Sandown 1.15 Peejaybee £25 win @ 100’30 – Never a threat when beaten 23l on chase debut at Carlisle and he fell at the seventh at Haydock (well-backed favourite) eight days ago; something to prove after that but his best form as a novice hurdler last term came in his two runs over 2m4f at this track, including on soft when fifth in the EBF Final
Wincanton 1.30 Messire Des Obeaux £25 win @ 100’30 – Very lightly raced 11yo; made a stylish start to chasing career two seasons ago with back-to-back C&D wins (good to soft/soft) on which he is well handicapped
Sandown 1.50 Frero Banbou £25 win @ 7’2 – Consistent; creditable third in last year’s Grand Annual at Cheltenham (heavy) and not disgraced in two Ascot races in the autumn; has good form over this C&D (winner and clear second in two attempts); solid claims
Wincanton 2.05 Another Crick £12.50 ew win @ 9’2/4 ‘1 firms offering 3 places – Might have been a shade fortunate when winning this race a year ago (soft ground) but is well treated from a 3lb lower mark this time around; seemed to find the ground a bit too testing when well-held third at Lingfield (2m, heavy; refitted cheekpieces) last month; big player if the first-time blinkers give him a boost
Sandown 2.25 Authorised Speed £25 win @ 7’4 – Good fifth, best of the British runners, in last year’s Champion Bumper; has travelled strongly on his way to winning both attempts over hurdles, latest over C&D (soft; survived a final-flight blunder) in a race that’s thrown up two of the last three Tolworth winners; major chance
Sandown 3.00 Prime Venture £18.75 ew @ 5’1 firms offering 6 places (NAP) – Won this race last year by 9l on heavy going; has the same mark today, having failed to get near that form since but he was 50-1 in two top handicaps last April and this season’s two runs were over hurdles; it would not be a shock were he to surge back to form this afternoon
Wincanton 3.15 Sir Psycho £25 win @ 7’2 – Smart juvenile who was fifth in the Triumph Hurdle; finished only midfield in a couple of handicaps the following autumn and didn’t have a happy experience six weeks ago on his chase debut at Bangor, where he fell early , interesting back hurdling ( has the best form )
Sandown 3.35 Lightly Squeeze £12.50 ew @ 7’2 firms offering 4 places – He won on his comeback after an extended layoff at Kempton. He was raised 6lb for that win but did it nicely and he’ll relish the conditions at Sandown. I’d like to think that there’s still a bit of progress in him and he’s still quite well treated
ITV Double £25 ew Prime Venture firms offering 6 places & Lightly Squeeze firms offering 4 places ( available terms with Betfair / Paddy Power )