Sandown Saturday Jumps Preview

The first race of the day from Aintree is the 2 miles Novices Hurdle and we are backing the Colin Tizzard trained Fiddlerontheroof to finally get off the mark.

The five year old won a good Irish bumper on his final start of last season and since then has moved to Tizzard's yard and made his debut at Chepstow in the Grade Two Persian War Novices Hurdle.

He was gambled on massively for that contest but could only finish a decent second just being outstayed by last seasons third in the Champion Bumper.

He then made his second start in England at Wincanton when again in another battle with a smart horse and finished second again but today looks an easier contest.

This Mares Handicap Hurdle looks to have a very open field with many potential each way chances but Crossgalesoffamegame for trainer Fergal O'Brien could have the edge on the field.

The five year old has raced twice this season finishing fourth on her seasonal debut at Huntingdon but has since ran again and came on for that run to win at Market Rasen on heavy ground.

The more rain that falls the more she will revel in the conditions and from the way the course ran on Saturday it should play to her strengths.

Go Whatever for trainer Chris Gordon goes for us in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle and after what he showed last time out he looks the form pick of the bunch.

Having raced four times already this season the five year old gelding is well into his season and has won two of his races so far this term placing in another.

He makes the appeal for this contest after landing a fair event at Plumpton last time but the way he was gambled on in the betting makes you think there is more to come from this horse.

One of the feature races on the Sandown card on Saturday is the Henry VIII Novices Chase and we have sided with the Paul Nicholls trained Grand Sancy.

The five year old gelding is making his chase debut in this Grade One contest which is a bold move from the trainer but from the way he has ran over hurdles if converting that to these obstacles he could be a smart chaser.

Last time out he finished second at Wincanton behind Grade One winner Fussil Raffles which is decent form but now back at Sandown where he has a decent record he should go well.

The Listed December Handicap over two miles sees a strong field of runners go to post and we like the look of Protektorat for trainer Dan Skelton.

The four year old gelding was disappointing last season with the trainer saying that they couldn't control him and therefore get the best out of him.

On his first start this season he finished a decent second over course and distance being beat by a decent Nicky Henderson horse and that run should see him go better here today off a nice mark.

The feature race of the day in Britain is the Grade One Tingle Creek and Defi Du Seuil for trainer Philip Hobbs will be very tough to beat.

Defi Du Seuil is back seeking another Grade One victory to add to his illustrious career and he has a huge chance in what will be one of the toughest races of his season.

The Tingle Creek on Saturday currently still holds eight runners for a fantastic Grade One contest and over this sharp 1 mile 7 1/2 furlong contest it is all about speed.

The Philip Hobbs trained runner will be renewing his rivalry with Politologue, who he beat last time out at Cheltenham on their seasonal debuts and that looks the best form on offer.

He is a multiple Grade One winner that will handle the conditions and has shown previously that he also handles the shorter trip but will have to better than his seasonal debut.

The final runner of the afternoon from Sandown is the Stuart Edmunds trained Classic Ben in the staying Class 2 Handicap Chase over 3 miles 4 1/2 furlongs.

The six year old gelding was smart towards the back end of last season in similar staying events and was modest on his seasonal debut when fourth of eight at Bangor.

He will massively come on for that run and now only two pounds higher for his win at this track three starts ago also makes him very appealing.