Equinties - Sandown

Gm Equinauts

Tools down yesterday and good job too, there were a lot of gambles landed (and misplaced money gone astray).

Both Sedgefield and Exeter are off today due to unraceable track conditions leaving only the 6 jumps races as Sandown to try and find a source of yield in. There isn’t a bet everyday, and people would do far better long term learning to watch and enjoy racing without both emotional and financial risk on.

Talking of jumps, if you like the jumps, then you’ll love these racing themed Christmas jumpers:

Click the below link to order yours now in time for Christmas:

Let’s dive in.

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For the first time ever, Cialis is available without prescription. And boy it’s an absolute game changer.

Approved for medical use only in 2003, the French call it ‘le weekend’ because basically this thing lasts in your system for 3 day.

Boner’s on demand, for 3 three days!

Perfect for a weekend away when you know you’re going to need a little help.

Try it through UK MEDS, use discount code EQUINTIES10 and thank us later.

p.s none of this is medical advice but we’ve tried it…

HEADLINE ROUND UP

THE TRIAL

Having had declarations through for tomorrow’s action yesterday, the Coral Welsh Grand National Trial headlines the action at Chepstow on Saturday.

This race is usually worth following with the Welsh Grand National on December 27th in mind as both IWILLDOIT (2021) and SECRET REPRIEVE (2020) won the trial before winning the main thing and RAMSES DE TEILLEE won the trial in 2018 before finishing second in the Welsh National.

Plenty of horses have interesting profiles in this year’s trial, but here are a few to note. The first is DALAMOI for Welsh trainer Tim Vaughan as this horse has always been held in high regard and is just six years old, so he could still be improving. 

THE TWO AMIGOS won the Welsh National off 127 last year which is one pound below DALAMOI’s current mark, so he would have to be going close on Saturday to make sure he got a run.

Another we may not have seen the best of yet is PATS FANCY for racings smoke show Rebecca Curtis. He has been off the track for over 370 days, though in his novice chasing season he thumped IMPERIAL ALCAZAR at Chepstow in December 2021 before his valiant second to BRAVEMANSGAME in a handicap at Newbury in February. 

With the long layoff, he probably won’t be fully fit for Saturday, but should put him spot-on Welsh National, a race he is 33/1 for. We’ll be cheering him on regardless because when he does win it means Rebecca will be on TV.

SHEEHAN WINS 

Onto news and Coral Gold Cup-winning jockey Gavin Sheehan has been successful in his appeal against a 14-day riding ban he picked up on November 25th. 

The jockey was given the ban for not trying on ZAIN NIGHTS at Huntingdon (lol) in a race won comfortably by TELLHERTHENAME. Trainer Lucy Wadham was handed a £3,000 fine however, following an appeal on Thursday, the decision was overturned at a disciplinary panel hearing, allowing Gavin to partner YOU WEAR IT WELL in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle on Saturday.

More: https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/gavin-sheehan-has-14-day-non-trier-ban-overturned-and-freed-up-for-grade-1-rides-on-saturday-aoj4L1k67rH4/

13.50 GRADE 2 NOVICES HURDLE

The first Graded race of the weekend is the Winter Novices’ Hurdle and SOUTHOFTHEBOARDER puts his unbeaten record on the line. 

The five-year-old beat a nice field of SPIRITS BAY – a nine-and-a-half-length bumper winner – and CLASSIC ANTHEM over course and distance on soft ground, so there is plenty to like about his chances. It’s therefore understandable why the money is coming for him, though his market rival, INSURRECTION, is also strong in the betting. 

He wasn’t sent off favourite that day as Joe Tizzard’s DIAMOND RI was a well-backed odds-on shot (who we really liked). A lot of people expected the favourite to win that day, but INSURRECTION caused the upset and with the pair pulling well clear of the third, one can suggest Paul Nicholls’ six-year-old could be smart.

Another who could be quite smart based on his debut over hurdles is Ben Pauling’s PERSONAL AMBITION. 

He showed a great turn of foot to win the last day and has seen the form of his last win boosted thanks to the success of our Newbury NAP JINGKO BLUE last Saturday. He was sent off 12/1 that day, however, so connections were potentially surprised by the success and he might need to surprise them again.

