Rory Delargy

SANDOWN SATURDAY

1.15 32Red HANDICAP CHASE 2M 4F 10Y

There is a case to be made for top-weight Mystifiable based on his easy win at Newbury in March but the nine-year-old hasn’t looked in the same form in two subsequent runs and his jumping has been an issue on most of his chase outings. Jumping didn’t look any kind of problem for Amy Murphy’s Mercian King at Southwell in November, and the rookie trainer has sent out several winners since, so he deserves to head the market, but there are sound reasons for thinking veteran Gores Island can go close from a lowly mark. Gary Moore’s charge goes well at Sandown, and will appreciate the stiffer test having finished second over the minimum trip here five weeks ago. He pulled clear of a subsequent winner on that occasion and continued his run of solid efforts when again second at Lingfield to an unexposed sort. He’s a strong traveller who should give 10lb claimer William Clarke a good spin and it will be a surprise if he’s out of the money.

3.00 32Redsport.com VETERANS’ HANDICAP CHASE FINAL 3M 37Y

David Pipe and Tom Scudamore teamed up to win this a year ago with Soll, and it’s very hard to get away from the claims of Dynaste despite a poor run in qualifying for this series final. He’s been very highly tried over the years, but is belatedly getting some respite in handicapping terms and is fully 10lb lower than when running creditably in the bet365 Gold Cup in April, where he simply failed to stay the extended trip having travelled fluently for much of the journey. Before that he was fourth in Grade 1 company at Aintree behind Cue Card, and it’s not that long since he chased home Colin Tizzard’s star in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby. He’s clearly not the force of old, but this represents a much more realistic task than he’s faced for along time, and he’s a relative youngster in veterans’ terms.

Venetia Williams has been slower than usual to hit her stride this season, but she had three winners on New Year’s Eve and another the following day to show that she’s ready to crank the operation up a notch It would be unwise to ignore either Aachen, runner-up to Soll in 2016, or Benny’s Mist, who ran poorly in the Grand Sefton at Aintree last month, but has gone close on both previous starts over course and distance, and looks the pick of those at big prices.

3.35 32Red.com HANDICAP HURDLE 2M

Krugermac is well worth chancing on his first start for more than a year. Gary Moore’s son of Kalanisi shown abundant promise on his first two starts, chasing home Nambour in a bumper at the Punchestown Festival for Shane Nolan before being sold for £185,000 at Brightwells Cheltenham later the same month. He again looked a smart prospect when winning an Ascot maiden on his hurdles’ bow. That form hasn’t worked out, and he was beaten at odds-on the following month, but a tendon injury sustained during the race excuses that effort at Lingfield, and it’s telling that his shrewd handler had him entered in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle before the extent of his injury becoming known. Moore has also mooted the possibility of running the gelding in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury next month, which would realistically require him to win this contest. The West Sussex trainer has won the Betfair three times in the past, so knows what he’s talking about when he nominates one for the Newbury showpiece. Take the hint and back Krugermac to win.

WINCANTON SATURDAY

1.30 BATHWICK TYRES DORCHESTER NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE 3M 1F 30Y

Very few of these arrive in any kind of form, so this looks a good opportunity for former pointer Sonoftheking to get his head in front having been denied in the dying strides at Taunton last month. Nicky Martin has done well with her point-to-point squad in the last few years, helping the Bradley Partnership (consisting of Martin and partner John Simpson) to leading owner honours in Devon and Cornwall last season, and she can make a splash with the same horses under rules having taken out a permit to train. Darren Edwards is one of the best point-to-point riders in the South West, and he knows the horse well from their time together between the flags. He has the class to give weight away all round.

2.05 BATHWICK TYRES HANDICAP CHASE 2M 4F 35Y

Ballygarvey hasn’t been seen since November 2015, but few trainers are better at bringing chasers back after a break than Philip Hobbs, and the assessor has dropped him to competitive mark in the meantime. The gelding has a history of leg problems and it’s notable that his last win was achieved after a similar lay-off at Ascot in 2014/15. He will lack nothing for fitness, and is lower in the weights than for that success, so has plenty to recommend him. Hobbs also won this contest last year with Filbert.

3.15 BATHWICK TYRES POOLE HANDICAP HURDLE 2M 5F 82Y

KK Lexion has made the frame on all four starts in handicap hurdles and has been better than the result on his last two tries - kept on well despite not seeing to relish the mud at Uttoxeter latest, and met trouble in running over a trip too short at Cheltenham in November. He looks the type to do better under optimum conditions, and as long as the ground doesn’t get too deep, will surely go close off what appears a very fair handicap mark.

RECOMMENDED

GORES ISLAND 1.15 Sandown – 1pt e/w

DYNASTE 3.00 Sandown - 1pt win @ 7/1 (general)

KRUGERMAC 3.35 Sandown - 2pts win @ 4/1 (general)

KK LEXION 3.15 Wincanton – 1pt win