Sandown Saturday

1.25 Virgin Bet A Good Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 2m 4f 15yd

Risk De Pluie is worth an interest after catching the eye at Exeter last time. He stayed on well on the run-in to finish third to Bonza Boy there, having failed to stay three miles and a furlong at Cheltenham on his previous outing.

This intermediate trip looks ideal and his jumping has been most assured for a novice so far, which is always a positive at this track. Soldierofthestorm ran into one when runner-up to the much-improved Rodney at Hereford earlier in the month, but the pair pulled well clear in a good time.

He was a little careful at times, but that was his chase debut and he was clearly learning his job, so I’d expect him to be a lot slicker for that experience. He’s on my follow list, but the form of the O’Neill yard has cooled again of late, and it’s a big concern that eight of the last nine runners from the Jackdaws Castle yard have failed to beat a rival.

2.02 Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase 1m 7f 99yd

Haddex Des Obeaux returns to the venue where he produced his best performance, that being an excellent third to Jonbon in the 2023 Tingle Creek. That was some time ago, and he failed to run after moving to Nicky Henderson shortly after that, before being sold to Jimmy Fyffe last summer.

He was badly in need of his first run back but shaped really well in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby last month, leading until the penultimate fence and still in with some chance when making his only mistake of the race at the last. Haddex Des Obeaux looked back to form at Wetherby, and is now on a mark he can win off.

A bold-jumping front-runner, he may no longer be a Champion Chase pretender, but clearly retains most of his old ability and every bit of his enthusiasm, so merits a bet now he’s close to full fitness for the first time in a long while.

2.40 Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f 15yd

Kitzbuhel was impressive at Kempton over Christmas and isn’t taken lightly, but he may find it hard to concede 7lb to the classy Kala Conti, who has taken the scalps of Kargese and Jade De Grugy in two starts over fences.

She didn’t do herself justice over hurdles last spring, but showed her class when splitting July Flower and Jetara when conceding weight to both at Leopardstown 13 months ago, and she has clearly taken to chasing like a duck to water.

Two and a half miles seems her ideal trip these days and she could prove hard to beat with the mares’ allowance.

3.10 Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 7f 103yd

Hartington was below form at Windsor last time but had ground and trip as possible excuses there and he had looked ahead of his mark prior to that, winning well at Carlisle and shaping best of all when just failing to get up in a valuable handicap hurdle at Haydock in November. He showed there that there should be much more to come from him as his stamina is tapped and remains unexposed under these conditions.

Joe Tizzard is amongst the winners of late, and this son of Jukebox Jury appeals as being on a winning mark still.

3.42 Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase 3m 42yd

Pic Roc may have found the run coming too soon when below form at Ascot last month, but he had looked the one to take out of the race when a strong-finishing fifth in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, where he was the worst sufferer in a standing start.

His best effort last season came on heavy ground at Exeter and the return to a testing surface is likely to help him here.

He’s perhaps not one to make too many excuses for, having always been held in high regard, despite winning just twice, but he’s clearly handicapped to win a race of this nature and rider Ben Jones is enjoying his most successful spell in the saddle.

Musselburgh Saturday

1.10 Bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle (Listed) 1m 7f 124yd

Wonderfulwonderful shaped better than the bare result, when 12 and a half lengths fourth of 12 to Highland Crystal in a juvenile fillies’ listed race at Newbury last time, going with gusto but doing a little too much in front and not quite seeing the race out as a result.

There are two things in her favour here, even if accepting that she might have stamina limitations over hurdles. Firstly, the sharp two miles at Musselburgh will be much easier to handle than the galloping track at Newbury, and the fitting of a hood should help her conserve some energy here.

I’ve seen plenty of short runners win around Musselburgh, with the key to getting home here being the ability to travel on a strong pace and that is a quality that the selection clearly has, while her jumping is quick and fluent on the whole, another quality that should ensure she stays on the bridle for as long as possible.

Stamina remains a minor worry, but John McConnell has found the perfect race for her at this level, and she looks value at the overnight odds.

1.43 Bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle 1m 7f 124yd

Welsh Charger caught the eye in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November, making the running and keeping on again having briefly looked like dropping out, eventually finishing 13 lengths fourth behind Alexei and looking like the run would bring him on. Unfortunately, he was well below form under a change of tactics (held up in mid-division) at Ascot before Christmas, but I’m happy to put a line through that run, assuming connections don’t persist with a strategy that clearly doesn’t suit the horse.

Welsh Charger is best when on the pace and, although he’s faded late on occasion, he has shown there is plenty of fight in him, notably when winning this race 12 months ago when battling back after the last to beat Afadil by a length. He’s not had things fall his way since, but looked as good as ever at Cheltenham and is now just 1lb higher than when last successful, so looks a good bet for those willing to forgive Ascot, as I am.

2.20 Bet365 Scottish Champion Chase (Handicap) 2m 4f 68yd

Insurrection has produced his best efforts over fences at this track, scoring in a novice handicap over course and distance a year ago by a wide margin, and likely to have gone close but for a late mistake when third to Breizh River on New Year’s Day.

He races off the same mark here, but now has the benefit of Freddie Keighley’s 7lb claim and can make it two from three at the track with plenty to recommend him.

Recommended

Risk De Pluie 1.25 Sandown - 1pt win @ 10/3 (Paddy Power - 3/1 general)

Haddex Des Obeaux 2.02 Sandown - 1pt e/w @ 20/1 (Ladbrokes/Coral - 14/1 general)

Kala Conti 2.40 Sandown - 1pt win @ 9/4 (general)

Hartington 3.10 Sandown - 1pt win @ 4/1 (general)

Wonderfulwonderful 1.10 Musselburgh - 1pt win @ 16/1 (Bet365 - 14/1 general)

Welsh Charger 1.43 Musselburgh - 1pt e/w @ 5/1 (Bet365, Hills - 9/2 general)

Insurrection 2.20 Musselburgh - 1pt win @ 7/2 (general)