The curtain comes down on another jumps season tomorrow with the mixed card at Sandown. The last big handicap pf the season, which I still think of as the Whitbread Gold Cup has been a bad race for favourites in recent years and it may pay to look for a bigger priced selection. Tamarinbleu has possibilities. He looks as though he may have been laid out for this by trainer David Pipe, he is a course winner, he will handle the ground and he was second on his last run and the winner and the third that day have both won since. At around 14/1 he looks a fair each way bet.
Twist Magic should be too good for his rivals in the Celebration Chase at 2.30 but he refused to race just 4 days ago in Ireland and could be something of a risky proposition. Oh Crick returns to 2 miles here which looks his best trip and he has form on good ground. If Twist Magic fails to fire he could be the one to capitalise.
Paco Boy is the class act in the 3.40, a race he won last season and his stable have won 4 times in the last 6 years. He is a short price though and it could be worth looking for an each way alternative. Border Patrol is a course and distance winner and it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him in the first 3. For my selection though I am inclined to side with Confront who was progressive last season and should come on for his seasonal reappearance last month.
A case could be made for most of the runners in the 4.15. Crowded House and Glass Harmonium make most appeal, with slight preference for the former.
Up at Haydock the cleverly named Think it’s all Over looks the one to be on in the 7.35 where the booking of Jamie Spencer to ride looks interesting.
The 3.00 at Leicester is a trappy little race even though there are only 5 runners. Mark Johnston runs two in Exemplary and Green Lightning. The latter won at Nottingham last season but was a beaten favourite at Doncaster last month when only 4th of 6. It is too early to write him off yet though. A winner at Bath on fast ground last season Exemplary was 3rd at Ffos Las 18 days ago. The tough and consistent Aquarian Spirit comes from a stable in good from and is narrowly preferred to the Johnston pair.
At Ripon I like the chances of King of Wands in the 5.45. He has his first run for his new trainer John Gosden who had a winner today at Sandown.
Today’s pictures are courtesy of the artist Lisa Miller.
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