The Dan Skelton versus Willie Mullins battle reaches its finale at Sandown tomorrow when one of these two brilliant trainers will be crowned Britain’s champion National Hunt trainer for the 2024-5 season. Skelton, who trains in Warwickshire, goes into the final two days of the season with a narrow lead over Mullins, who trains from his all-conquering Irish yard in Co. Carlow.
However, with all the firepower at his disposal, it looks highly likely that Mullins will overtake Skelton’s prize money total tomorrow, given the latter’s lead is less than £60,000. For example, Mullins fields no less than ten runners in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (4.10 p.m.), worth nearly £100,000 to the winner.
High Class Hero, ridden by stable jockey Paul Townend, looks the most likely horse from the Mullins’ team to win this, as he is an improving eight-year-old gelding who has had a light season to date, with just four runs. This race looks to have been his aim for some time.
Hoe Joly Smoke, also a lightly-raced improver, is Skelton’s only runner in the contest but he must race from fully 12 lbs out of the handicap which is a huge disadvantage. Indeed, no less than 11 of the 20 runners will have to compete from out of the handicap now that Grangeclare West, a close third in the Randox Grand National, heads the weights.
I was tempted to put up Resplendent Grey from the in-form Olly Murphy yard but he has jumping frailties and so odds of 8-1 or less make little appeal. If he puts in a perfect round of jumping, he could well win but… that’s quite a big if judged on some of his recent runs over chases.
On balance, I will go for better odds with VICTTORINO for the Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch trainer/jockey combination. His good season of two wins from three runs came to an abrupt end at the Cheltenham Festival last month when Williams’s runners were generally out-of-sorts. Victtorino got loose before the start of the Ultima Chase, was slowly away, was always behind and was eventually pulled up before three out.
That’s hardly a huge endorsement of his chances in tomorrow’s competitive race but, on talent alone, he is capable of landing this big handicap off an official mark of 148, just 2 lbs higher than for his last win at his beloved Ascot in February.
Victtorino will like this quick ground and, if the horse is on his best behaviour, Deutsch can ease him into contention late on. The advice is 1 point each way at 20-1 with William Hill, BetVictor, Ladbrokes or Coral, all paying five places, in the hope that Victtorino is back on his best behaviour tomorrow.
The first race on the Sandown card tomorrow is the bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (1.20 p.m.) and this is another competitive race with most of the 15 runners having a chance of landing the spoils.
HMS PRESIDENT, from the Alan King yard, is eight years old and came late to hurdling from the flat, making his debut over the smaller obstacles aged seven. However, he is well handicapped over hurdles on the best of his flat form. He was a beaten even money favourite at Warwick last time out but he is better than he showed that day. Back him 1 point each way at 12-1 with William Hill or BetVictor, both paying four places.
However, I want to go into this race double-handed also backing GIVE IT TO ME OJ form the Gary and Josh Moore yard. This father-and-son team love to target big races at Sandown and, after a fairly quiet first half to the season, they have hit much better form with their horses now.
Give It To Me Oj is another horse well suited by good ground and it is interesting that he has been given an entry in the Grade 1 four-year old hurdle at Punchestown next weekend, which means he is clearly well thought of by his connections. Back Give It To Me Oj 1 point each way at 14-1 with bet365 or William Hill, both paying four places.
Finally, CLASSIC ANTHEM has a fine record at Sandown, most recently winning over course and distance for the Jim Boyle/Sean Bowen trainer/jockey combination. This seven-year-old gelding is up 5 lbs in the official ratings for that comfortable victory but he seemed to have plenty left in the tank when he crossed the winning line in that race early last month.
Classic Anthem runs tomorrow in the bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase (1.50 p.m.) and so back him 1 point each way at 9-2 with BetVictor, Ladbrokes or Coral, all paying three places.
As usual, this splendid Sandown card tomorrow is a fitting way to say farewell to another superb season of jump racing.
Last weekend: quits
1 point each way Oslo at 9-1 for the JCB Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2 points win Now Is The Hour at 8-1 for the Irish Grand National. Pulled up. – 2 points.
1 point each way Any Second Now at 25-1 for the Irish Grand National, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places. 2nd. + 4 points.
Pending:
1 point each way HMS President at 12-1 for thebet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Give It To Me Oj at 14-1 for thebet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places.
1 point each way Classic Anthem at 9-2 for the bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places.
1 point each way Victtorino at 20-1 for the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
2024-5 jump season running total: – 58.21 points.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jump season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jump season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
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