Thursday 13th February 2025
1.20 Sandown: Right Of The Line Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle: Kicking things off at Sandown on Thursday is the 1.20 and this is a Class 4 conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle over two miles. I’m with Jackpot d’Ainay here for Olly Murphy and Lewis Stones. He comes into the race having won his most recent outing which came at Market Rasen on Boxing Day when getting the betting of Diamond Koda by a length and a quarter. That rival has since placed in a handicap so the form is solid enough and I think the Murphy charge looks progressive. Jackpot d’Ainay – 3/1 (Win)
1.55 Sandown: Boxxe ‘Ubique’ Handicap Chase: Next up it’s the 1.55 and this is a Class 3 handicap chase that’s contested over a mile and seven and a half furlongs. I like Issam here who represents the team of Tom Symonds and Callum Pritchard who takes off five pounds. He’s run well at the track in the past over hurdles and comes into the contest having won his first outing over fences which came at Exeter last month. He’ll effectively get to run off a pound lower mark here with the rider’s claim coming into play and I think that makes him a big player. Issam – 6/4 (Win) (NAP)
2.30 Sandown: Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle: We move into Grade 2 company at 2.30 with the Jane Seymour Mares Novice Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs. I’m with Hollygrove Cha Cha here for Jamie Snowden and Gavin Sheehan. She was second behind the potentially very smart Jubilee Alpha in Listed company on her most recent outing, however, that was over two miles and half of a furlong and I think over this sort of trip she’ll prove a lot more useful. She won back-to-back maidens over a combined total of fifteen lengths over two miles three and five and back up in distance here she can have a serious say. Hollygrove Cha Cha – 11/4 (Win)
3.05 Sandown: Team Forces Royal Artillery Gold Cup: The Royal Artillery Gold Cup comes up at 3.05 and this is a Class 3 handicap chase over three miles for Military Amateurs. I’m strong on the chances of Roccovango in this year’s renewal for Olly Murphy and Brodie Hampson. He’s an unexposed chaser and is in great form in his three starts over fences, winning twice and only beaten by a nose in the other contest. He’s only been nudged up a couple of pounds for his most recent success which came at Uttoxeter back in November and I think he can make his presence felt once more in this particular assignment. Roccovango – 15/8 (Win)
3.40 Sandown: BFBS Creative “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle: My fifth and final selection of the day comes within the 3.40 and this is a Class 3 novice hurdle over two miles. I’m with the French recruit here who comes in the form of Le Tiep’s Sacre for Gary & Josh Moore who’s the mount of Niall Houlihan. He was formerly with a master trainer in David Cottin and finished third of thirteen in his first start over hurdles back in France. He gets a significant amount of weight here off his rivals and taking that into consideration he could well go very close to making a winning debut on these shores. Le Tiep’s Sacre – 15/8 (Win) (NB)
