Frank Hickey’s ITV Racing Tips
13:25 Sandown – Zain Nights
13:40 Musselburgh – Monmiral
14:00 Sandown – Harpers Brook
14:15 Musselburgh – Brandy McQueen
14:35 Sandown – Hermes Allen
14:50 Musselburgh – Zanndabad
15:10 Sandown – West Balboa
15:45 Sandown – Certainly Red
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
13:25 Sandown – Zain Nights
Zain Nights was rated 89 on the Flat for Roger & Harry Charlton and wasn’t regressive in that sphere, as he won at Goodwood in August off 87 over 2m and his last start on the Flat was a fourth at Newmarket in the Cesarewitch Trial off 90.
He caught the eye of the stewards on hurdles debut at Huntingdon when a 16l third to Tellherthename and Lucky Place. He was fourth at Doncaster then, again well behind Lucky Place, with the second and third running well since.
He went to Market Rasen and got off the mark at third attempt over hurdles when beating the very well backed G A Henty by a neck, showing a good attitude with the two of them pulling well clear of the third. That wasn’t strongly run and a more searching test of stamina would suit him. The stiff finish at Sandown should really play to his strengths and a mark of 115 could be lenient based on his Flat ability.
13:40 Musselburgh – Monmiral
Monmiral hasn’t set the world alight over fences but this is the softest race he has run in for a long time. He was only 4/1 for the December Gold Cup when he finished 7th of 12 and was dropped 3lbs in the ratings. He has to take advantage of this mark in this grade.
14:00 Sandown – Harpers Brook
Saint Segal and In Excelsis Deo have strong chances but I like Harpers Brook. He was brilliant at Ascot last time over 2m3f everywhere bar the last 75 yards when he made all but pulled himself up just shy of the finishing line. I thought that he was worth a go at the minimum trip. He jumps great and travels so strongly but is inconsistent. Ben Pauling is 6-22 (27%) over the last two weeks and young Ben Jones takes over in the saddle from Kielan Woods. He is becoming a cliff horse of mine though.
14:15 Musselburgh – Brandy McQueen
Brian Hughes is booked on Brandy McQueen, who is a progressive handicap hurdler and started off in handicaps this time two years ago off 100. He finished either first or second in seven of his nine starts before finishing a creditable seventh beaten just under 5l in the Pertemps Final off 121.
He bolted up on his chase debut at Kelso in October when the re-opposing Inis Oirr unseated. He hasn’t shown too much in two starts since but the 2m4f would have been too short at Carlisle, where he was third, and I’m willing to put a line through the Doncaster race as it was too bad to be true.
He won twice at Musselburgh over hurdles in January and February last year and being by Yeats, out of a good mare who won a 3m point-to-point, you would be hopeful he will stay this extreme trip of nearly four miles.
14:35 Sandown – Hermes Allen
Colonel Harry was workmanlike at Wetherby when beating Trelawne. Hermes Allen was very good when winning at Newbury easily beating Nickle Back and he lost nothing in defeat when 11l behind the very impressive Il Est Francais in the Kauto Star Chase at Kempton over Christmas. Trainer Paul Nicholls had a treble in Exeter this week so no worry over the yard’s form or anything.
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14:50 Musselburgh – Zanndabad
Zanndabad had shown some promise in early starts over hurdles as a juvenile last season and had been above average on the Flat in France, hence why connections paid €240k for him. He went off 17/2 for a Class 2 handicap at York on Ebor weekend over 2m, off a mark of 94. He didn’t get the clearest of runs that day but he wouldn’t have won anyway. He’s back to 2m on better ground and surely he has to be taking advantage of the mark soon.
15:10 Sandown – West Balboa
Tristian Durrell takes 3lbs off top weight West Balboa. She won the Lanzarote Hurdle off 130 and was an emphatic winner when stepped up to 3m at Aintree when winning off 135. She went off 3/1 favourite for the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot but disappointed behind Crambo. Maybe the step up in grade was too much for her but she can defy top weight here with Tristan Durrell’s 3lb claim helping.
15:45 Sandown – Certainly Red
Certainly Red landed a hat trick on this weekend last year off 135 when an easy winner at Wincanton and has won at Sandown previous to that, so we know the track holds no fears. He has shown some promise in his three starts this season without threatening. His rating has dropped 5lbs from his last winning mark as a result.
Frank Hickey’s ITV Racing Tips
13:25 Sandown – Zain Nights
13:40 Musselburgh – Monmiral
14:00 Sandown – Harpers Brook
14:15 Musselburgh – Brandy McQueen
14:35 Sandown – Hermes Allen
14:50 Musselburgh – Zanndabad
15:10 Sandown – West Balboa
15:45 Sandown – Certainly Red
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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