
Our team have gone through all seven races at Sandown, selecting a bet in each one.
12:05 - Maiden Hurdle
The form of those with experience over hurdles is not all that, so expect hurdling debutants such as Juby Ball and especially KHRISMA to be popular. Both have been off for a year, but in the latter's case, that is not exceptional for a young horse arriving from France. This horse was bought by the all-powerful JP McManus having reached Grade 1 standard in bumpers in France. She wears a hood for this hurdling debut, but the power of her connections and the standard of horse they have started off in similar races to this down the years is more persuasive than some misgivings around headgear.
Selection: Khrisma
12:40 - Handicap Chase (1m7½f)
It is not as though the Dan Skelton-trained BEAT BOX had much of a race when he ran at Kelso six days ago. Handicap chases in the North at that level are often weak and this improving nine-year-old eased clear on the bridle. This horse is six from seven since joining Skelton and this race is not the strongest for the track, so going seven from eight is a real possibility.
Selection: Beat Box
13:15 - Seniors' Handicap Hurdle (2m4f)
We have got used to handicap chases for veterans in recent years, but hurdle races with similar age restrictions are rarer. That makes this race a big step down from the sort of contests DODDIETHEGREAT has been contesting in recent times. This horse was fourth in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury less than a year ago. He was the victim of a messy start at Kempton on Boxing Day, but was sent off a short price that day and has an easier task now. He hardly had a race that day and so can be taken as fresh.
Selection: Doddiethegreat
13:50 - Handicap Chase (2m4f)
Hunter Legend was a convincing winner at Leicester last week and Roccovango was hardly any less emphatic at Uttoxeter in November. However, TRIPLE TRADE has been crying out for a return to this sort of trip of late and is being underestimated as a danger. He has been creeping down the weights in the process and is by now handicapped to strike. He looks the most interesting sort against the obvious improvers.
Selection: Triple Trade
14:25 - Mares' Hurdle (Listed, 2m4f)
As plenty of these mares are coming up from handicap or everyday novice company, it is not held against GEORGI GIRL that she is doing the same, and in fact, her form is as good as the vast majority of her rivals. She also has course form, having won by a yawning margin over 2m here around this time last year. She improved in defeat at Cheltenham last time and, before that, made a winning return to action at Warwick, so she is in the form of her life and should not be underestimated.
Selection: Georgi Girl
15:00 - Veterans' Handicap Chase (3m)
The same connections responsible for Georgi's Girl have SMARTY WILD in the feature, and this horse looks to have been laser-focused on this valuable final. He kept good company as a younger horse, and, after a long time off the track and a drop in the weights, he showed a lot of his old zest at Haydock last month. That he hit the wall once pressure was applied was no surprise given deep ground and him having been off the track for so long. Now, with that run behind him, he can make the most of an attractive mark.
Selection: Smarty Wild
15:35 - Handicap Hurdle (2m)
The final race is full of unexposed sorts and it is again the Philip Hobbs and Johnson White yard who look to hold one of the strongest hands. OH MY JOHNNY shaped well in a point-to-point and has got better by the run over hurdles. He won in good style at Uttoxeter on his most recent outing and he is surely underrated on a BHA mark of 116. He can prove that right away.
Selection: Oh My Johnny