Saturday’s Sandown tips
12:50 – Old Cowboy
13:25 – Just Lucky Sivola
14:00 – Etalon
14:35 – Jango Baie
15:07 – Henri The Second
15:42 – In d’Or
16:12 – A Pai De Nom
*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.
12:50 – Old Cowboy
This looks a match on paper between OLD COWBOY and Diamonds For Luck with preference for the former in receipt of 6lb. He was purchased for £66,000 after finishing runner-up in a points and showed plenty to work on when third on his Rules debut at Newbury recently. There should be improvement in him and he represents a yard with a good record in this race. Diamonds For Luck won well at Wetherby last time and is also open to further progress.
13:25 – Just Lucky Sivola
JUST LUCKY SIVOLA showed useful form making a winning debut in a bumper at Southwell and he built on the promise of that over hurdles when opening his account in this sphere at Hereford in November. He beat a next-time-out winner on that occasion, but didn’t appear to stay 3m at Ascot last time. Just Lucky Sivola is worth another chance to prove himself on a fair mark. Recent Hereford novice winner Sole Solution should have more to offer in handicaps and is second choice ahead of Kalif d’Airy.
14:00 – Etalon
Having moved up the ranks in good style as a novice, ETALON looks to have been brought along gradually this season, and he is now only 4lb higher than for his impressive course and distance success a year ago. Testing conditions shouldn’t be a problem, and he could be ready to return to winning ways, with Martator feared most given the progress he showed winning his first two starts this season, ahead of Gunsight Ridge.
14:35 – Jango Baie
What this race lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality, with JANGO BAIE, Kalif du Berlais, Handstands and Mark of Gold all showing themselves to be promising novices. The last-named arguably lacks the scope of the other three and, though Hanstands is unlikely to go down without a fight, it’s the Henderson and Nicholls runners that arguably possess the greatest potential. The form of Jango Baie’s Cheltenham chase debut success looks strong and, open to any amount of improvement now, he is taken to come out on top with likely conditions not a problem.
15:07 – Henri The Second
HENRI THE SECOND could hardly have been more dominant when scoring under similar conditions over course and distance last time, and with that form being franked since, with both the second and third winning next time, he has good claims to follow up from an 8lb higher mark. Shoot First has already raided these shores to claim a valuable pot this season and he’s a big danger now back in a handicap. Deep Cave and What A Johnny remain relatively unexposed over staying trips and should run well.
15:42 – In d’Or
The Venetia Williams-trained IN D’OR is the youngest horse in this field and has made an excellent start to his career over fences, winning both starts and the form of his Taunton success reads strong. He followed up in good style at Ascot last time in what, admittedly, wasn’t the strongest race for the track, but he had plenty in hand and looks a chaser to follow at present. Gustavian is tipped to have a big say on the back of a resurgent Aintree second and is next on the list, although the thriving O’Connell is another to consider in his attempt to complete his own hat-trick.
16:12 – A Pai De Nom
A PAI DE NOM has previous winners Hurricane Pat and Silver Hill to contend with, but he looked a banker for one of these when shaping well on debut at Chepstow, pulling a long way clear with the winner who has won again since, and gets the vote over his penalised rivals. Mondoui’boy is an interesting newcomer who needs monitoring in the market.
Saturday’s Sandown tips
12:50 – Old Cowboy
13:25 – Just Lucky Sivola
14:00 – Etalon
14:35 – Jango Baie
15:07 – Henri The Second
15:42 – In d’Or
16:12 – A Pai De Nom
*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.
Read More
- Antepost Betting: What is antepost betting on horse racing
- Cheltenham Festival: Lossiemouth needs to have learnt lots from Kempton to be competitive in Champion Hurdle
- Cheltenham Festival: Brighterdaysahead ‘in the same mould’ as Dawn Run
- When is the Cheltenham Festival 2025? Dates for this year’s mega meeting
- Cheltenham Festival race times and schedule for 2025 meeting
- Pertemps Final qualification races and eligible horses for Cheltenham Festival 2025
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
