Rory Delargy

SANDOWN SATURDAY

1.20 MATCHBOOK BETTING EXCHANGE JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE 1M 7F 216Y

Hygrove Percy and Gregarious both made all the running to score in their most recent races, the latter over course and distance, but the pair could be compromised by getting into a battle for the lead and could just be setting the race up for Victor Ludorum runner-up Zalvados who appears the form pick on that Haydock run behind the highly regarded Don Bersy. His background and racing style suggest he will be best at a bare two miles so sticky ground might not be ideal at this stiff track, but similar comments could be made about his main rival and he looks the percentage call.

1.50 EBF MATCHBOOK VIP ‘NATIONAL HUNT’ NOVICES’ HANDICAP HURDLE FINAL (Grade 3) 2M 3F 173Y

This is always fiercely competitive, and most of the runners promise to do better down the line. The one who appeals most is Nicky Henderson’s Gaitway, who disappointed a couple of times before beating Touch Kick at Musselburgh. That form can’t be rated too highly on its own, but the races in which Gaitway tasted defeat earlier in the campaign have worked out very well, and this lightly raced gelding once beat Gold Cup hope Tea For Two in a bumper. He’s clearly had his issues, but remains a horse of considerable talent, and might be on the right side of the handicapper. The Musselburgh race has thrown up a couple of subsequent winners to put a sheen on the form and the selection looks like he will benefit from the stiff finish at Sandown.

2.25 BETTER ODDS WITH MATCHBOOK HANDICAP CHASE 3M 37Y

Willoughby Hedge was enlivened by the fitting of a visor last time, winning over course and distance with Pete The Feat in arrears, but he doesn’t have a consistent profile, and wouldn’t be sure to be in the same form this time, so he’s passed over in favour of Shanroe Santos. He wasn’t altogether fluent when winning at Warwick last month, but won like a horse who is finding his feet over fences and represents the Lucy Wadham yard which has hit some form in recent weeks. The eight-year-old gelding missed 20 months with injury after his novice hurdle season, but is ready to make up for lost time, and hasn’t been harshly dealt with by the handicapper by any means.

3.00 MATCHBOOK IMPERIAL CUP HANDICAP HURDLE (Grade 3) 1M 7F 216Y

London Prize was a confident selection in this column when contesting the Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh five weeks ago, and he was tanking along when falling at the fourth last flight at the Scottish track. He’s since run well in a competitive handicap on tapeta at Newcastle and he can do considerable damage off his current hurdles mark. The ground was heavy when entries were made for this, but has improved with the benefit of some spring-like weather, and should be fine for Ian Williams’ charge, accepting that the closer to good it becomes, the more his chance increases.

Of the others, I’m also keen on the longterm prospects of Not Another Muddle who shaped better than the winner when chasing home Casper King at Fontwell last month. Gary Moore’s lightly-raced son of Kayf Tara is near the bottom of his learning curve, but has a lot of untapped potential, and while he might need more experience before he’s ready for a race like this, he’s worthy of a saver at a double-figure price.

4.45 MATCHBOOK CASINO HANDICAP CHASE 2M 4F 10Y

Gores Island was just getting the better of a battle of a battle with Sir Note when taking a crashing fall at Kempton’s last fence a fortnight ago, and while many are reluctant to back horses on the back of a fall, it’s never something which worries me with older horses, who tend not to have the fragile confidence of novices. Gary Moore wouldn’t have him back on track so quickly if he had suffered any side effects from that tumble. He’s a consistent and reliable chaser given these conditions and has struck up a good relationship with 10lb claimer William Clarke. While it’s possible that the mercurial Morning Reggie will bounce back to form to win this for the second time, Gores Island is the more reliable proposition overall.

HEREFORD SATURDAY

2.50 SIX NATIONS RUGBY AT 188BET NOVICES’ LIMITED HANDICAP CHASE 2M 4F 194Y

The fare on offer at Hereford is modest enough, but there is one race where it should pay to take a view, and that’s the novices’ handicap in which the colours made famous by Monet’s Garden are carried by the strapping Duncomplaining. Will Kinsey’s chase debutant should be backed to make it first time lucky in his new role. A useful bumper performer at one stage, he jumped poorly on his return from a long absence at Wetherby in December. He was much improved in that department at Doncaster last time and, despite finishing a well-beaten fifth, actually shaped with huge promise, travelling as well as any of his rivals until seeming to blow up from the second last. He was probably still wanting for fitness there, and looks the type who will be better over fences if his impressive physique is any guide. The mark he’s been allotted is probably not lenient in terms of his achievements over timber, but he will surely do much better now he’s had a couple of runs under his belt, and he’s capable of making a big impact assuming the fences don’t get in the way.

RECOMMENDED

GAITWAY 1.50 Sandown – 1pt e/w @ 11/1 (Bet365, BetVictor)

LONDON PRIZE 3.00 Sandown 2pts win @ 9/1 (general)

NOT ANOTHER MUDDLE 3.00 Sandown 1pt win @ 10/1 (Ladbrokes, Coral, BetVictor)

DUNCOMPLAINING 2.50 Hereford 2pts win @ Betfair SP