SANDOWN brings the curtain down on the current jumps season and the continuing dry weather means that Andrew Cooper’s team are watering the course to ensure that the quick ground is safe. The field sizes have inevitably been affected by the lack of rain, though the quality is all there, and they are certainly competitive races.

The Oaksey Chase looks very tricky with Mister Fisher just taken to come out on top here for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson against Saint Calvados, Erne River and Nuts Well. Later on in the Grade 2 Select Hurdle Scaramanga looks to have a good chance for Paul Nicholls.

In the Gold Cup Handicap Potterman, Kitty’s Light and Enrilo are returning here from last year and as well as Kitty’s Light Christian Williams has Scottish National winner Win My Wings and Cap Du Nord so could have the 1-2-3! Christian Williams has been brilliant with his staying chasers this season and the only concern would be that Win My Wings and Kitty’s Light may be caught out by runners who have had less intense campaigns. This is an intriguing renewal and certainly the likes of Fidux, Streets of Doyen, Flegmatik and Domaine De L’Isle will relish the quick conditions.

Congratulations to Brian Hughes on being crowned Champion Jump Jockey in Britain and achieving over 200 winners, a remarkable performance.

Enjoy whether at Sandown or #athome watching on ITV Racing and Racing TV.

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

1.50 Sandown – Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (2m)

Head Law has been in tremendous form and this five-year-old can take the step up here making it four wins on the bounce. He has won easily on good ground at Southwell and Warwick on his last two appearances, whilst I first started tracking him after his fourth to I Am Maximus in a maiden at Newbury last December. Head Law really looks the type to win plenty more races.

Unibet 9/2 

Dibble Decker caught the eye when an easy winner at Huntingdon on his second hurdle start on good to soft, ahead of then finishing second to Osprey Call at Warwick. This looked good form and Dibble Decker showed this to be the case when successful in the soft at Taunton last month. Dibble Decker ran on good ground in a bumper at Cheltenham and the return to the surface could really suit this relentless galloper. He is a genuine and progressive type who will ran well on his first appearance at Sandown.

Unibet 17/2 each way

2.05 Haydock – Great Shevington Handicap (7f)

Boardman for the Tim Easterby team took just the one run to come to hand last year when winning three on the bounce, including over this course and distance. He is now back to the same mark as his third victory in 2021 and looked ready to strike when fourth at Redcar on his reappearance when badly drawn three weeks ago. He must have a very good chance.

Unibet 11/2  

3.00 Sandown – Celebration Chase Grade 1 (2m)

Nube Negra has 12l to find with Greaneteen on his Tingle Creek running on good to soft but was turned out quickly enough after his Shloer victory at Cheltenham and he’s much better when he’s a fresh horse. Although Greaneteen has an excellent Sandown record Nube Negra has his ground, and it is worth remembering when they were both at the top of their game in the 2021 Champion Chase when Nube Negra came out on top when second behind Put The Kettle On. Nube Negra can make all here and secure this Grade 1.

Unibet 6/4 win

3.32 Sandown – Gold Cup Handicap (3m 5f) 

Flegmatik (nap) will relish the quick conditions  and is going for a three timer, having won at Kempton on his last two starts. He raced over three miles on his penultimate start at Kempton and won easily on good ground on that occasion when looking like a step up in trip will suit. He hasn’t run over three miles before, but this strong traveller looks progressive and this seven-year-old hasn’t appeared since the end of February for the Dan Skelton team so comes here fresh on his fifth start of the season.

Unibet 7/1 each way

Domaine De L’Isle performs best in the Spring as he showed last season when winning at Kempton and Cheltenham. He is now 4lb lower and was hunting around in the pack when unseating at the Chair in the Grand National, and that might be a blessing in disguise as he comes to the race relatively fresh. It is worth noting that horses who failed to complete in the National have a good record in this race. Domaine De L’Isle has his ground, has been campaigned with spring handicaps in mind and Champion Jockey Brian Hughes is in the plate.

Unibet 16/1 each way