1:15 Pertemps Network
Handicap Hurdle (Series
Qualifier) 2m 7f 98y
There could be a soft lead for Up For Parol here and, while he’s not always put away the chances he’s created for himself, he will handle conditions and should go close for a yard, which has begun the campaign proper in fine form.
He won a three-mile point-to-point on soft to heavy going back in the day and looked suited by the step up to this trip when last seen at Chepstow in April, getting outpaced before running on again to finish third off a mark of 121. He returns off an unchanged mark now and has the ability to win races off his mark, with a test of stamina at 3m likely to unlock a bit more progress.
1:50 Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 99y
It’s hard to bet on this race with the going a slight question, but it’s also hard to know who to favour, with L’Eau du Sud and Down Memory Lane both very impressive over fences to date, admitting that the former’s form has a bit more substance.
Rubaud goes straight into a Grade 1 for his chase debut (Paul Nicholls did the same with Grand Sancy a few years ago) to complicate matters further and this is a race to watch and enjoy rather than one to bet.
2:25 Betfair Plays Different Handicap Hurdle 1m 7f 216y
If it’s a handicap hurdle on heavy ground, then it must be Zambezi Fix. The negative with Zambezi Fix is that he doesn’t win enough, but he tends to reward each-way support at decent odds and is therefore worth a second look.
His full hurdles record for Bernard Llewellyn on soft or deeper ground, according to Timeform, reads 20420321, improving on heavy only to 3124232, showing that backing him each-way makes some appeal at the expected odds.
He was a close second twice over course and distance in 2021/22 and is able to race off a lower mark now, despite retaining all his old ability.
3:00 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 99y
Jonbon is the obvious one in the Tingle Creek and the fact that he keeps beating Edwardstone means few will be willing to back the latter, but Alan King has apparently come to the sensible decision to stop messing around with tactics with the 2022 Tingle Creek hero, who is a much better horse when allowed to stride on these days.
He took little interest when held up in last year’s Shloer Chase at Cheltenham and is inclined to throw in an error when losing concentration, as he did in the Tingle Creek a year ago.
When reverting to front-running tactics in the Game Spirit at Newbury, Edwardstone jumped like the proverbial buck and won with any amount in hand, and although he doesn’t appeal as being good enough to win a Champion Chase these days, he has a better chance here than the market suggests and should be placed at least, if ridden from the front.
3:35 Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase 3m 4f 146y
The ground will be very testing by the end of the day, so the London National promises to be last-man-standing stuff.
Not many will relish the test, but Mr Vango certainly will, having won by 60 lengths in heavy ground at Exeter last year, off the back of which he chanced his arm against Corbetts Cross in the National Hunt Chase.
The worry for Mr Vango is that his target this year is the Welsh National and he’s surely going to be fully tuned up for that, rather than this. If he needs the run, that will be exposed in the conditions, and preference is for Montgomery, who fits the bill as a Venetia Williams-trained chaser, who is returning from an absence on winter ground.
He’s unbeaten over fences on ground described by Timeform as heavy and remains low-mileage as a staying chaser.
Broken Halo held a chance when coming down three out in this last year, and is on the same mark, so has claims, while Certainly Red finished third 12 months ago, but is probably high enough in the weights now.
Recommended:
Zambezi Fix 2:25 Sandown – 1pt e/w 22/1 (Bet365, 20/1 general)
Edwardstone 3:00 Sandown – 1pt e/w 17/2 (general)