Sandown Saturday Preview - 06/02/21

The first event of the day at Sandown is the Class Two Handicap Chase over two miles and Moonlighter for Nick Williams is not without a chance at the odds.

The eight year old gelding has been seen three times this season, finishing a superb second behind Greaneteen in the Grade Two Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter.

With the victor of that race franking the form by running well in Grade One company, Moonlighter unfortunately couldn't do the same when falling next time out.

Last time out the gelding was seen fading into fifth over course and distance in what was a hot Handicap Chase, with the winner Ibleo since going on to win again.

He will need to be better than that run, but having form winning on heavy makes him one to give another chance to.

Hitman for Paul Nicholls looks a stand out runner in the Grade One Scilly Isles Novices' Chase over 2m4f having moved over from France this season and looks a seriously smart recruit for the yard.

Having ran respectably over hurdles in France the son of Falco made his British/chase debut at Ffos Las in November in very tricky conditions.

The four year old took every fence in his stride, getting better as the race went on and went on to win the event by an eased down 30 lengths.

That performance was highly impressive and he looked to prove he was a Grade One horse in the making next time out at Sandown when being entered into the Henry VIII Novices' Chase.

Having a big reputation the yard thought he had a big chance but on the day had to settle for second behind the impressive Allmankind, who landed the event in good style.

Hitman was a worthy runner up and that Grade One form over fences looks to be some of the best in the field, if being able to convert it over an extra four furlongs.

The rescheduled Grade Two Cotswold Chase features a stunning field of six and Santini for Nicky Henderson is our selection to land this race for the second consecutive season.

Last season the eight year old made a winning start on his seasonal debut at Kempton but did leave room for improvement, he was much better next time out after undergoing a wind op which saw him race on trials day in the Cotswold Chase and he put in a mighty performance to beat Bristol De Mai over what was nearly the Gold Cup trip.

He then headed to the festival for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and although rallying in the final stages, had to settle for a narrow second behind dual winner Al Boum Photo.

The staying star for the yard made a satisfactory return to racing this season when having a good racecourse gallop at Newbury and then headed to Aintree for the Many Clouds Chase and finished a narrow second to Lake View Lad.

Although not winning the race he showed his staying ability in tricky conditions and with many fences being bypassed due to the low sun on the day it did not play to his strengths.

The plan after that race was to get him ready at home for this event which he landed last term, but connections and trainer instead decided to run him in the Kempton feature King George VI Chase and after forking out £5,000 to supplement him they were expecting a big run.

Unfortunately, having looked like he was coming with a challenge he could only finish fifth, fading in the latter stages of the race.

This event does look easier than the contest he was in last time and if handling the ground could have the stamina to stay on best of all.

Next up is the Warriors Handicap Chase over 2m4f and at an each way price the horse we like the look of is Doitforthevillage.

The Paul Henderson trained 12 year old has been on our radar for a while and is weighted to go well in this handicap event having ran a cracker last time out.

Having finished fifth of eight runners over Christmas over two miles at Newbury, he was stepped up to todays course and distance last time out and was a game winner of a similar event.

He has only gone up 2lb in the handicap for that win and if staying on an upward curve and handling the heavier conditions, he looks a big player.

The penultimate event of the afternoon is the Class 2 Handicap Chase over three miles and Kiltealy Briggs for Jamie Snowden looks a live player.

The seven year old was a fair hurdles prospect winning some nice events and having been sent chasing this term has taken to the larger obstacles well.

In November he made his chase debut at Carlisle in heavy ground and finished a good second behind Whoshotthesheriff, who ran well last time out in a better race.

The gelding was stepped up in trip last time out and sent to Ascot for the Grade Two Noel Novices' Chase and was a good third behind the smart Allart and Fiddlerontheroof.

This event is a big step down in trip compared to that company and if handling the hike up in trip once more is a big player.

The final event at Sandown is a Class 3 Handicap Chase over two miles and with the rain falling it will play to the strengths of the favourite Dostal Phil.

The Philip Hobbs trained eight year old has been a fragile horse during his career but a very smart one landing two of his last three hurdles events last season, one of them coming in heavy ground.

He stepped up to make his chase debut on his seasonal debut which saw him run for the first time since March last month at Newbury.

He was an emphatic winner in heavy ground in a Limited Handicap Chase seeing off a nice horse in second by close to six lengths.

Although going up 8lb in the handicap he looks a class above this field on ratings and should handle the conditions better than most.