Harry Wilson struck with 5-4, 11-4 and 3-1 winners on New Year's Day - find out his selections for Saturday's ITV action
Harry Wilson found Diva Luna (5-4), Springwell Bay (11-4) and Lucky Place (3-1) on New Year's Day and returns with his advice for all seven races at Sandown on Saturday – plus the three ITV contests at Wincanton . . .
12.05 Sandown
Watch Unibet Racing Post Postcast Maiden Hurdle, 2m
Harry's tip: Juby Ball
Lud'Or has shown ability over hurdles, but Khrisma and Juby Ball possess superior bumper form and could be very useful prospects. The former landed two Grade 3s and placed in a Grade 1 in AQPS bumpers in France and Nicky Henderson struck with one from that background at Ascot last month, but the latter's form has worked out well and he is narrowly favoured. He had the useful Phantomofthepoints and Largy Poet behind when comfortably winning on his debut before failing to give 4lb to Sixmilebridge, who has since won twice over hurdles, in a race where the next three home have all won since.
12.40 Sandown
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Harry's tip: Xcitations
Beat Box and Ostrava Du Berlais are progressive, but their recent wins don't have much substance and I'd rather side with Xcitations, who won this race by nine lengths from Corrigeen Rock (now 16lb higher) the last time it was staged in 2023. He won over this course and distance again in November 2023 but has largely struggled off his revised mark since. However, he showed the benefit of his reappearance when third at Haydock last month, when the ground was too heavy, and should be up to taking advantage of a mark 9lb below his last winning one returned to this track.
1.15 Sandown
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Harry's tip: Hourvari
Doddiethegreat is undoubtedly well handicapped, but the majority of his best form has come at two miles and plenty of stamina will be needed to see out the trip in the likely conditions, which brings West To The Bridge and Cast's Tasha into the equation. However, I'm sure we still haven't seen the best of Hourvari, who returned from a long break with a good second behind an improver at Wetherby in November. He's sure to come on for that and, given he produced three RPRs of 129-131 in his novice days, he looks well treated off 122 now he finally runs in a handicap having had an outing beforehead.
1.50 Sandown
Read Nicky Henderson's Weekly Unibet Blog Handicap Chase, 2m4f
Harry's tip: Etalon
Etalon won his first three starts over fences, notably getting the better of Martator (now 34lb higher) at Newbury on his chasing debut and comprehensively seeing off Gunsight Ridge – who has won since and looked certain to challenge off a 4lb higher mark before falling at the last fence at Cheltenham in November – by nine lengths at this course in February. Etalon has disappointed on all three starts this season, but he probably found the ground too quick over two miles and should be much happier in these conditions. He should have no problem with the extra distance and is no doubt handicapped to win this.
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2.05 Wincanton
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Harry's tip: Soldier's Leap
Our Dylan has been in good form and is effectively only 2lb higher than for his win last time with Josh Newman able to claim 5lb this time, but preference is for the unexposed Soldier's Leap, who was a good second on his handicap debut when last seen. The winner has since gone in again on two occasions, so the form looks solid, and the fitting of a tongue-tie might enable him to unlock enough improvement to open his account over hurdles.
2.25 Sandown Try Unibet's New Smartview Racecards Mares' Hurdle (Listed), 2m4f
Harry's tip: Della Casa Lunga
Della Casa Lunga is the highest-rated runner and arrives off the back of a good success at Kempton last month. Before that, she was beaten little more than two lengths in a Listed contest by the smart Kateira, who was beaten less than four lengths in the Grade 1 Long Walk next time. That's a standout piece of form in this field. She'd probably prefer three miles, but the drop in trip in testing conditions should be fine on this stiff track against inferior rivals, some of whom have questions to answer with the likely conditions.
2.40 Wincanton
Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Handicap Chase, 2m4f
Harry's tip: Quel Destin
Nocte Volatus has an obvious chance from the same mark as when chasing home subsequent December Gold Cup winner Gemirande at Ascot in November, but this could be the right time to catch Quel Destin and he appeals more at a bigger price. He was pulled up on his reappearance on his first start since wind surgery and a 238-day break, but virtually the same happened last season (beaten 50 lengths) and he was also well beaten first time out the season before, so that shouldn't be viewed too harshly. He won on his third start two seasons ago and second time out last season, and should be primed to take advantage of a mark 1lb below his last winning one on his first start in veterans' company.
3.00 Sandown
Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase, 3m
Harry's tip: Sam Brown
Course-and-distance winner Fortescue is a big player off his low weight, but Sam Brown is a classy chaser who still looks capable of operating off his high rating. He's just 2lb higher than for his Ascot victory in a veterans' event in March, despite producing RPRs of 160 and 159 with fine placed efforts in a Grand National meeting handicap in April and on his reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase in November. Chad Bament has ridden a couple of winners for Anthony Honeyball this season and his 10lb claim is an added bonus.
3.15 Wincanton
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Harry's tip: Ninth Loch
Kado De Joie is on a roll and was value for more than his latest winning margin, while Authentic Legacy was well found in the market on his handicap debut and could improve for the extra distance, but I'll chance Ninth Loch, who has joined Harry Derham from France. He showed useful form when trained by Willie Mullins before that, notably losing out by three-quarters of a length to The Wallpark (now rated 152), and has been bought by Jersey Racing Friends after three wins in France. Derham does well with new recruits and an opening mark of 122 could seriously underestimate Ninth Loch's ability.
3.35 Sandown
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Harry's tip: Hardy Du Seuil
Navajo Indy landed the Gerry Feilden on his handicap debut at Newbury in November and that form has already been franked by those in behind. An 8lb rise might not stop him following up here, but I'll side with Hardy Du Seuil, who got the better of subsequent Imperial Cup winner Iceo and the now 160-rated chaser Djelo in this race two years ago. Last season can be excused as he was found to have kissing spines and he was entitled to need his comeback last month when second behind an improver who has since run well at Cheltenham. His mark doesn't look beyond him and he has conditions to suit.
Read these next:
'He's extremely well treated in a race of this nature' - Tom Segal with four tips on Saturday
'He should be one of the favourites' - Paul Kealy with four Saturday selections
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