Racing

Sandown betting tips: Palladium set for standing ovation

Steven Dowler returns to tackle the Boosted £10,000 Place 6 pool at Sandown and he reckons that Palladium will comfortably justify his favouritism. If you agree with his thoughts, then why not join his Syndicate?

 

12.15 – Juvenile Hurdle

Starting the day, we have a good looking juvenile hurdle race with some interesting types on show but it is very hard to look past Nicky Henderson’s strong favourite PALLADIUM, who was unfortunate not to win on his hurdles debut at Warwick where he jumped and travelled really well and only just failed to reel in a race-fit rival when conceding 7LB in the process. That was a smart performance in defeat considering he lost a shoe and there is every chance Palladium can make amends today at the second time of asking with that experience under his belt.

I think the main danger to the favourite is Hereia but he has to give 6LB to the favourite. This promising four-year-old won well on his hurdles debut when trained in Ireland and made his British debut for these connections in a deep class 2 contest at Cheltenham where he ran really for a long way after three months off. However, Palladium was a better horse of the two on the flat and he has the stronger form and gets 6LB from Hereia, which can only help matters as I fancied Palladium to beat him off level weights never mind getting weight from him.

Selections: PALLADIUM

 

12.45 – Mares’ Hurdle

Just a small field in this classy mares hurdle contest and all five runners can be given some sort of chance. I do like the Paul Nicholls trained SILVER FOREVER, who comes out best at the weights. She was very good in bumpers, winning twice and placing twice in good company before making a smooth transition to hurdles where she comfortably won on hurdles debut over this trip at Chepstow on soft ground. She then won again back over 2 miles when beating the smart Floressa at Newbury and although the runner-up turned the form around next time, I think that is a strong piece of form. Silver Forever is only six with more improvement to come, especially back up in trip here and she has course form to her name which makes her the one to beat.

INDEFATIGABLE is a battle hardened mare, who is getting better with each start. She won easy in listed company at Cheltenham as well as finishing second in a couple of hot races behind Lady Buttons who has since won a big prize over fences rated 149 to boost the form even further. This 7-year-old was last seen chasing home a well handicapped sort back at Cheltenham when conceding 5LB to the winner and she comes here at the top of her game so there is no reason why she won’t go close again this afternoon.

Selections: SILVER FOREVER, INDEFATIGABLE

 

13.20 – Handicap Chase

This isn’t the easiest of handicap chases so I have decided to cover angles with three horses that hold solid chances. DASHING PERK doesn’t have many miles on the clock at the age of nine and he returned from a fair absence to run out a convincing winner over C&D late last year. He jumped really well and powered home for an easy success beating a horse who has since finished second in a grade two at Cheltenham. Dashing Perk is up 6LB today but he still looks ahead of this mark and Richard Johnson is a positive booking and the stable had a good winner yesterday so all roads lead to another bold showing from this unexposed well treated individual.

Paul Nicholls loves a Saturday winner and he has a decent chance with MERCY MERCY ME who never fulfilled his true potential over hurdles but he since joined the champion trainer and made a good chase debut last time as he shaped really well finishing a staying on third behind an above average winner when not given a hard time of things late on. This 8-year-old seems to save his best for this track because he has already won a bumper here, finished third in a grade two over hurdles and also contested last years grade one tolworth hurdle on this card twelve months ago. It is quite clear Paul Nicholls has aimed him at today’s race for quite a while and I think he has a massive chance off a mark 125 that looks well within his capabilities with ground, track and trip to suit.

I also quite like Alan King’s Mystical Clouds at nice odds. His hurdles form was solid, finishing no worse than third on all starts completed with the last of those finishing third behind both Pym and The Cashel Man, who have gone onto much better things since. Mystical Clouds shaped with loads of encouragement when fourth on his chasing debut in a bunch finish following an eleven month break and would have finished closer but for being hampered in the closing stages having travelled into the race very powerfully. The handicapper has surprisingly dropped the 7-year-old 1LB which makes him very interesting here due to the fact he will strip fitter today, making him a dangerous horse to ignore.

I am interested to see how Clondaw Westie gets on as he could go well at huge odds but I am happy to play three in the race, who all look way ahead of there marks.

Selections: DASHING PERK, MERCY MERCY ME, MYSTICAL CLOUDS

 

13.50 – Handicap Chase

Another competitive handicap chase on today’s card but i loved the way JOHNBB dominated a good field over C&D last time and won with much more in hand then the winning margin suggested. He’s up 6LB for that success but he could rank higher than this grade as he travelled and jumped very well around this tight, tricky course. The stronger they go up front the better it will suit this six-year-old and he could well make it 2-2 over course and distance.

