PRIME VENTURE gets the vote to rack up back-to-back victories in the Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase (3.00) at Sandown Park on Saturday.
Twelve months ago, Evan Williams’ 12-year-old came from the clouds under Adam Wedge to clinch this race by nine lengths.
There’s little doubt the race was run to suit a hold-up horse that afternoon, but there’s likely to be plenty of pace on again here, so those playing their hand late could again hold the cards.
Williams has targeted my selection at a repeat success and Prime Venture should be ready to step forward back over fences after two fourth placings over hurdles at Ffos Las in November.
Williams and Wedge have prospects of a double, teed up by THE LAST DAY in the Unibet Horserace Betting Operator Of The Year Handicap Chase (1.50).
The 11-year-old son of Oscar evidently isn’t an easy horse to get to the track – he’s been limited to just two runs during each of the past three seasons.
But The Last Day put up a personal best on his eighth start over fences when landing the valuable Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting last April.
A two-and-a-half-length margin from Dancing On My Own triggered an 8lb rise in the handicap to a new figure of 141.
But that could yet prove within range, and rain-softened playing surface is a definite boost to The Last Day’s chance.
Give underfoot should also help the returning ICEO in the Unibet New And Improved Bet Builder Handicap Hurdle (3.35).
The going was officially ‘soft’ when Coastal Path’s son made his debut for Paul Nicholls at Kempton Park last Christmas – and Iceo relished the conditions to win by an impressive 17 lengths.
If this afternoon’s ground does trigger a return to his best, then an assessment of 131 for Iceo’s handicap debut could prove lenient.
The Read Nicky Henderson’s Unibet Blog Handicap Chase (1.15) rates a good opportunity for GEMIRANDE to add to last-time-out triumph at Southwell.
Charlie Deutsch’s partner handed out a seven-and-a-half-length beating to Our Jet in Nottinghamshire at the end of November and a 10lb hike in the weights may not be enough to prevent the follow-up for a horse whose stable starts the New Year at the top of its game.
DESQUE DE L’ISLE should give white-hot Venetia Williams another winner by racking up a hat-trick in the Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Chase (2.05) at Wincanton.
The 10-year-old has struck form with a vengeance at Ludlow on his last two starts, following a 17-length romp in November with a nose call over Bun Doran back in Shropshire five days before Christmas.
There’s a 4lb rise in the weights to deal with here, but Sean Quinlan’s mount has more to give in his current mood and can go in again.
His record of two wins from two attempts over course and distance points to the chance of MESSIRE DES OBEAUX in the Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (1.30).
His sole outing of last season resulted in a distant third behind L’Homme Presse at Ascot in December 2021, the Alan King-saddled 11-year-old is now down to a rating of 140 – 2lb above the mark from which he scored here 11 months earlier.
King is rattling along at a near one-in-five strike-rate, which raises hopes of a good run despite a 385-day lay-off.
He looks set to go off at cramped odds, but CHIANTI CLASSICO is hard to look past in the Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle (3.15).
Saturday tips
SANDOWN PARK
12.05 BO ZENITH
12.40 LOVE ENVOI
1.15 GEMIRANDE (NB)
1.50 THE LAST DAY
2.25 ARCTIC BRESIL
3.00 PRIME VENTURE
3.35 ICEO (NAP)
WINCANTON
12.20 TOP TARGET
12.55 BIG JIM BEAM
1.30 MESSIRE DES OBEAUX
2.05 DESQUE DE L’ISLE
2.40 FORCE DE FRAP
3.15 CHIANTI CLASSICO
3.50 NO HUBS NO HOOBS
NEWCASTLE
12.13 FEMMA PATRONNE
12.48 TOMMY’S OSCAR
1.23 THE KING OF MAY
1.58 THEME TUNE
2.33 DENSWORTH
3.08 HENRY’S FRIEND
3.43 FEVER ROQUE
LINGFIELD PARK
12.00 SEPTEMBER POWER
12.35 AURORA DAWN
1.10 POETIC FORCE
1.45 FINE BALANCE
2.20 BARENBOIM
2.55 VISION OF HOPE
3.30 VILLA LOBOS
KEMPTON PARK
5.30 STAR MOOD
6.00 BAWAADER
6.30 ASDAA
7.00 NAILS MURPHY
7.30 TYGER BAY
8.00 COURT OF SESSION
8.30 JACKS PROFIT
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