The last major handicap chase of this jumps season will take place on a dry surface that will be quite unfamiliar to any animal that has been racing since November. Sandown reported its jumps track to be good to firm in places on the night before the Bet365 Gold Cup and the number of these runners who will really relish that kind of ground is probably quite small.
Henri Parry Morgan (4.10) should be among that small number. The word ‘soft’ did not appear in the going description for any of his first three successes and he has a hurdles win on good to firm to his name.
Peter Bowen’s eight-year-old put up a career best at Aintree last month, before the rain that made the Grand National such a test. Running in a Graded race for the first time, and a Grade One at that, he found Native River too strong for him but ran above his odds to be a battling second. The third, fourth and fifth had all scored at the previous month’s Cheltenham Festival.
He gets to run off the same handicap mark he had before that fine effort, with the distinct possibility that the extra distance will help. He appeals at 10-1 to give his jockey, Sean Bowen, a second consecutive success in this race.
The Druids Nephew is of interest, since the rain ruined his Grand National chance and he was given a considerate ride. At 16-1 he could be the each-way value. Sir Des Champs, who came down at The Chair at Aintree, has apparently emerged unscathed and is up to running a big race here at 25-1.
2.20 Sandown Paul Nicholls had the first two home in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival but that may not have been true if Voix Du Reve had jumped the last cleanly. With the Grand National winner David Mullins now in the saddle and only 5lb higher, the four-year-old could get it right here.
2.40 Ripon Although raised 16lb for his runaway Catterick win, Mirsaale is still 19lb below his peak rating from 2013. The return to Keith Dalgleish appears to have done him good and the chestnut could go in again.
2.55 Sandown Wonderful Charm was looked after in the Grand National, where the ground went against him, so it is tempting to take a chance on him now that he gets his preferred drier surface and sports first-time blinkers as well. But it is getting on for two years since he won anything and the suspicion is that Valseur Lido, a good runner-up to Vautour at Cheltenham, will be too much for him.
3.20 Haydock Express Himself has won his last three around here but a wide draw looks a real problem for him. From the in-form Richard Fahey yard Gabrial’s Kaka recently enjoyed his first success for years and looks well treated now.
3.35 Sandown The absence of Special Tiara feels significant here, as it may result in an uncontested lead for Un De Sceaux. While he seemed thoroughly put in his place by Sprinter Sacre at Cheltenham, Special Tiara did much to soften him up and it may be that he will have more in reserve for the final half-mile this time, always providing he settles in the unfamiliar hands of Paul Townend.
