GO NUTS FOR SQUIRREL...
NATIONAL RIVALS TO MEET AT SANDOWN
PUNTERS should go nuts for SECRET SQUIRREL (1.50) in the opener at Sandown today.
Trainer Hughie Morrison thinks the world of the five-yearold who has not been out of the first two this season in four starts.
Victories at Kempton and Taunton sandwiched two excellent seconds to Jeriko Du Reponet and Fire Flyer and he brings a strong level of form to the table in the bet365 Novices’ Championship Final.
The decent ground will suit – although there is some overnight rain forecast at the Esher track .
This is super competitive and there are dangers lurking at every corner. Be Aware is among them and he appeals as an each-way play at 12-1.
The Grade One clash between Jonbon and El Fabiolo is the highlight of the day for NH purists.
Missed
Jonbon missed Cheltenham where El Fabiolo fluffed his lines in the Champion Chase. Nicky Henderson’s (pictured) star then won the Melling Chase over 2m 4f at Aintree and reverts to two miles for this contest.
One of them should win but I can’t ignore EDITEUR DU GITE (3.00, nap) at a sorely tempting 40-1. I do have a blind spot about this fella as he is one of my favourite horses in training, but the ground will be pitch perfect and he arrives fresh having missed both major spring festivals.
If the big two don’t bring their A-game, then Editeur Du Gite will be waiting to pick
SECRET’S OUT: Secret Squirrel can score at Sandown today up the pieces.
Nube Negra should also outrun his odds (401) with the ground in his favour.
Chaser
THE REAL WHACKER (2.25) has endured a frustrating campaign after hitting the heights as a novice chaser last season.
But it should end on a high in the bet365 Oaksey Chase.
Patrick Neville’s eightyear-old hated the deep ground in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and does not truly convince that he stays three miles-plus.
Today’s 2m 6f on better ground should be much more suitable and the race conditions mean he is well in at the weights with most of his rivals.
The ITV cameras are at Haydock and Leicester for one race.
SPARKS FLY (2.45) was one of the success stories of last Flat season when she won a remarkable eight times. She began on an official rating of 60 and ended up winning a Listed race in France.
Today she carries top weight off a mark of 107 in the trustatrader.com Handicap and looks to have a tough task.
But she is deadly on soft ground and fancied to carry on where she left off last season.
Another mud-lover is AL MUBHIR (2.05) who is fancied to repeat his victory of 12 months ago in the Madri Exceptional King Richard III Cup at Leicester.
He is 7lb higher this time round but should outclass his rivals.
Elsewhere look out for HELTER SKELTER (5.15, nb) at Ripon.
MAASAI MARA THE REAL WHACKER - EL FABIOLO - AMIRITE
- MAGIC MEMORIES - THE REAL WHACKER
HAVING both been part of a pulsating three-way finish at Aintree little over a fortnight ago, Impaire Et Passe and Langer Dan are poised to renew rivalry in the bet365 Select Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.
The Willie Mullins-trained Impaire Et Passe, a top-class novice last season, had failed to lay a glove on esteemed stablemate State Man a couple of times in Ireland this winter, prompting connections to sidestep the Cheltenham Festival in order to keep their powder dry for the Grand National meeting.
That decision paid off in a
POINT TO PROVE: The Real Whacker can reverse his Gold Cup fortunes and (right) El Fabiola is impressive dramatic renewal of the Aintree Hurdle, with Impaire Et Passe just about denying a rallying Bob Olinger by a nose, with Langer Dan only a short head further away in third.
Unaltered
A lengthy stewards’ inquiry followed and while connections of both of the beaten horses might feel they were unlucky losers on the day, the placings remained unaltered.
The first and third are set to clash again this weekend, both looking to do their bit for their respective trainers with the British title to be decided on the day, while Mullins has a second string to his bow in the form of the high-class Sir Gerhard.
Patrick Mullins, who rides Sir Gerhard, said: “Impaire Et Passe seems to have come out of Aintree very well. It’s a quick rematch for both horses, but our fellow travelled to the last hurdle on the bridle, so hopefully he can confirm the placings.
“If the main two are below par, Sir Gerhard has to have a big chance of stepping up. He didn’t stay in the Stayers’