Only two jumps races on the program for Sunday at Sandown Lakeside but what two great fields that have been drawn together for the time honoured Crisp Steeplechase and the main event, the Grand National Hurdle. We’ll see two of the great jumpers of the last few years go around in Wells and Sea King. At the time of preparing this preview the track is rated a Good 4, but with some rain forecast which hopefully arrives as a slight downgrade wouldn’t hurt for the jumpers.
Race 4 Crisp Steeplechase 3900m
With 70kgs 1 Wells meets most of his rivals here on similar terms to when he beat them in the Mosstrooper Steeplechase last start at Bendigo and the extra 300m here won’t hurt his chances at all. He’s won and been placed on the course and he’ll be too good again here. Hardest to beat will be 5 Lucky Tonight the NZer who’ll be ridden by the in form Lee Horner. He jumps well and was second in this race last year behind 3 I’ll’ava’alf. Lucky Tonight comes off a second at Casterton last start carrying 71kgs where he chased home the in form Dormello Mo who carried 72kgs. 3 I’ll’ava’alf has been up virtually all season but continues to race well which is a credit to his trainer Patrick Ryan and he’ll be hard to beat here again, with the 8 King of the Forest also in the mix.
1-5-3-8
Race 5 Grand National Hurdle 3900m
A great race and a very interesting mix in this field, with the star jumper Sea King the only runner off the minimum weight and some quality jumpers on that minimum of 64kgs along with up and comers and then the very interesting runner Refectory, coming off a Maiden Hurdle win at Bendigo.|
Going with 3 Hornets’ Nest to win and what a story it will be if he does. Meets 1 Sea King 5.5kgs better at the weights for being beaten 2.75 lengths last start. He’s racing in very good form and can turn the tables on 1 Sea King here. The distance will suit Sea King down to the ground after outstaying his rivals last start and it’s not the 71.5kgs that worries me here, it’s the 5.5kg swing to Hornets’ Nest. 4 Two Hats is also racing in fine form and loomed to beat Sea King last start but was outstayed. He’ll be all the better for that run and this would cap off a great return to racing after being off the scene nearly three years before returning in May this year and I’m putting the 2 Ancient King in for fourth. He’s 4 from 4 over the Hurdles this season and it wouldn’t surprise me one little bit if he won this, but I was slightly disappointed with his run in Adelaide last week on the flat, although he was ridden quietly but didn’t seem to run on. Was vetted there with no issues. If anybody can get him back on track within a week it’s the Weir/Allen combination. 8 Refectory also can’t be left out of the chances. Yes, he only won his Maiden Hurdle last start but that was a very strong Maiden which is sure to produce plenty of coming winners and has already produced the quinella in the BM120 Hurdle at Sale during the week. He stays well, having won on the flat over 4000m at Caulfield earlier in the year and was very strong at the finish of that Maiden Hurdle and might just be able to take the step up here. A very strong and open race for mine where one of two or three not mentioned could win and wouldn’t totally surprise me. Great race.
3-1-4-2
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Good luck and good punting everybody.