Sandown Saturday

1.50 Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase 2m 4f 15yd

Jet Plane has a mixed record at Sandown having been well beaten on soft going over hurdles in March 2022 and again over fences in December 2023, when he also had the three-mile trip as an excuse. Better ground saw him produce a convincing display to win a course-and-distance handicap in March last year and he is simply a better horse when racing away from soft/heavy ground.

He’s younger than most of his rivals here and looked as good as ever when winning over this trip at Leicester last time, so is difficult to oppose in the prevailing conditions. It usually pays to support the relative youngsters in veterans’ events and Jet Plane has most to fear from fellow veterans’ debutant Triple Trade, who ran well when third at Cheltenham last time having won at that track on his return. He shaped well over this course and distance on his final start of last season, and ought to go well again.

2.25 Unibet Mares’ Hurdle (Listed) 2m 3f 178yd

Sunset Marquesa was quietly fancied for the Grade 2 Mares’ Final at Newbury in the spring, but was badly hampered running to the opening hurdle before overjumping and falling at the next. Prior to that she had beaten a pair who also went to Newbury in a novice at Ffos Las, making all and winning with authority to mark her down as one to follow.

She stepped up on her return when landing a quiet touch here last time, beating Shantwopointfive with a bit to spare. She’s a scopey mare who has taken time to mature, but is looking more like the finished article of late, and is taken to upset likely favourite Jubilee Alpha, who hasn’t been seen to best effect on either start this term.

Jubilee Alpha is the one to beat at the weights, and would have finished much closer to Nurse Susan at Cheltenham last time but for a last-flight blunder having made ground wide on the track. She has more to offer, but that is no secret and the progressive Sunset Marquesa makes a little more appeal at the overnight odds.

3.05 Unibet Stayers’ Veterans’ Chase Final 3m 42yd

Credo has a solid profile given trip and ground, unlike a few, and she has an excellent record when equipped with a visor, winning two of four starts when fitted with the headgear. She has gone without the visor in two creditable efforts this term, but if improving at all for the refitting of the aid now, she is entitled to go very close from her current mark, which is just 1lb higher than when scoring at Carlisle in the spring.

Anthony Honeyball’s jumpers continue in form, with five winners from the last 17 runners over obstacles, and Credo has a lifetime record on ground officially described as good which reads 1121431534. Le Milos is a danger but tends to be a talking horses in races like this, with the result that his SP is often skinnier than it should be, and Credo’s stablemate Gustavian may provide the biggest opposition with his record right-handed in these conditions also a solid one.

3.35 Read Nicky Henderson’s Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle 1m 7f 216yd

Hot Fuss has acquitted himself very well in handicaps, following a fourth in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham with an excellent second to Wilful in what was the Ladbroke at Ascot before Christmas. There were defeats on the flat and on his hurdles return in between those runs, but they show that the five-year-old is well suited by the hurly-burly of big-field scenarios and he is handicapped to go well having taken a small rise for his most recent effort.

He’s unlikely to stand out in the paddock and lack of size might ensure that his price holds up, but it’s certainly nothing to worry about, with the son of Calyx taking to hurdling much better than would be expected on pedigree or physique.

Wincanton Saturday

1.30 Bet £10 Get £40 With BetMGM Handicap Chase 3m 1f 30yd

Transmission and Tommie Beau have solid claims on historic form but need to show they can recapture former glories, and this race is best left to the progressive Vision De Maine who had valid excuses on dreadful ground at Exeter last time and promises to get back on an upward curve now back on a sound surface and fitted with blinkers for the first time.

Vision De Maine has some form on soft ground, but his Irish point win came on ground described as firm and his wins for David Pipe have come on good to soft and good ground, making his capitulation in Somme-like conditions last time easy to forgive.

Prior to that he was a promising third to Montregard at Ascot, shaping as if just in need of the outing, and he remains well treated on the form he showed last season, when winning two on the bounce and splitting a pair of next-time-out winners at Lingfield in November 2024 from a mark of 104. Just 3lb higher now, he will appreciate the return to a sound surface and should have more to offer as a seven-year-old in his second season over the larger obstacles.

2.05 Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Handicap Hurdle 1m 7f 50yd

Three Pikes makes most appeal now dropping back in trip. The son of Jack Hobbs is a bumper winner who has made the frame on all three starts over hurdles to date, but he looked to have his stamina stretched when third over two miles and three furlongs at Uttoxeter last time, and is the sort who will prove best when speed is at a premium.

He reverts to a sound surface and one of the sharpest two-mile tests in jump racing, and that is expected to coincide with an improvement in form. His mark is fair rather than lenient, but it’s the benefit of a relative speed test that sways the verdict firmly in his favour, with the booking of David Pipe’s useful conditional Rian Corcoran the icing on the cake.

2.40 Play Golden Goals At BetMGM Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 82yd

Got A Dream is clearly highly regarded by Nicky Martin having been tried in Grade 2 contests in bumpers and over hurdles, and he has won both starts in handicaps this term in the style of one on the upgrade.

A narrow winner at Chepstow in October, he again did just enough to follow up at Warwick a few weeks later, giving the impression there was a fair bit more in the tank if required. He has been raised 13lb in total for those wins but appeals as the type to keep pulling out extra and is a confident shout to complete the hat-trick.

Recommended

Sunset Marquesa 2.25 Sandown - 1pt win - 7/1 (generally)

Credo 3.05 Sandown - 1pt win - 6/1 (generally)

Three Pikes 2.05 Wincanton - 2pts win - 6/1 (Hills, 11/2 generally)

Got A Dream 2.40 Wincanton - 1pt win - 11/4 (generally)