Grand Sancy can be to everyone’s race fancy
GRAND SANCY can follow up his Chepstow victory of last week by graduating to Listed class in the Matchbook Time To Move Over Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton.
Paul Nicholls clearly thinks this is a good opportunity to get a nice prize under the four-year-old’s belt, as he is pitching him back into action just eight days after handicap success in Wales.
Grand Sancy certainly appeared to feel the benefit of a wind operation on that reappearance, leaving an average campaign last term well behind him as he swooped late to grab the glory in a competitive limited handicap.
Last year’s Fred Winter fourth, Padleyourowncanoe, chased him home to give the form a solid appearance and Grand Sancy looked as though he had a fair bit left to come with a cosy success.
Verdana Blue is the pick in the other Listed race on the card, the Matchbook VIP Hurdle.
The bare statistics of last season do not really do her justice as she beat a useful type in Speredek and finished a fine third in a really competitive Grade Three handicap event before two disappointing runs to round off the year.
She demonstrated her well-being with a tidy all-weather success last month and the conditions of this race give her a handy 3lb pull with last year’s winner Old Guard.
Nicky Henderson loves a Kempton winner and Verdana Blue looks well placed here.
Oliver’s Hill can lift the Move Over To Matchbook Handicap Chase for the second successive year.
Lawney Hill’s charge is 11lb higher in the ratings than 12 months ago, but is fresh from a recent victory at Fontwell, just as he did in 2017.
After one win at Worcester and two at Fontwell, Mercers Court heads north to Sedgefield in search of a four-timer.
Neil King’s 10-year-old is in such good form that he can maintain his winning streak in the Sedgefielders Racing App Durham National Handicap Chase.
Mercers Court has shot up a total 22lb for those three triumphs, but is still 9lb below his highest career mark of 17 months ago.
Sonic looked a young recruit on the up when scoring over two and a half miles on this track at the beginning of the month.
It is not surprising that trainer Donald McCain sends the five-year-old gelding back for the Bet At toals.com Handicap Hurdle. The move can be rewarded with a follow up success.
Chica Buena can take the Casino At toals.com Juvenile Hurdle and make a winning debut for Keith Dalgleish’s stable after switching from Brendan Duke in Ireland.
The three-year-old filly opened her account over the smaller obstacles on her last run at Ballinrobe a month ago and that form in itself could be good enough to see her double up on her first start for new connections.