SANDOWN – SATURDAY
1.50pm
Before Midnight
I think he looks fairly handicapped on his second at Kempton earlier in the season and he got the job done well enough when we last saw him at Taunton in January. The placed horses have both won since, and the softer ground here hopefully won’t be an issue given he won his bumper on heavy. I’d like to believe there is a fair bit more to come from him.
2.25pm
Dream Du Grand Val
The guv’nor also has last year’s runner-up Call Me Lord in here and he must have a big chance given that he will love the ground and excels at this course, for all he races off a lofty mark of 160. His presence here has done us a favour too, as we have a lovely racing weight on 10st 5lb and some of the other fancied horses are out of the handicap as a result. My boy probably isn’t the most straightforward but the hood looks to have concentrated his mind a fair amount, and he has probably done what he was entitled to do at Fontwell and Kelso. He has not been missed by the handicapper, but I think a stronger-run race will suit him better here and he had soft-ground form in France. Hopefully, there is more to come from him, too.
WARWICK – SUNDAY
3.25pm
Espoir de Loire
He didn’t run up to his best at Doncaster last time but he has had a break since then, and a wind op, and a mark of 107 looks fair enough on his earlier Huntingdon runs. The step up in trip will hopefully suit this winning pointer, too.
3.55pm
Sheneededtherun
She comes here in decent form, having finished second at Warwick for me last time. She doesn’t have any secrets from the handicapper but hopefully the step up to 3m5f for the first time will suit.
5.00pm
Southfield Royale
He is an interesting addition to the yard. He is a 9yo now and his form tailed off last season, but he is down to a mark of just 122 over hurdles – some 11lb lower than his chase level – and he is certainly weighted to go well if a change of scenery has revitalised him. Trip and ground are fine for a horse who was a very smart chaser a few years back.
