Sandown Saturday Preview - 04/12/21

The first race of the afternoon at Sandown on Saturday is the two mile Novices Hurdle and Might I for Harry Fry could be tough to beat if coming on for his debut.

The gelding was a very smart winner of a bumper in December last year on debut at Warwick, seeing off 17 runners and off the back of that put up another smart performance at Newbury in February.

He finished a close fifth of 11 that day, with the form of the race being one of the best pieces of form seen this season, with the second, third and fourth since winning good races.

Might I extended the form line of that race when bolting up on hurdles debut this season at Newton Abbot and if improving from that run he looks the one to beat in this one.

Will need to be at his best.

Next up is the Handicap Hurdle over two miles and the horse that makes the most appeal is the Fergal O'Brien trained City Derby.

This five year old son of Ask was a fair bumper horse winning on debut back in January and then finished in behind some nice horses.

Sent over hurdles in May he made a pleasing start when getting off the mark at Perth on soft ground by a convincing three months.

Looking to back that up last time out at Cheltenham he finished a close up fourth of 18 runners in a competitive handicap and off only 1lb higher that looks nice form.

The first big race of the afternoon is the Grade One Henry VII Novices' Chase over two miles and we can't look past the favourite Third Time Lucki, who is looking to land a hat-trick over fences.

Third Time Lucki kick started his chasing career in fine style at Cheltenham in October, putting in an impressive inch-perfect round of jumping to go an easy eight lengths clear of his closest rival.

He backed up that performance, over the same C&D, last time out, making the step up into graded company, impressing once more via the manner of his jumping, winning with plenty in hand, eased down on the run in.

The son of Arcadio will be looking to land his very first Grade One in The Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices Chase and will be hoping to extend his unbeaten run over fences in his hat-trick bid.

The forecast looks to have conditions in his favour once more and its hard to look past this current short priced favourite from delivering on the day.

The Grade One Tingle Creek is one of the first monstrous races in the UK National Hunt calendar and we are siding with the Irish raider.

Willie Mullins bids to win the Tingle Creek for the first time since his sole win in the race in 2016 and has currently entered for strong representation in this years renewal via Chacun Pour Soi.

Having beaten re-opposing rival Nube Negra when last seen in the Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival in April, albeit upon slower conditions, we think the same will happen on his seasonal debut.

He jumped markedly well that day, travelled strongly and kept on well to beat his fellow yardstick by five lengths, also beating Dan Skelton's counterpart by a further 19 lengths, reversing their previous form in the Queen Mother.

The son of Policy Maker remains relatively lightly raced for a 9yo and already boasts five Grade One's to his name; he's known to run well fresh from a break and we can be assured Mullins will have him in top condition ahead of his return to action.

Always a tough event for punters at Sandown is the London National Handicap Chase over the marathon trip of 3m 4 1/2f and The Mighty Don looks massively overpriced at 11/1.

The staying chaser has been a hard horse to win with during his career, last getting his head in front at Chepstow in October 2020.

The nine year old had been hit and miss but was well backed before the 3m3f Handicap Chase at Cheltenham's November meeting and he stayed on well into second only going down by just over a length.

He loves a trip and back in grade for this event could see him to even better effect, running off the same mark last time out.

Big each way player.

The final selection of the afternoon from Sandown sees us side with the Grade One winning Metier, who makes his seasonal debut back in Listed company.

The five year old had been a horse running on the flat before coming over to England and he was given to Harry Fry who sent him straight over hurdles.

It was one of the best decisions for this horse being unbeaten on all three of his first starts over obstacles, winning a Novices' Hurdle at Newton Abbot on debut and then backing that up at Ascot next time out in an Introductory Handicap.

Fry thought it was time to step him up to Grade One company at Sandown in the Tolworth Hurdle and it saw the gelding thrive in the heavy conditions to kick away after the last and win by 12 lengths.

He was then saved for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle where he made a mistake early on and never really recovered, being outclassed on the day.

Not seen last term, he is back for this year and starting back in lesser grade, if anywhere near the same horse as he showed in 19/20, he should go close.