Ben Pauling has finally hit the ground running this season and top-weight DELIRE D’ESTRUVAL has a major chance of winning this if building on his solid reappearance at Ascot which come in a higher graded event after a ten-month break. This talented 7-year-old is 1-1 at this course having dominated a 2m4f event here from the front off just a 2LB lower mark. I would have liked to have seen Daryl Jacob return to the saddle to ride him but Luca Morgan takes off a handy 7LB which leaves this horse well-handicapped and I hope connections have told Luca Morgan to ride him positive back over 2 miles because he will be very hard to peg back at a track that obviously suits him well.

Selections: DELIRE D’ESTRUVAL, JOHNBB

 

14.25 – Novices’ Hurdle

The feature race of the day is the Grade 1 tolworth novices hurdle and it promises to be an absolute cracker. Fergal O’Brien has had this race in mind for SILVER HALLMARK for a very long time which is why he has only had one run over hurdles where he comfortably beat a formerly high-class bumper horse (Mcfabulous) and although that form hasn’t worked out that well, he could do no more than win that day in such a taking manner. I thought he looked proper professional that day and the yard are in superb form so this will tell us just how good he really is because connections have said he’s definitely up to grade one level so he can’t be dismissed at fair odds and to add further spice, Adam Wedge has chosen to ride him instead of Hang In There for his own boss who he won a grade two on at Cheltenham last time which I find very interesting.

SON OF CAMAS was disappointing on debut in a bumper in Ireland but he has put that well behind him, winning both starts since including a smooth hurdles debut success at Newbury recently where he beat King Roland, who has since boosted the form by bolting up this week and he looks a top-class horse in the making. Son Of Camas is up in grade here but he has the right profile for this contest taking into account all the main trends and it wouldn’t be at a surprise to see him go close to winning this high-class event because this has been the plan since winning last time.

Colin Tizzard has won two of the last three running’s of this race and relies on FIDDLERONTHEROOF who he and Joe Tizzard hold in the highest regard. He was brilliant in bumpers against classy opposition when trained in Ireland and even though he was beaten into second on his first two starts over hurdles, the form has worked out very well as Thyme Hill and Edwardstone are above average. This six-year-old slaughtered a field over C&D last time, making every yard of the running and although this is by far his to toughest task to date, he is sure to make a bold bid to give connections back to back winners in the race.

Selections: SILVER HALLMARK, SON OF CAMAS, FIDDLERONTHEROOF 

 

15.00 – Veterans’ Handicap Chase

We conclude the day with a veterans chase that is always competitive. Evan Williams runs a couple in the race and I really like 12-year-old ON TOUR who is very well handicapped for today’s race. He never travelled last time out at Aintree but that was a good prep run for today’s race and he comes into this years renewal in similar form to last year. He has placed off higher marks in harder races down the years and was third in this last year off a mark 135. Today On Tour is 7LB lower and ran well on seasonal debut to be second off a 2LB higher mark. The drying ground will be to his liking and connections have booked Richard Johnson to ride. Even though he is approaching a teenager, I have no doubt On Tour has the ability to win this as the ground, track and trip will suit along with being on a good mark with the champion on board.

SMOOTH STEPPER didn’t fire for this stable last season but he bounced back to form when beaten a neck behind King’s Odyssey on his seasonal debut where the winner had race fitness. He’s up 3LB here but is still well treated on his 2018 form and is better off at the weights with the winner. He stays very well and if building on that eye-catching second he could have a say in the finish here.

Connections will want compensation with DARK FLAME today, who has been second the last twice here, behind the sadly ill fated Houblon Des Obeaux before filling the same position in the London’s National last time out which was abandoned. He’s lightly raced these past couple of years but has shown he retains all his ability and is extremely well handicapped. The winner of that latest second (Doing Fine) gained compensation at Cheltenham this week so that gives Dark Flame huge claims of doing the same thing today near the bottom of the weights with headgear fitted to help him travel in his race better.

Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch come here for only BURTONS WELL, which is worth noting. This lightly raced 11-year-old was a really good winner at Aintree two starts ago and even though he ran below par when last seen, he can be forgiven for one bad run due to him having mileage for his age and the fact he made a bad mistake which cost him dearly. I do think he has room for improvement off this mark and the ground he will in his favour. Connections won’t want a wasted journey as Burtons Well is expected to run a big race.

Selections: ON TOUR, SMOOTH STEPPER, DARK FLAME, BURTONS WELL