Sandown races: tips, racecards and preview for the Tolworth Hurdle meeting on Saturday
IT'S Unibet Tolworth Hurdle day at Sandown on Saturday.
There could be some Cheltenham Festival clues in the Grade 1, while the £100,000 Veteran's Chase offers up a cracking betting heat.
Race 1 - 12.15 Unibet Casino Juvenile Hurdle
Hereia is top-rated and sets the standard, but he was comfortably held on his first start for Neil Mulholland at Cheltenham last month and could prove vulnerable.
PALLADIUM shaped with distinct promise on his hurdling bow for Nicky Henderson and he could be the answer.
He was well-punted and stayed on strongly from the last to finish a short-head second at Warwick, with the front two pulling well clear. This stiffer track will suit.
Zarafshan is an interesting hurdling debutant for Emma Lavelle. He was a maiden on the Flat but on some of his form, including a second to Sir Dragonet in April, he is well worth a check in the betting.
Brambledown and Mr Chua will win races but are passed over here.
SELECTION: Palladium
DANGER: Zarafshan
Race 2 - 12.45 Unibet Mares' Hurdle (Listed)
The return to 2m4f holds no fears for the classy SILVER FOREVER.
She paid the price for doing too much, too soon when third behind an exciting prospect at Newbury last time out.
She is better than she showed there and is narrowly preferred to the penalised Indefatigable, who chased home a smart mare at Cheltenham last month.
Cap Soleil would have a chance if recapturing her 2017-18 form, but last season was a total washout and she has a point to prove.
Fleur Irlandaise, a 100-1 winner at Kempton two starts ago, and recent Donny scorer Copper Gone West aren't out of this but will need to raise their game.
SELECTION: Silver Forever
DANGER: Indefatigable
Race 3 - 1.20 Read Nicky Henderson's Unibet Blog Handicap Chase
Dashing Perk was impressive when making all to win decisively over C&D last time out.
He looks well-handicapped off 129, but he likes to get on with things and he could face competition for the lead here.
With a strong gallop likely, he could be vulnerable at the death to the prolific WAIKIKI WAVES.
Gary Moore's progressive seven-year-old has been a revelation since sent chasing, winning five of his six starts.
He defied a lay-off and a big drift in the market to win easily at Fontwell last time and there is still mileage in his revised rating of 122.
Chef D'Equipe won this race two years ago off a 5lb lower mark and he enters calculations after a good run at Newbury when last sighted.
Mercy Mercy Me has plenty of ability but hasn't always been the most convincing in the finish. First-time cheekpieces need to work the oracle.
SELECTION: Waikiki Waves
DANGER: Dashing Perk
Race 4 - 1.50 New Unibet Uniboost Handicap Chase
Not a strong race and the upwardly mobile six-year-old JOHNBB can complete a C&D double.
He was given a lovely ride by Robbie Power to win readily here last month - jumping well on just his second start over fences and quickening clear after the last.
A 6lb rise isn't the end of the world and he has more upside than most of these. Power retains the ride which is a big plus.
Darebin, who has a cracking record at this venue, was third behind the selection on that occasion and he is better off at the weights now. He commands respect.
Locker Room Talk was a wide-margin, pillar-to-post winner at Taunton last time, but he was allowed a very easy lead that day and he is unlikely to get his own way up top now.
Delire D'Estruval shaped as though he needed his comeback run at Ascot and he should put in an improved effort now.
SELECTION: Johnbb
DANGER: Darebin
Race 5 - 2.25 Unibet Tolworth Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
A solid renewal of this Grade 1 which acted as the springboard to Supreme Novices' Hurdle glory for Summerville Boy two years ago.
It remains to be seen if any of these runners will reach that level, but Nicky Henderson's SON OF CAMAS could be a bit special.
He was well-backed before winning a traditionally strong maiden hurdle at Newbury in November, travelling strongly into contention and showing a smart change of gear from the back of the last.
He jumped slightly out to his right on a few occasions, so he will likely appreciate going this way round, and he stargazed a touch when in front so was worth more than the margin of victory.
The runner-up has since franked the form in no uncertain terms and his trainer has an excellent record in this (won four of the last nine).
Hang In There sets the standard following a comfortable win in the Grade 2 Supreme Trial at Cheltenham in November.
This race looks tougher, though, so he will have to raise his game again.
A bigger danger will likely come from the Tizzard's Fiddlerontheroof, who ran his rivals ragged over C&D last month.
He was allowed to dictate there and he will pose a major threat if allowed an easy lead again.
Silver Hallmark shouldn't be underestimated, but the form of his Chepstow win has taken a few knocks, while Jeremys Flame could hit the frame at a price.
SATURDAY NAP: Son Of Camas
DANGER: Fiddlerontheroof
Race 6 - 3.00 Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase (In Memory Of Houblon Des Obeaux)
JEPECK looks to have been laid out for this £100,000 prize.
Anthony Honeyball's 11-year-old switches back to fences off a good mark having chased home subsequent Scottish National hero Takingrisks on his last start under this code.
He has had three spins over hurdles this season to protect his rating, winning twice, he stays well and Rex Dingle takes off a handy 3lb.
Dark Flame finished 'second' in the void London Marathon here last month having filled the same position behind the late Houblon Des Obeaux the time before that.
He gets first-time cheekpieces today and is clearly on a competitive mark at present, so he has to enter calculations.
Vieux Lion Rouge had excuses at Aintree last time (lost a shoe) and he remains well-treated.
He makes each-way appeal, as does On Tour, who is now fitted with a first-time visor.
King's Odyssey snapped a long losing run when beating Smooth Stepper at Warwick last time out, but this sort of mark has proven beyond him in the past.
SELECTION: Jepeck
DANGER: Dark Flame
Race 7 - 3.35 Read Nico De Boinville's Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle
A chance is taken on ELDORADO ALLEN on his return from a 392-day absence.
He looked a very smart hurdler in the making when breezing clear of a good horse over C&D in November 2018, but he hasn't been seen since unseating at the first at Aintree the following month.
Colin Tizzard can get them ready off the back of a lay-off and there is every chance he is better than his mark.
If he is weak in the betting (and expected to need the run), Smarty Wild is a solid alternative.
He ran with credit in a deeper race at the Tingle Creek meeting and a mark of 133 may yet prove within his reach.
Gunnery carries a penalty for a comfortable win at Doncaster six days ago, but he was gifted an easy lead there and the race was something of a non-event. This demands more.
Talking of non-events, Totterdown was allowed the freedom of Sandown when making all for a wide-margin win here in November. A 12lb rise could stop him following up.
At a price, Distingo showed signs of life here last time out. He remains on a decent mark and the drying ground is a plus.