Sandown Saturday:

1.15 Nicky Henderson’s Unibet Blog Handicap Chase 2m 4f 10yds

I’m expecting rain in the morning at Sandown which will make the going soft. While most will assume that will suit favourite Gemirande, I disagree. The Southwell winner did win in France on soft ground (you can’t trust the French with ground descriptions, though, can you?) but has form figures for his current yard of PP3 on testing ground, and ran badly on his previous try at Sandown. I’m against him at the odds unless the rain fails to materialise, and am happy to chance Peejaybee in the conditions.

Richard Spencer’s gelding has yet to show much over fences, but was racing over an inadequate trip on his debut, and was gambled on at Haydock last week in a handicap only to fall before halfway.

His jumping is obviously a concern, but he simply got too close to one last time and had jumped more than adequately to that point, so I’m hopeful he’ll not have any issues here, while his novice form over hurdles – with his best efforts coming at this track – suggest he is well handicapped when putting it together over fences. Peejaybee has the demeanour of a chaser and I’m confident he will prove better in this sphere when learning his trade fully, and while inexperience is a concern, he is a more attractive proposition than the favourite.

1.50 Unibet Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Handicap Chase 1m 7f 119yds

Frero Banbou has shortened markedly since the market opened on this contest, but he still makes most appeal, with the forecast rain very much in his favour, and he’s expected to improve on this season’s form given his two runs in the autumn came on ground which is lively enough for him and while his yard was yet to hit form.

The selection is well suited by testing ground, as he showed when placed in the Grand Annual at a sodden Cheltenham in March. He gets his ground for the first time this term and that, allied to the very stiff finish at Sandown, should see an upturn in form.

Favourite Grey Diamond is respected but, while he has winning form on heavy ground, his very best efforts have come away from the mud, and he’d prefer the rain to hold off.

2.25 Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 1m 7f 216yds

It’s hard to be adamant about the relative merits of these novices and, while I’ve no strong case against the market leaders, I think there is too much of a discrepancy in prices between top and bottom. I’m particularly surprised to see the progressive Blow Your Wad priced up at 40/1 as he seems to have little to find on paper, and should continue to go the right way. Tom Lacey’s gelding wasn’t beaten far when fourth in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree in April. He stepped up on a promising hurdles debut when winning at Kempton last time.

Blow Your Wad has been runner-up twice in bumpers and again on his hurdles bow, and there is a slight concern about his resolution given he’s travelled like the best horse on all three occasions, but the fact that he’s been able to travel so sweetly is encouraging now he steps up in class.

The selection was workmanlike at Kempton and this is a much harder race, but he travels like a high-class horse and, while he can be a little ungainly off the bridle, he gives the impression a real test of stamina at this trip will suit, making him look a decent each-way bet, with the fitting of cheekpieces sure to help his concentration.

3.00 Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2022 Veterans’ Chase Series Final) 3m 37yds

Saint Xavier is an automatic selection in the Veterans’ Series Final despite this looking the race of the weekend in terms of competitiveness. Many of these could be given a chance on their best form, but not many are in form, and I thought Richard Hobson’s charge won with more in hand than the bare margin when an impressive winner in the Haydock qualifier in November.

Like many of Richard Hobson’s horses, Saint Xavier was in and out last season, but he ran well when splitting Indy Five and Prime Venture, and returned to form when reunited with Lily Pinchin at Cheltenham in November, finishing a head behind Ballyandy in fourth, with Kauto Riko and Elegant Escape well in arrears. That was his first run since May and he stepped up on it when landing a gamble at Haydock where he had Up Helly Aa King back in second and subsequent Welsh Grand National hero The Two Amigos in third, with Coo Star Sivola well beaten.

Saint Xavier has run really well on all three starts when visored, and is still lower in the weights than for his second at Newbury despite a 5lb rise for his latest win. He clearly goes very well for Lily Pinchin, and should be well positioned however this race is run.

3.35 Unibet New And Improved Bet Builder Handicap Hurdle 1m 7f 216yds

Iceo is a token selection in a Sandown finale which has a murky look to it. Djelo looked well ahead of his mark when winning at Exeter on his debut for Venetia Williams but is hard to weigh-up having been beaten under a penalty next time, with that run possibly coming too soon. He could bounce back, but is another 8lb higher than he was when beaten at 1/3 last time, and it’s hard to support him at short odds.

Iceo is also hard to weigh-up having bolted up on his British debut at Kempton last Christmas. He failed to build on that when raised to Grade 2 class on his subsequent outings, but looked the type to benefit greatly from another summer, and should be capable of better now. The concern is that he’s reappearing rather belatedly, which begs a question or two, but the timefigure he achieved when winning first time up would suggest his opening mark is lenient and if he’s ready to go, he could take some beating.

Wincanton Saturday

1.30 Virgin Bet Handicap Chase 2m 4f 35yds

None of the runners in this handicap are convincing. Celebre D’Allen is appealing in handicapping terms, having been generously dropped for a non-staying effort at Warwick last time, his stable isn’t really firing at present, and that prompts me to be cautious. I can’t get heavily involved, but the overnight odds about Magic Saint are generous, and he is the most talented of this bunch without doubt.

The downside with Magic Saint is an absence since Trials Day at Cheltenham almost a year ago, and he has a modest record fresh.

The positive is that he generally shaped better than the result in his races last season, and has fallen to a competitive mark, and one which looks positively lenient if taking off Freddie Gingell’s valuable 7lb allowance.

Magic Saint tends not to get home over this trip on a stiff track, but if he’s going to get a win at this trip, then Wincanton would be the ideal venue, given it favours speed and sound jumping over stamina.

Recommended

Peejaybee 1.15 Sandown, 1pt win at 7/2 (general)

Frero Banbou 1.50 Sandown, 1pt win at 7/2 (general)

Blow Your Wad 2.25 Sandown, 1pt e/w at 40/1 (general)

Saint Xavier 3.00 Sandown, 1.5pts e/w at 17/2 (Hills, SkyBet 8/1 – six places)

Magic Saint 1.30 Wincanton, 1pt win at 6/1 (Hills, BoyleSports – 11/2 general)

Proper Charley

Rory’s headline tip last week was Grumpy Charley, tipped at 12/1 and returned at 15/2