Rory Delargy

SANDOWN SATURDAY

1.15 BETFRED RACING ‘FOLLOW US ON TWITTER’ CONTENDERS HURDLE (2M)

Peace And Co ought to win if returning to the pick of his juvenile form, but there are enough doubts to swerve him at such skinny odds. He fought his rider every yard until capitulating tamely in the International Hurdle on his return, and then missed Haydock’s Champion Hurdle Trial having failed to please his trainer at home.

Time is running out if he’s to have his quirks ironed out in time for Cheltenham, and connections must run here or risk the possibility of having to go straight to the festival, which would be a major negative on the back of one poor run. He’s facing Rayvin Black, who was runner-up at Haydock, and who is well suited to Sandown and the mud, so can’t be taken lightly. Paul Nicholls also adds some spice by entering promising juvenile Connetable who was second to Gilbralfaro on his stable debut at Ascot last month.

The bottom line here is that I couldn’t bring myself to back the favourite after the way he ran at Cheltenham in December, and despite winning the Triumph on soft ground, he also looks vulnerable in the forecast conditions. Take Rayvin Black to make all, and consider Connetable for the forecast.

2.25 BETFRED TV SCILLY ISLES NOVICES’ CHASE (2M 4F 10Y)

The Scilly Isles is a race which tends to get its share of criticism, but despite the absence of More Of That, it has attracted a very strong field, headed by Feltham winner Tea For Two and the bold-jumping Bristol De Mai. I rate that pair highly, and both should find track and trip playing to their respective strengths, but I intend to give another chance to Maximiser. He shaped best when second to Silsol on his chase bow at Carlisle, and was still lobbing along in front when falling in the race won by Three Musketeers at Newbury’s Hennessy fixture.

He’s been off since, but retain a pair of big-race entries for next month, and Simon West has gone to the trouble of booking Richard Johnson for the ride. He has a little to prove after Newbury, but looked an assured jumper at Carlisle, as indeed he had when winning both races over hurdles last season. He should be a double-figure price given the calibre of the opposition, but is not to be underestimated.

Tea For Two drops back in trip after winning at Kempton, but that shouldn’t be a concern in itself, as he seems to find a stiff three miles the limit of his stamina in any case. He was probably seen to best effect at Kempton, and needs to improve again to win this, although that’s certainly not out of the question. Bristol de Mai has long looked like he would make into a top-class chaser, and took a step up when routing his rivals at Haydock. He is turned out pretty quickly, but is another who should be seen to best effect given a severe test of jumping at this trip, and he merits plenty of respect as a result. It’s worth noting that he’s still only five, and he will be an even more potent force next winter.

WETHERBY SATURDAY

2.45 TOTEPOOL TOWTON NOVICES’ CHASE (3M 45Y)

It was disappointing to see Bitofapuzzle tip up when a warm favourite at Thurles, and she will be expected by many to get back on track here. I do like Harry Fry’s mare, but her jumping lacked confidence last time, even before she parted company with Noel Fehily, and she’s best watched as a result. Native River and Balklion are respected, but I prefer the claims of Definitly Red, who ran a stormer to chase home Black Hercules at Warwick, and will improve on that. He wasn’t particularly fluent in the early stages last time, but kept on in most willing fashion, and will go close if improving his jumping as expected. Brian Ellison’s charge showed last season that he is one of the gamest around, and he won’t go down without a fight here.

LINGFIELD SATURDAY

2.55 CORAL.CO.UK WINTER DERBY TRIAL STAKES (1M 2F)

Grendisar has won this contest for the past two years, but he is seen to best effect when getting an end-to-end gallop, and this may turn into a tactical affair, which would count against him. The frustrating Captain Cat is another who will be doing his best work late, and the percentage call is to oppose the pair with Festive Fare, who has won all three starts on an artificial surface, and looked one to keep on side when winning on his return from a break at Wolverhampton in December. This looks his perfect trip, and he’s likely to improve further. He’s tactically versatile for all he was held up last time, and that gives him an edge on paper over the other pair, who seem dependent on delivering a late challenge.

FFOS LAS SATURDAY

2.05 DRIBUILD LTD WELSH CHAMPION HURDLE (2M 4F)

The meeting at Ffos Las is under threat, but if it does go ahead, then Deputy Dan would take some beating in the Welsh Champion Hurdle, where he receives weight from Silsol. Oliver Sherwood’s gelding briefly looked like beating Thistlecrack at Newbury in November, and was a creditable third to that rival at Ascot the following month despite jumping with less dash than usual.

The drop in trip is probably in his favour, and he’s certainly not slow for one who stays three miles. His form looks better now than it did at the time, and he will have no trouble ploughing through the mud. He does have to concede weight to most of his rivals, but actually carries less weight than the last two winners of this event, so with class to spare, he looks one to be interested in.