Saturday 27th April 2024
Author: Jordan Yates (jordan_yates_)
Feature Meetings: Sandown, Haydock & Leicester
2.05: Leicester: Madri Excepcional King Richard III Cup Handicap: Kicking things off for me on Saturday will be the 2.05 from Leicester which is the King Richard III Cup, a Class 2 handicap over a mile. I’m once again siding with Raadobarg here who I’ve put up twice already this season. His first run of the campaign was a fine effort when third in the Irish Lincolnshire and he wasn’t totally disgraced when seventh in the Spring Cup last time out at Newbury last week. He’s been dropped a couple of pounds for that most recent effort and connections must believe he came out of the race well enough to go again here. He likes soft ground and I think this could be the day. Raadobarg – 9/2 (Win)
2.10: Haydock: Trustatrader Fully Vetted Tradespeople Handicap: It’s over to Haydock for my second selection which comes in the 2.10 which is more handicap action, this time over six furlongs. I’ve sided with Sacred Falls here for the team of Katie Scott and Rossa Ryan. She made her return to the track at Southwell earlier this month when finishing fifth of nine and two lengths behind the winner. That was a decent effort and she’ll almost certainly be more tuned up as a result of it, she’s been dropped a pound for her troubles and she also likes soft ground which she’ll get here. Sacred Falls – 5/1 (Each-Way)
2.45 Haydock: trustatrader.com Handicap: I’ll be staying at Haydock for my third pick which is the 2.45 and a Class 2 handicap over seven furlongs. I like Earls here who’s an Irish raider for Gavin Cromwell and the mount of Franny Norton. He’s another who posted a fine effort in the Irish Lincolnshire when finishing fifth and followed up with an even better effort on his most recent outing when finishing a nose second in a Curragh handicap last week. He’ll contest this off just two pounds higher and will relish the conditions, he’s also won over seven furlongs previously. Earls – 10/3 (Win)
3.00 Sandown: bet365 Celebration Chase: It’s back down to Sandown now for some Grade 1 action in the Celebration Chase over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. This should be redemption for El Fabiolo who sports the double green for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. His jumping was undoing at Cheltenham in the Champion Chase but if he sharpens that up here I think that he’s the one they all have to beat. Jonbon is his most obvious threat, however, I think that rival ideally needs further than the sharp trip which he’ll encounter here. If the Mullins raider is back to his best this should be another big pot going to Closuttion – El Fabiolo – 8/11 (Win) (NAP)
3.35 Sandown: bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase: The feature race of the day at Sandown comes at 3.35 which is the bet365 Gold Cup which is handicap chase action over three miles and four and a half furlongs. I’m with another Irish raider here and that’s Amirite for the team of Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. He arrives here fresh having just had the two outings this term when placing in competitive handicaps at both Leopardstown and Cheltenham. I think he’s a horse that’s always been well thought of, having gone off favourite for an Irish Grand National last year and I think this could be the day he puts it all together. Amirite – 7/1 (Each-Way)
4.10 Sandown: bet365 Select Hurdle: Signing me off for this week’s Saturday Preview will be the 4.10 at Sandown which is the Grade 2 Select Hurdle over two miles and five and a half furlongs. I think that this can be another one on the board for Willie Mullins with Impaire Et Passe who’s the mount of Paul Townend. He grimly held on last time at Aintree in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle, but I think he will confirm that form with Langer Dan here. He’s the best horse in the race here and can assert his superiority over this field with their being no horses of Bob Olinger’s calibre involved. Impaire Et Passe – Evs (Win) (NB)
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