A super Saturday of racing coming up with a fascinating renewal of the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown with just 5lb separating the field, whilst we have day one of the Dublin Racing Festival where it is a question of how many winners Willie Mullins will have? On the Saturday he has 23 runners across the seven-race card, which has a total of 74 horses declared.
There are four Grade 1 races with Marine Nationale Unibet 2/5 on in the Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase Grade 1, as is Galopin Des Champs Unibet 2/5 on in the Irish Gold Cup Grade 1. Whilst all sights will be on The Cheltenham Festival these two stars can both come out on top here even with Galopin Des Champs taking on Fastorslow.
There is a good card at Musselburgh featuring the Edinburgh National Handicap Chase.
Enjoy whether at the races or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
1.20 Leopardstown – Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle Grade 1 (2m 6½f)
Jetara gets her 7lb allowance against the geldings and with there not being a superstar in the field she can gain a four-timer here after an excellent performance at Christmas at this course when beating Pink In The Park by 7½ lengths. This was on the back of a listed mares novice success at Punchestown and if she progresses again she can take this Grade 1.
Unibet 7/2 win
1.50 Leopardstown – McCann Fitzgerald Spring Juvenile Hurdle Grade 1 (2m)
Intellotto can reward each way players in what looks a wide-open Juvenile Hurdle with the favourite Storm Heart looking opposable based on what he beat on hurdling debut. Intellotto earned a rating of 87 on the flat on the back of three runs and then was gelded. He had been off eight months when winning a juvenile maiden here at Leopardstown in December, when moving clear smoothly on the run in to win comfortably in the heavy. Intellotto gave every impression that day there is more progress to come and surely, he will benefit from the less testing conditions at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Unibet 17/2 each way
2:35 Sandown – Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase Grade 1 (2m 4f)
Colonel Harry can come out on top here in a tightly-knit affair on the ratings, with just 5lb separating all five of them. One thing we are sure of is a scorching pace, with both Nickle Back and Le Patron in the field and for all that’s going to suit Hermes Allen, who stays this 2m4f trip well, but his price looks short enough given there’s so little between them all. Instead, Colonel Harry is taken to reverse his earlier form with Le Patron in the Henry VIII over this longer trip. He looked outpaced for much of that 2m contest and showed when jumping the last at Sandown as he made up ground on Le Patron all the way up the hill that a step up in trip was required. This proved to be the case at Wetherby last month, when he travelled better and won going away from some smart sorts. This genuine and very likeable type can make his return to Sandown a winning one.
Unibet 5/1 win
3:10 Sandown – Heroes Handicap Hurdle (2m 7½f)
Ed Keeper was so unlucky not to score at Cheltenham last time out and he can gain compensation here. A real strong sort, he tanked his way through that race and looked poised to win at the last, but he bungled it badly, with Sam Twiston-Davies doing well to stay in the saddle. Despite that he was only beaten a length and a half in third by the improving Butch, in what was a real race for the notebook. The handicapper was impressed too with a 5lb hike for the effort by Ed Keeper but in truth he looked like he had that and more in hand, so expect compensation today.
Unibet 4/1 win
Good Luck Charm has form figures this season of 134 and prices of 18/1, 18/1 and 28/1 with her last run a good fourth in the Lanzorate, having previously finished third at Cheltenham to the very smart Nurse Susan, who won at the big Lingfield meeting last month. Good Luck Charm runs here off bottom weight on her first appearance at Sandown and this mare has to be in the mix.
Unibet 10/1 each way
3:45 Sandown – Masters Handicap Chase (3m)
Blackjack Magic (nap) can outclass this field over what is his optimum trip, whilst many of the opposition will be crying out for another half-mile at least.
He was the winner of the Badger Beer at Wincanton back in November, then he lost nothing in defeat when fourth in the Howden Silver Cup at Ascot last time, and would surely have been second but for a bad mistake at the last, one that cost him a couple of places on the run-in. Those last two runs have both been in Grade 3 handicaps against genuine three-milers, and this looks a much easier task. He should take plenty of beating.
Unibet 3/1 win
The Wine Tipster’s Sandown Special
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