The experienced contender in the field is JOSH THE BOSS having raced a total of six times under rules. Since running over hurdles, he won nicely at Warwick in October over 2m5f and got the job done at Aintree lto, though both times he benefitted from a four-year-old allowance against his elders and he doesn’t get the same luxury today.

Completing the field is DEAFENING SILENCE for the Skelton’s who may have a better chance than his 12/1 price suggests. 

He beat a well-regarded WRAPPEDUPINMAY at Exeter lto and is a proven stayer at the trip, so if he handles the soft ground – he won on soft in his PtP – then he could pick up the pieces.

Verdict: All five runners in this line up won lto meaning this is ultra competitive to assess. The market has squeezed SOUTHOFTHEBORDER into strong fave at slight odds on. A course and distance winner in the same conditions, he arguably holds the best form. He’s the bet.

14.25 GRADE 2 NOVICES CHASE 

Just the four are lining up for the brand new Grade 2 Esher Novices’ Chase and the contest sees Albert Bartlett winner STAY AWAY FAY head the market. Although he won the Albert Bartlett at 18/1, the six-year-old has always been rated by connections even in the months leading up to the Festival. 

The Grade 1-winning hurdler showed his class over fences at Exeter lto and although he has a penalty to carry, three miles around Sandown should suit. 

GIOVINCO is a big hype horse on Racing X and he made up for his Carlisle fall by showing his good engine in a messy race at Aintree lto (he was a leg of our winning 4 fold that day).

He is well-regarded by Lucinda Russell and has won on heavy and soft before, so today’s rain-softened ground should be no issue. He will be a strong challenge to STAY AWAY FAY.

THE CHANGING MAN is next in the market at 11/2 and he didn’t disgrace himself when second to STAY AWAY FAY lto. The form of that race reads nicely thanks to GREY DAWNING’s success nto and approaching the last, it looked as if Brendan Powell had stolen it with his mount. 

A potential disappointment from STAY AWAY FAY could see him hit the frame and he did run through the line at Exeter.

Completing the field is CONKWELL LEGEND who is a fair horse for Neil Mulholland, though it will take a big effort to win this.

Verdict: Having put THE CHANGING MAN away fairly easily in the end, it looks like STAY FAR AWAY’s main rival is Lucinda’s GIOVINCO. Another non-betting heat or us but we’ll be excited to watch the two main protagonists fighting it out up the sloppy Sandown hill. We have a feeling Nicholls’ will outstay them all and win.

RISK ON

SOUTHOFTHEBORDER is the NAP but given the lack of jumps this week we fancy playing a few races and will play minimal stakes.

12.40 MACARI

At 140 on the machine, this is a hyper speccy play and the market says NO CHANCE but there is some rationality behind it (even though the end result might not seem there is). Basically, Jane’s CASTELFORT is taking the whole market at 1.8. On pure numbers, he should win and we understand he has come on since his last run. Well done if you nabbed the 6/4, looks good now.

The others in behind him are no good. Hendo’s is slow and not bred for this. Gary Moore’s makes appeal on blood but has come from France and might need time (if he doesn’t he’s a huge danger). GALACTIC JACK needs better ground. Ffrench Davis struggles to get winners and his needs better ground. That leaves MACARI. His form is bad but he does have stamina in dam side and will LOVE the ground today. He could surprise and be in the mix if trying (warning: this would be an ideal race to be out the back and get handicapped in). Small self made ew using the 120.0 on the exchange and 9.0 for a top 3 place. Note, only Paddy’s and Betfair are pricing up top 3.

13.15 KOTMASK

Lightly raced, improving and a clever jumper. French bred so will handle ground.

13.50 SOUTHOFTHEBORDER (and small owner double)

Top on stats and pedigree, we think he just wins. Owners are looking for a double with IMMORTAL. Hendo’s lot think a hell of a lot of this horse but he hasn’t yet delivered. In their words, not ours, it’s last chance saloon for this one. Single on SOUTHOFTHEBORDER and small owner double in the last paying 6/1.

15.00 PLANNED PARADISE & ANIMAL

Two small ew plays on these two. ANIMAL loves the mud and PLANNED PARADISE has been played around with and will eventually prove well handicapped.

Small stakes, enjoy the racing!

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