1:50 EBF Betfair ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final 2m 3f 173y

Hasthing caught my eye at Newbury last time in the race won by Making Headway, and the modest gallop at two miles was all against him that day. Prior to that, Jonjo O’Neill’s gelding had won a pair of novice events at around this trip on testing ground, beating Pic Roc cosily at Catterick despite conceding that rival 6lb. That form has been well franked, with the runner-up scoring at Ascot on his next start.

Ben Pauling’s charge is respected, but he’s now asked to concede 4lb to Hasthing and that suggests that the assessor has given the latter a huge chance from a mark of 119. He travelled well last time, but that race turned into a sprint which didn’t suit and Hasthing is likely to be seen in a much better light with a test of stamina which he is sure to get here.

At bigger odds, I’d not rule out Taras Halls who was second to the reopposing Champagne Twist at Doncaster last time, but was unsuited by the way that race unfolded, doing all his best work late, and he’s fancied to turn the tables granted an end-to-end gallop.

2:25 Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle 1m 7f 216y

I’ve had Faivoir in mind for the County Hurdle, so Dan Skelton’s charge must be of interest here with soft ground no problem.

He was an eyecatcher under an inexperienced claimer in the Betfair Hurdle last time and is sure to improve on that creditable run with Harry Skelton back in the plate. He’s quickly become well handicapped, with his current mark of 136 just 2lb higher than when he beat Pied Piper at Cheltenham last March.

It’s worth noting that Dan Skelton produced two exposed but well-handicapped horses to win handicap hurdles at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and that Faivoir was his fourth County Hurdle winner in the last decade.

No other trainer managed more than one handicap win at Cheltenham in 2023 and Skelton must be acknowledged as the best target trainer in the UK for such races, with a knack of getting seemingly jaded horses to bounce back to their best for the most prestigious handicaps.

The dangers are likely to come from the younger brigade, with Jipcot respected after bolting up on his return to hurdles at Huntingdon just last week, and he will go close if this doesn’t come too soon which is a concern, while Bad – frustrating as he is – will be suited by racing on genuinely testing ground for the first time since winning at Auteuil last season.

He’s clearly well treated, but the way he allowed himself to be bullied out of victory at Ascot last time still smarts and is reason enough not to back him win-only at a short price.

Making Headway is my idea of the potential fly in the ointment, and while he was suited by the run of the race when scoring at Newbury last time, it’s his run in the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree which is the key, and that form was franked when Jango Baie and Cannock Park finished second and third in the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso last week. Making Headway stayed on well late at Aintree on heavy ground, and is almost certain to progress further, making an opening mark of 129 look very fair indeed. He is worth a saver in the circumstances.

3:00 British Stallion Studs EBF Mares’ Bumper (Listed) 1m 7f 216y

Ben Pauling has a strong team at Sandown and has been in tremendous form since the turn of the year, so remains a trainer to keep firmly on side. He is represented here by expensive purchase Magical Annie, who bolted up on debut at Galway before joining current connections, but disappointed in a listed bumper at Doncaster in December, albeit with her jockey reporting that she had a breathing problem there.

She now sports a tongue tie, and it would be no surprise to see her bounce back to winning ways, but her presence means that stablemate I’ve Madeupmymind is likely to be underbet and there is plenty to like about her chances after a promising debut at Wincanton.

I’ve Madeupmymind led into the straight travelling well at Wincanton but was outspeeded by the promising Jubilee Alpha with the pair coming clear. It’s no surprise that she found that extended a mile and seven furlongs too sharp as she comes from a family replete with stamina, her dam a three-time winner at three miles for the Pauling stable and her grandam One Gulp a multiple winner at up to three and a half-sister to Grand National winner Rule The World and smart staying hurdler Venalmar.

This testing two miles will feel like further on heavy ground and such emphasis on stamina is sure to suit the selection, who should offer a bit of value in appearing the stable’s neglected.

3:35 Betfair Serial Winners Fund Novices’ Handicap Chase 2m 4f 10y

There are question marks over most of the field, but I was impressed by the way Invincible Nao went about his task at Fakenham, jumping well under a switch to front-running tactics and pulling clear to win by 14 lengths from Pearly Island.

His earlier third at Lingfield has worked out well with the pair he split both impressive winners in handicap company subsequently, and the son of Gris De Gris seemed to benefit from the removal of a hood last time.

This is a very different track to Fakenham, but the Norfolk venue is a test of jumping with the fences there pretty stiff for a “gaff” and I’m not worried about Invincible Nao’s ability to cope with the notorious Sandown fences.

Once again, he has the look of a stable second-string with Niall Houlihan aboard Kotmask, but David Noonan has won a Grade 1 here this season for Gary Moore and I don’t see him as merely a back-up rider for the yard, with the boss seeming keen to share the good rides between those jockeys and Caoilin Quinn.

Hasthing 1:50 Sandown – 2pts win @ 7/2 (Ladbrokes, Coral, Boyles)

Faivoir 2:25 Sandown – 1pt e/w @ 11/1 (Hills - 6 places)

Making Headway 2:25 Sandown – 1pt e/w @ 8/1 (Ladbrokes, Coral - 5 places)

I’ve Madeupmymind 3:00 Sandown – 1pt e/w @ 12/1 (SkyBet, Bet365 – 4 places)