The horse racing broadcaster makes his alternatives for Saturday at Sandown, together with one tip for the Becher Chase at Aintree.
It’s the chasers who maintain centre stage this week with two Sandown Grade 1’s amongst the eight ITV races on Saturday, together with a race over the Nationwide fences within the Becher Chase and some clues for the Welsh Nationwide within the London equal.
A yr in the past, after his second successive Tingle Creek win, few would have anticipated Jonbon being no higher than third greatest out there for his hat trick try. That, together with becoming of first time cheekpieces, present how his star has fallen and even factoring in any crossed wires he appears to have with Cheltenham, his defeats by the hands of L’eau Du Sud and Il Etait Temps have lacked the fluency and panache of his earlier victories. The appliance of this kind of headgear is attention-grabbing as it’s an angle the steady use to good impact (19/102 A/E 1.52 when utilized for the primary time) however with Jonbon beforehand tending to get too revved up beforehand relatively than requiring motivating, it does have the potential to backfire as effectively.
L’Eau Du Sud jumped impeccably at Cheltenham and that may be a giant asset down the again straight at Sandown, however afterwards Dan Skelton blamed himself for a pre–Pageant Warwick prep run for his Arkle fourth and mentioned he was higher recent. If in order that does imply the turnaround from the Shloer to the Tingle Creek could also be sharp sufficient. IL ETAIT TEMPS (15:00 Sandown) lowered Jonbon’s colors at Sandown on the ultimate day of final season and it could be time to recognise a brand new star within the 2m division. He’s not a flashy horse and therefore has been a little bit of a gradual burn when it comes to gaining recognition however has gained 4 occasions in Grade 1 firm, and this race has been focused by the Mullins camp proper from the beginning of the season. The Tingle Creek marks the primary crossing of swords between the Mullins and Skelton yards this home marketing campaign after their extended wrestle to be Champion coach final season and it may be the Irish handler who comes out on high right here.
Nonetheless Jonbon fares, LULAMBA (13:50 Sandown) ought to make his class inform within the days different Grade 1 – the Henry VIII Novices Chase. His chasing debut at Exeter, while that includes 4 much less fences than regular as a consequence of low solar, nonetheless confirmed an honest sufficient leaping method. The one actual concern got here throughout the preliminaries, when his enthusiasm to get on with issues led to a few unscheduled circuits of the pre-parade ring. He does face a doubtlessly respectable rival in Lump Sum whose spectacular chasing debut at Uttoxeter was franked by the second horse Jax Junior profitable at Kempton, however that does stay considerably under Lulamba’s high class juvenile hurdling type of final season.
Elsewhere at Sandown KIKIJO (13:20 Sandown) gained effectively at Cheltenham, displaying a quick fluent hurdling method and might affirm the shape with favorite that day Supremely West. A good bit was fabricated from the latter taking the inside route there however the reality he couldn’t make it previous Gowel Highway, who was the opposite one to remain on that a part of the monitor, and the actual fact Supremely West has already certified for the Pertemps Closing off a mark the place he’ll get a run, are each elements which make Kikijo attraction extra. He runs within the colors of former Champion jockey Richard Johnson who went to £60k to purchase him to remain within the Hobbs/Johnson yard when he went by means of the ring in Could, suggesting he has at all times been considered as an honest prospect by the steady. Circumstances on the Sandown hurdles course are going to be gruelling, however Kikijo has proven his capacity to deal with the mud and a win right here would see him acquire a assured place within the Pertemps Closing on the Pageant.
The final race at Sandown is the London Nationwide and it contains a horse I backed ante put up this week for the Welsh equal in TANGANYIKA (15:35 Sandown) of Venetia Williams. This was off the again of a Cheltenham return the place he bought fairly an aggressive journey suggesting he was blowing away the cobwebs for an additional day which I believed could be at Chepstow over Christmas. A win right here would contain a 4lb penalty for the Welsh Nationwide, which will not be ideally suited, however he’s up towards an identical profile horse in O’Connell making a uncommon Southern foray for the Joel Parkinson/Sue Smith mixture. The addition of Joel to the license has coincided with the horses being extra ahead this season as Konfusion confirmed when profitable at Newcastle final weekend. Venetia’s horses in contrast have been a bit slower to come back handy however Tanganyika is certainly one to maintain a detailed eye on this December and might press his Welsh Nationwide claims right here.
Away from Sandown, the Becher Chase at Aintree can see GABORIOT (14:40 Aintree) put up one other stable run over the Nationwide fences after his Grand Sefton 2nd final month. The steady are amassing document in these races and he seems to be a extra stable stayer this journey than a couple of of his different rivals from that race. Mahon’s Glory and Mr Vango look certain to set gallop and the actual fact he gained over so far as 4m in his Hunter Chase days is in his favour. He has little likelihood of a mark this low of getting within the Nationwide itself so this may be essentially the most logical goal to construct his season round.
Go to Betway’s horse racing betting web page.