ALLART was a little bit sore and pulled a fair few muscles after his fall at Haydock but is fine now and I’m still very keen to get another run into him before Cheltenham. Where that will be I don’t know because he’s very much in the same bracket as Chantry House who subsequently had some surgery on his back after Cheltenham and schooled very well on Thursday so is also ready to rock and roll. I’ll have a good look through the program book to try and find the most suitable races for each of them but I hope to get them out within the next two weeks.
Gallyhill is doing well and I’m looking at taking him to Ascot on 20th February for a 2m4f Novice Hurdle and Lecales Article will head to Huntingdon on Thursday for the Sidney Banks, as long as the banks haven’t burst of course!
SANDOWN
1:15 Handicap Chase
Caribean Boy (Daryl Jacob)
He was disappointing at Ascot last time but it was all my fault because I ran him much too quickly after Newbury and he was extremely flat as a consequence so you can blame me entirely. He also had significant ulcers which we’ve now treated and freshened him up plenty at home so I think you will see a completely different horse this time. He looked very good at Newbury and the drop back in trip will not be a problem, neither will the ground.
1:50 G1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase
Dame De Compagnie (Nico de Boinville)
I was very impressed with her at Ayr last time where she jumped well and seemed to really enjoy herself. This is obviously another step up the ladder and I’m not convinced that she will really be in love with the ground; winning a two runner event on heavy at Ayr is a different ball game to winning a very competitive Grade One on heavy, but the step back up in trip will suit and she loves her jumping so with a bit of luck she can put up a good show.
2:20 G2 Cotswold Chase
Santini (Aidan Coleman)
It’s great that Sandown are able to restage this race because this has been the plan for quite some time and should put him spot on for another crack at the Gold Cup. The track is right up his street but I don’t think a slog on heavy ground is really what he’s crying out for but he has to run so we might as well let him take his chance. Aidan came and had a sit on him last week (before he was supposed to run at Cheltenham) because Nico will be on Champ at Newbury next week so it makes sense to keep our options open with regards to the future. Aidan knows Champ from his hurdling days and obviously Nico knows Santini inside out so it is important that both jockeys are familiar with both horses so we are trying to keep all angles covered with a view to what may or may not happen at Cheltenham.
2:55 Handicap Chase
Champagne Mystery (Nico de Boinville)
He fell very early on at Cheltenham last time but has schooled well since and is a horse that goes very well fresh. Again, I wouldn’t say he’ll relish the ground but it’s the same for everyone and if he handles it, I’d give him a big chance.
WETHERBY
1:58 G2 Cleeve Hurdle
On The Blind Side (James Bowen)
He really is in a rich vein of form and hasn’t put a foot wrong at all since winning one of those jumpers bumpers at Newcastle around this time last year and I really like the way he knuckled down to win at Market Rasen last time when conceding 4lbs to Lil Rockerfeller. This looks a decent race but conditions are right for him and I’m hopeful of a big run.
