Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Sandown, Lingfield and Leopardstown on Saturday. View selections below.
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VINDICATION (2.25) is unbeaten in six starts, all on right-hand tracks, and Kim Bailey’s gelding is likely to go off favourite for the 888Sport Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown. The six-year-old should get the soft ground he prefers and just edges the vote over Lostintranslation and Defi Du Seuil, with little separating that pair on their recent Cheltenham form.
The 3m handicap hurdle has attracted 20 runners, with top weight Ballymoy bidding to build further on his Ascot success a fortnight ago. He has been raised 5lb and tackles this trip for the first time, so PADLEYOUROWNCANOE (3.00) is the each-way suggestion on the back of his recent Wincanton success. That came over 2m 5f and Colin Tizzard’s five-year-old was strong at the finish. Harry Kimber’s 10lb claim is a huge plus and Padleyouowncanoe was useful enough to finish fourth in last season’s Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
At Lingfield, WISSAHICKON (2.55) can add another win to his name in the Betway Winter Derby Trial. John Gosden’s colt sauntered to victory over 32 rivals in last season’s Cambridgeshire Handicap at Newmarket and had more than two lengths to spare over Big Country when scoring here just before Christmas. This dual course and distance winner is now 8lb worse off with Big Country but was well on top through the final furlong. Frankie Dettori gets the leg up.
Earlier on the card, KACHY (1.45) should repeat last year’s narrow success in the Betway Cleves Stakes. Tom Dascombe’s sprinter thumped Gulliver at Wolverhampton last time and may have most to fear from consistent Cenotaph, the mount of Ryan Moore.
APPLE’S JADE (1.25) drops to two miles for the first time in more than two years but should still have the legs of Supasundae and Melon in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. The Dublin track stages two days of top-class action, jam-packed with Cheltenham festival clues.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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