There’s Grade 1 action on offer at Sandown on Saturday and some very competitive handicap action on the supporting card. The Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase takes centre stage and it’s shaping up to be a cracking race.
Run over 2m4f, this Grade 1 chase has been won by some very useful horses over the years and there are four runners that will be aiming to add their names to the roll of honour.
Liam Bramall provides his analysis of the main event as well as some other selections across the seven-race card at Sandown, where they race from 14:35-16:12, and the Scilly Isles takes place at 14:35.
1.30 - Handicap Chase (2m½f)
There is a big chance that Calico has been aimed at this race given he was second in it last season off the same mark.
He possesses plenty of good form when fresh, as he proved once more when downing the progressive Matata on his return at Cheltenham.
This looks a nice spot for him, although he is predominantly a good-ground horse and the prospect of deteriorating conditions makes Petit Tonnerre well worth considering.
This seven-year-old is frustrating as he hasn’t won in almost three years, but is seriously well handicapped and he’s run plenty of good races despite the dry spell - this might be the time to catch him after 56 days off as he often goes well after a break.
The form of his second to Imperial Saint at Aintree in December has worked out superbly and he could benefit from an ideal pace set-up here as a couple of his rivals in this small field like to go forward.
SELECTION: PETIT TONNERRE
NEXT BEST: CALICO
2.40 - Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2, 3m½f)
The Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle looks an ideal spot for Kateira, who drops in grade after contesting the Long Walk Hurdle against the geldings last month.
Kateira ran well to finish fifth in that Ascot contest, making up plenty of ground from off the pace in a slowly run affair before her effort petered out, and a reproduction of that form would give her every chance.
Her previous easy defeat of subsequent winner Della Casa Lunga, who renews the rivalry, also reads well and this is a weak race for a Grade 2.
She was most impressive when landing a competitive handicap hurdle on soft ground at Aintree in the spring, so shouldn’t mind an ease in the surface either.
Jessica Harrington sends over Jetara, who appears to be the biggest threat to the market leader.
Jetara was in excellent form across both codes at the start of the season and chased home Ballyburn at Punchestown last spring.
She is not ruled out if first-time cheekpieces can bring her back to that level.
SELECTION: KATEIRA
NEXT BEST: JETARA
3.15 - Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase (3m)
Idalko Bihoue arrives with plenty in his favour in the Great Yorkshire Chase for Nigel Twiston-Davies, who you sense saw this race as a target for the son of Balco.
The seven-year-old remains unexposed over fences and was eye-catchingly strong in the market for the Grand Sefton on his return, going off favourite for that major handicap.
Unable to show his true form at Aintree as he presumably needed the reappearance, Idalko Bihoue took a nice step forward in a lesser race at Haydock last time, giving the impression he can be seen to better effect over three miles after keeping on nicely at the finish.
This sort of test should play to his strengths and this running lacks the depth of many previous iterations.
The Changing Man has run two crackers in major staying handicaps at Newcastle and Ascot over the past two months, and can serve up the stiffest challenge to the selection.
SELECTION: IDALKO BIHOUE
NEXT BEST: THE CHANGING MAN
