Saturday 7th March 2026
“Welcome aboard to Saturday’s blog, where we have five selections, three from Sandown and two from Ayr. Reviewing Friday’s picks, Jaminska was our first selection at Exeter; she was put up at 3/1 and drifted out to 11/2. She was never really going and ultimately finished down the field. It was a similar story for Following Chapter at Exeter, who was pick number two; he was well-supported into 6/4 from 5/2, but similarly, could never get competitive. The NAP of the day was Market House at Newcastle, backed into 11/10 from the 5/2 we put him up at. This was a poor ride from Mason Paetel; he had him stuck out wide in the opening stages, which ultimately cost him. He kept to his task well enough in the closing stages and ended up finishing third”. – Jordan.
The first of five selections for us on Saturday comes in the Sandown opener at 1.15, which is a Juvenile Handicap Hurdle over two miles. I think that Paul Nicholls’ Irish Recruit BIBE MUS has a big chance on his UK debut here under Harry Cobden. I’m not sure there’s much depth to this race’s form, and he already has a solid-looking profile. He was rated in the 80s on the flat, and won on hurdling debut at the first time of asking back in October, before finishing third behind the promising Mange Tout at Down Royal in November. He then took his form up a notch again when second in Listed company at Aintree in December, before finally finishing second again in a Punchestown handicap last time out in January. He’s just four pounds higher for this particular assignment, and he should be there at the business end of things.
Bibe Mus (9/4) (Win) – 1.15 Sandown.
Staying at Sandown for the second selection of the day, and the 1.50, a Premier Handicap Hurdle over two miles and four furlongs. This will be highly competitive, with a wide range of potential improvers in the mix. I’ve come down on another Skelton success in a big handicap with UNKNOWN ENTITY, who’s the mount of Harry. He’s another Irish recruit from Willie Mullins, who posted a very encouraing effort on stable debut for Dan Skelton after nearly a year off the track, finishing third of fifteen at Ludlow in December behind a couple of progressive types in the form of Un Sens A La Vie and Bras d’Or. He then took another big step forward on his next start when finishing a head second to another progressive type in Gaelic Pride at Wincanton, and that rival was sent off the 2/9 favourite for that race, with the pair pulling fifteen lengths clear of the third-placed horse. He steps up in trip here, which looks likely to bring out more improvement, and he could prove to be on a generous mark for his handicap debut here.
Unknown Entity (11/2) (Each-Way) – 1.50 Sandown.
The feature race of the afternoon at Sandown comes up at 2.27, and this is the Imperial Cup, a Handicap Hurdle over two miles. Gary & Josh Moore look to have a very live contender in this year’s renewal with the five-year-old MONDO MAN, who’s the mount of Caoilin Quinn. He’s a horse who’s always carried a big reputation as a jumper, given his useful flat form, and whilst he’s flattered to deceive at times, he started to put things right at Plumpton last time out when winning a maiden hurdle by thirty-three lengths, albeit against inferior rivals, whilst going off the 1/7 favourite. That being said, I’m of the impression that he could well be very well-handicapped here off a mark of 123, as you’d like to think he could be a fair bit better than that over time. A very bold showing from this son of Mondialiste would be no great surprise, and I think he could well land a decent pot here for the Moore team.
Mondo Man (11/4) (Win) – 2.27 Sandown.
We’ve got two selections from Ayr on Saturday, the first of which comes in the 3.20, which is a Class 4 handicap hurdle that’s ridden over two miles. I think that the Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore-trained TRIPLE CROWN TED should prove tough to beat in this particular contest under retained rider Derek Fox. The six-year-old is a novice winner, who also won on his handicap debut at Kelso last month, winning a nine-runner affair on heavy ground by half of a length. He’s been nudged up four pounds for that success by the handicapper; however, there is surely more to come from him, and he can take another step forward here. It would be disappointing if he’s not on the premises at the business end of things.
Triple Crown Ted (2/1) (Win) (NAP) – 3.20 Ayr.
Our concluding selection of the afternoon runs in the 3.55 at Ayr, and this is a Class 3 handicap chase which is set to be ridden over two miles and four and a half furlongs. It could pay to side with eight-year-old CLASSIC MAESTRO in this particular affair for Jennie Candlish, who’s the mount of three-pound claimer Luke Scott. He returned to form on his penultimate start at Sandown, where he finished second of eleven behind the progressive Jax Junior in a competitive Class 2 affair at Sandown. You can put a line through his last run when he was outclassed in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase, and these are considerably calmer waters. A repeat of his Sandown run would probably be enough to win this, and he’ll run off just a pound higher mark. He has to have a very live chance.
Classic Maestro (5/2) (Win) (NB) – 3.55 Ayr.
