Sandown Saturday

1.15 32Red HANDICAP CHASE (2M4F10Y)

Fairy Rath was a recommendation here when runner-up to the progressive Javert at Doncaster, and after that return to form, he’s fancied to repeat last year’s all-the-way success in this contest. Nick Gifford isn’t prolific, but has had a flurry of winners in the last couple of weeks, so there are plenty of reasons to be hopeful of a big run, for all there’s no great prospect of an easy lead. Ultragold can’t be trusted to find much off the bridle, but will be suited by the track and the way this race will be run, so he makes each-way appeal from a workable mark.

1.50 32Red CASINO HANDICAP CHASE (1M7F119Y)

Grey Gold was very game when winning on Hennessy Day at Newbury, but may struggle to defy a career-high mark at the age of 11, especially in such a competitive race. Pearls Legend and Arthur’s Oak are others who must defy the handicapper’s attentions, and this looks a good opening for Just Cameron, whose appearance here suggests that he’ll be plenty fit enough despite being absent since Punchestown in May, when he got within three lengths of Un De Sceaux. That form is hard to trump here, and it also showed that he doesn’t need to dominate to show his best form. The son of Kayf Tara remains open to improvement and looks to have found a good starting point for his season.

2.25 32Red TOLWORTH NOVICES’ HURDLE (1M7F216Y)

Yorkhill was different class to O O Seven in bumpers, and it’s hard to oppose the Willie Mullins runner here, for all the latter’s trainer has an excellent record in the race. In fact, I’m not sure I’d want to back Nicky Henderson’s charge even without the favourite, and it would be no surprise if Cyrus Moriviere, who was beaten by O O Seven when the pair met at Huntingdon, improved enough to turn the tables having impressed at the same venue subsequently.

3.00 32RedSport.com VETERANS’ HANDICAP CHASE FINAL (3M37Y)

A cracking contest of its type, with plenty of old friends. Renard is interesting in his rematch against Tullamore Dew, with handicapper turning the weights around by a whopping 19lb compared to their running in a similar race at Carlisle, where the former shaped much better than a last-of-five result would suggest. The decision to raise a 14-year-old by more than a stone for an opportunistic win is nothing short of disgusting in my view, although I’ll happily eat humble pie if the former Gifford inmate can defy his mark. Of more interest from a win point of view is Benbens, however, who ca be forgiven a poor effort in the Hennessy and he looked the type to make hay in veterans’ chases when winning easily at Aintree in October. He’s got less miles on the clock than many of his rivals, and looks one of the more likely winners on paper.

Venetia Williams has a strong hand with the aforementioned Renard as well as Aachen and Relax, and all retain plenty of ability, while it would be unwise to read too much into Lie Forrit’s poor run behind Benbens at Aintree. Lucinda Russell’s hardy campaigner is normally a reliable performer, and he’s expected to return to form after a break.

3.35 32Red.com HANDICAP HURDLE (2M110Y)

Kayf Blanco showed improved form when scoring at Wetherby in November and looked to have plenty more to offer when finishing best into third at Cheltenham last month. He was ridden with a bit too much confidence in a steadily run race there, and appeals as the type to keep progressing, so he’s worth siding with again. Vendor, who he beat at Wetherby, has won impressively since, and the handicapper has yet to catch up with Graeme McPherson’s progressive seven-year-old.

See The Rock looks well treated on the form he showed when beating Final Nudge at Market Rasen, but the impression left by the runner-up that day was that he was either slightly undercooked, or didn’t have the race run to suit his stamina-laden style. As such, the inexperienced See The Rock might represent poor value. Melodic Rendezvous is a former Tolworth Hurdle winner in similar conditions, but is vulnerable to progressive rivals, for all he has place claims.

AYR Saturday

2.40 32Red CASINO HANDICAP HURDLE (2M5F91Y)

Caledonia was a very promising bumper horse a few seasons ago, but has seen little action over hurdles having had a flat-orientated career for Jim Goldie in recent times. He did, however, show himself to be capable of useful form in this sphere until taking a most unfortunate tumble here in November. On that occasion he was well clear after the last when putting his foot in a hole and falling.

He’d have won that novice event by a long way, and the handicapper has seemingly missed the merit of that run in allotting him a mark of 117, which looks way too low. Granted better luck in running, he should prove too good in receipt of weight from these rivals.

RECOMMENDED

JUST CAMERON 1.50 Sandown - 1pt win

KAYF BLANCO 3.35 Sandown - 1pt e/w

CALEDONIA 2.40 Ayr - 2pts win