ITV Friday Sandown And Exeter Preview - 03/12/21

The first selection of the afternoon on ITV comes from Sandown in the Class 3 Limited Handicap Chase over 2m4f and Bothwell Bridge for Nicky Henderson looks an exciting chase prospect.

The six year old was a smart bumper horse at the start of 2020, Finishing second on both his runs behind the likes of Third Time Lucki and Boothill.

In November last year he stepped up for his hurdles debut and looked a natural winning a 2m3f event at Warwick by a wide margin.

He then went to Newbury and had to settle for third behind the superstar Bravemansgame, but got back to winning ways at Hereford, stepping up to 3m1f and taking the contest by 39 lengths.

Looking to mix it in Grade One company he went to Aintree in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle, but was unfortunately pulled up running no race.

Having not been seen since then he makes his hurdles debut today and could be a seriously talented horse over the bigger obstacles.

The first race of the day from Exeter on Friday is the Novices' Chase over 2m3f and we can't look past the favourite Boothill, who looks an exceptional talent going forward.

A forgotten horse, he made a big impression on his hurdles debut last season and having not been seen since then could be anything this term.

The son of Presenting made a lovely start to his career in a point to point when a three length second behind a nice Irish horse.

Just 20 days later, again he was a nice second in another P2P and from there he was bought and given to Fry to train in the UK.

Making his rules debut in February 2020, he got off the mark at the first time of asking in a decent bumper where he saw off the smart Bothwell Bridge by close to five lengths.

Waited on until December to make his hurdles debut he went to Taunton over two miles and was an emphatic winner of Novices' Hurdle.

Having not been seen since then he returned over hurdles at Ascot in October and having travelled beautifully into the contest was just lacking slightly in the finish, settling for third behind Soaring Glory in a Listed event.

Stepping over fences today makes him one to follow, having always been purchased to go over the bigger obstacles.

The feature race of the afternoon is the Grade Two Ballymore Winter Novices' Hurdle over 2m4f and Brave Kingdom for Paul Nicholls looks the one to beat.

The five year old french exploit was given to Paul Nicholls this season and looks a nice recruit for the 12 time champion trainer.

Coming over from France last year, he made his debut for Harry Whittington in a bumper at Fontwell, going on to win by just under five lengths.

Saved for this season, he made his hurdles debut for Nicholls at Chepstow in November and bolted up by close to 10 lengths.

He just looks an exceptional athlete that will certainly come on for that run and deserves his chance up in grade.

Next up at Exeter is the Handicap Chase over 2m3f and L'Homme Presse for the inform Venetia Williams should not be far away.

The lightly raced six year old was seen twice in France back in 2019 before being moved over to the UK and given to Williams.

Starting his British career in April, he got off the mark at the first time of asking when taking a Novices' Hurdle in emphatic style at Chepstow by 28 lengths.

He looked to make it a quick-fire double at Sandown up in trip but had to settle for sixth of 12 in a very hot handicap event.

Having been saved for his chase debut since then, he should be fresh and ready for this event and with the yard running at a 38% strike rate for the last two weeks, he can't be overlooked.

A very tricky betting race for punters on Friday is the Class 3 Handicap Chase over two miles and the horse we are siding with is the Gary Moore trained Early Du Lemo.

The eight year old last season ran in better races than this off higher marks and did not perform badly, with a good second over course and distance in December and then in January backed that up at the track with another fair fourth.

Early Du Lemo ended last term with a tame fifth at Sandown off a mark of 123, but now makes his seasonal appearance off 120, which is the same mark he last won off.

Handy 5lb claimer Niall Houlihan takes the ride and that added weight taken off could be the difference.

The final race of the day from the Devonshire based track is the Class 3 Handicap over the marathon trip of 3m 6 1/2f and at a price Ualrightharry could run a big race.

The nine year old is known for running over these sorts of trips and that is exactly the horse you need for these events, being proven stamina wise.

Ualrightharry has been seen twice this season running well on both occasions, finishing third on seasonal debut at Fontwell over 3m2f and then backing that up last time out at Plumpton over 3m4f when second.

He runs off only 1lb higher than his latest second and with the yard and jockey both sporting above a 25% strike rate for the last two weeks he is a big each way player.

The final event of the afternoon is the Class 2 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle over 2m7f and Pileon will be tough to beat if improving for his latest run.

This seven year old for Philip Hobbs was a bright spark two seasons ago winning two events at Catterick and Ffos Las before going to the Cheltenham festival and finishing a short head second in the Martin Pipe handicap hurdle.

Sent chasing last term, the plan didn't work and he was reverted to hurdles, but the season as a whole was a right off with him slightly losing his way.

Looking to get back to his best this term, he made a superb start to the season in a similar race to this at Aintree when a good fourth behind the likes of Remastered, who was set to frank the form when running a huge race in the Ladbrokes Trophy before falling.

Pileon is now 1lb lower for this run and looks the one to beat if running to a similar level.