Nico de Boinville: “Of course, we would hope. and maybe expect, him to make a winning return.”

11.35am Sandown

Willmount

We are lucky enough to have some exciting novices this season, and Willmount can certainly be named amongst them. He came to us after winning his point and two bumpers, and he did not disappoint when winning very easily for me at Newbury. To be honest, it wasn’t the strongest novice hurdle the track has seen but you couldn’t have asked for a better introduction. This much sterner test, for all he faces just three rivals, will obviously tell us a lot more but I’d like to think he is up to the challenge. He won his point on soft ground, but this could be far more testing, so that is a consideration.

12.05pm Sandown

Fable

She obviously hasn’t run up to her best on her last two starts, but she is very fairly handicapped over fences and hurdles judged on her Bangor chase win in February and her narrow second on her reappearance at this meeting last season. She has also gone very well when fresh on other occasions, too. She has her chance on her return to hurdles, over which she was pretty good in 2021, especially as the race has cut up a bit.

12.40pm Sandown

Chantry House

The 11yo On The Blind Side is still very capable on his day, as he showed at Newbury back in March, but I think it is fair to say his stablemate Chantry House has the stronger claims here after a very promising comeback at Cheltenham. We know his Grade 1-winning back class over fences, which included a win here, so hopefully he will give a very good account of himself in a competitive race.

1.15pm Sandown

Constitution Hill

Unless the ground turns very bad over the next 24 hours, which looks unlikely at the moment,  fingers crossed you will finally see him return after the weather put paid to his intended reappearance at Newcastle last week. Well done to all concerned for getting the race re-scheduled and, although this is tougher than last weekend would have been – we have had Shishkin and Goshen added to the mix – of course we would hope, and maybe expect, him to make a winning return on a track we know he handles well.  But no-one is getting ahead of themselves, and a certain Shishkin could well give him the most trouble if putting his Ascot antics behind him. I know this has been billed as a tune-up for the King George for him but the last time we saw him over hurdles he won the Supreme and he is not a horse to underestimate. And the mares getting 7lb, and Goshen, are hardly also-rans, too. This is a good test for him first time up.

Unibet Constitution Hill SPECIALS

2.25pm Sandown

Impose Toi

We thought the handicapper might have given him a chance on his return at Cheltenham, and he did it well for me, but he has gone up 10lb for winning just over 2 lengths, and that is probably as much as he could have got. Hopefully, there is more to come from him as a lightly-raced and progressive prospect.

Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race.

3.00pm Sandown

Jonbon

The fact that he has only been beaten by Constitution Hill and El Fabiolo in his 13 starts to date tells you everything you need to know about this horse’s talent, and it is entirely possible that he put up a career-best when beating Edwardstone and Nube Negra in the Shloer on his return. He is two from two at the track, and handles soft ground well, so his chance is obvious. But I expect last year’s winner Edwardstone to give him more of a race this time.

Unibet Jonbon SPECIALS

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