SANDOWN SATURDAY

13:50 BET365 NOVICES’ CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE 1M 7F 216Y

I must admit to getting my fingers burnt backing Cause Toujours at Haydock last weekend, but I’m not deterred and his demise there was due to clipping heels after jumping the fourth last when still waited with and going well. The selection is a very smooth traveller who does his running on the bridle, and has been known to find little for pressure, as when emptying in the finish to be second to Grand Sancy at Haydock in December.

He looked all set to win cosily in that listed contest only to tie up in the dying yards, and while that weak finish is a worry, the form is sound, with the winner going on be second in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle, before beating Sceau Royal and Vision des Flos in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle.

Cause Toujours has been kept aside for a spring campaign after finishing second on ground too soft for him at Aintree, and the way he was backed into clear favouritism suggests he was expected to deliver. Despite that, he’s a double figure price here, and he looks better than his mark granted suitable conditions.

14:25 BET365 OAKSEY CHASE (GRADE 2) 2M 6F 164Y

The unusual trip of this contest means that it suits a certain type of animal, namely a sound jumper with a high cruising speed who may just fail to stay a stiff three miles, and that was certainly the case with multiple winner Menorah.

The one who appears most in that mould here is the enthusiastic Go Conquer, who didn’t stay in the Grand National, but who won over a bare three miles at Doncaster earlier in the year, and is at least as effective at shorter.

This test looks ideal for the bold-jumping 10-year-old, and he can belatedly gain a Grade 2 success with more in his favour than can be said for most of his rivals. Charbel will appreciate the return to a left-handed track, but has suffered kissing spines in the past and sometimes goes through a race like a horse still feeling discomfort, while Definitly Red has a poor record in the spring and would prefer a stiffer test.

15:00 BET365 CELEBRATION CHASE (GRADE 1) 1M 7F 119Y

The scene is set for Altiorto make history by gaining his 19th consecutive victory, and if successful he will be beating the record set by Big Buck’s. It’s hard to oppose him given how well he won the Tingle Creek over course and distance last December, but he has looked beatable since, and Sceau Royal gave him a mighty fright in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

The latter is a slightly suspect stayer when the emphasis is on stamina at this trip, but he’s got a smart turn of foot, and I wonder if there might be much more of a battle in prospect here than many expect. The climb from the last fence tilts things in Altior’s favour, but his old rival may well be able to get him off the bridle at some point, and it will be intriguing to see what happens in that scenario.

15:35 BET365 GOLD CUP HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE 3) 3M 4F 166Y

Last year’s winner Step Back has been well backed, which makes sense given he’s clearly best on a right-handed track, and he didn’t have a hard race in the Grand National, his tendency to jump out to his right seeing him almost off the track at the Canal Turn on the second circuit, and he was immediately pulled up by Nico de Boinville, no doubt thinking about other days for him.

He remains 10lbs higher in the weights than when making all the running to win this last year, and while he was impressive, he was also given too much rope by his rivals. I struggle to see him getting things his way to the same extent this time around, and prefer to look elsewhere.

Of much more interest at the odds is another Grand National also-ran in Joe Farrell. Adam Wedge tried to keep the 2018 Scottish Grand National winner handy at Aintree, but he kept losing ground by racing on the outside of the field, particularly on the turns, and when the field had to bypass the first fence on the second circuit.

He blundered at Foinavon second time, but jumped well otherwise, and merely had to work too hard to regain lost ground. He is still relatively fresh, having raced only three times since his Scottish National success, and looked at least as good as ever when second to Chic Name at Newbury on his penultimate start. He has won on all ground types and clearly stays well, while he is still lightly raced over fences for a 10-year-old, all of which make him look one of the likelier winners in a fascinating, but not exactly vintage renewal.

16:10 BET365 SELECT HURDLE (GRADE 2) 2M 5F 110Y

Younevercall has had his problems, and returns from another break following wind surgery, but he looks a class act when right, and tends to go well fresh, so is worth chancing at a price in this Grade 2 event. The selection has come up short at the highest level this season, but he shaped well for a long way before getting tired in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, where he appeared to suffer a breathing problem.

The shorter trip and quicker ground will help here, and it could be argued that a repeat of his wide-margin win over a similar trip at Kempton in October would be enough to win this trappy contest. Kim Bailey’s charge has shown his very best form going right-handed and on a sound surface, so can have no excuses, and it’s unlike Bailey to run his horses out of their comfort zone, the veteran trainer’s yard is only a few miles from Cheltenham, but he would rather go to Perth for a winner than on the short trip to the home of jumping for place money, and that makes Younevercall look very interesting as he bids for blacktype.

RECOMMENDED

CAUSE TOUJOURS 13:50 Sandown – 1pt e/w @ 12/1 (general)

GO CONQUER 14:25 Sandown – 1pt win @ 8/1 (Bet365, William Hill)

JOE FARRELL 15:35 Sandown – 1pt e/w @ 16/1 (Bet365, William Hill)

YOUNEVERCALL 16:10 Sandown – 1pt win @ SP