STRANGE that there are more Irish-trained runners at Sandown today than there are British-trained runners at Leopardstown, on the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival.

There is precedent too for Laurina’s bid to land the Scilly Isles Chase. The last Irish-trained runner in the race was Gitane Du Berlais, a Willie Mullins-trained mare, like Laurina, who won the 2015 renewal. And Laurina herself is one for one at Sandown.

Cloudy Glen will be running at Sandown for the first time in his life today when he lines up in the Betway Masters Handicap Chase, and hopefully he will get further today than he did last week on his first run at Cheltenham, when he ran out at the first fence.

It was a strange run-out, insofar as there is ever a run-out that isn’t strange. He was racing towards the outside of the first fence, and maybe he just lost concentration, wasn’t sure if he was supposed to go inside the wing or outside it. Either way, he is obviously none the worse for his exertions there.

Progressive

A progressive hurdler last season, when he won three of his four races, he was a little unlucky not to win on his second run over fences at Carlisle in December. He was in front from early that day, but the last four fences were omitted because of the low sun and, despite travelling like the most likely winner from a long way out, and despite still holding a three or four-length advantage when they by-passed the final fence, he was just worn down close home by Chapel Stile.

A faller on St Stephen’s Day at Market Rasen when well fancied, he finally got off the mark over fences at Haydock four days later, when he beat his only rival Secret Reprieve quite convincingly. That rival is rated 130, it was more than fair that Cloudy Glen was left on his mark of 132, despite the fact that he beat his rival by nine lengths.

Rated 127 over hurdles, Venetia Williams’ horse is only seven and he has raced just five times over fences, completing just three times, so he has the potential to go beyond his mark of 132 as a chaser. He is not yet proven over three miles, but he stays two and a half miles well, and he is bred to get further. And we know that he can go well right-handed. Some of his best runs have been at Carlisle.

It is a competitive race. Classic Ben is a worthy favourite, he won this race last year and he is only 1lb higher now, while Dragon D’Estruval stayed on well to win last time at Ludlow. But a 7lb hike was stiff enough, it takes him up to a mark of 147 and, at a bigger price, Cloudy Glen represents better value.

Echiquier’s chances

Echiquier may also represent value in the Betway Heroes Handicap Hurdle. We had Nigel Twiston-Davies’ horse on side when he finished third in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton three weeks ago. He probably would have been only fifth that day had Debestyman and Notre Pari not fallen at the final flight, but there was still a lot to like about Echiquier’s run.

He travelled well to the end of the back straight, and he held his position easily around the home turn on the inside, despite making a mistake at the final flight in the back straight. He and Notre Pari were the only two horses who were still on the bridle on the crown of the home turn.

He just appeared to get out-paced when they straightened up for home. He just couldn’t match the front-runners for pace from there, but he stuck to his task admirably despite racing towards the far side, and despite having to take evasive action when Notre Pari fell in front of him at the last.

Interesting

He is interesting, stepping back up to almost three miles today. He ran well over three miles in the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock in November, when he made inroads into the fast pace before his run flattened out. And he won an admittedly weak enough novice hurdle over three miles at Hexham on his British debut.

He has been dropped by another 2lb for his Lanzarote Hurdle run, which takes him down to a mark of 128, 5lb lower than his Haydock mark. That means that he meets Ask Ben, favourite for today’s race, on 10lb better terms compared to Haydock, and that gives him a real chance of making up the 10 lengths by which Graeme McPherson’s horse beat him that day. And he is more than twice the favourite’s price.

He is a young, lightly-raced horse, from whom there could be a fair bit more to come.

Recommended

Echiquier, 1 point each-way, 3.00 Sandown, 16/1 (generally)

Cloudy Glen, 1 point win, 3.35 Sandown, 15/2 (generally)