Young Master for gold at Sandown

While all eyes will be on the battle between Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins for the trainers’ title, Neil Mulholland can land the big handicap prize of the day at Sandown as

THE YOUNG MASTER holds excellent claims for the bet365 Gold Cup.

UN DE SCEAUX can ensure the race for the trainers’ title goes to the wire by winning the bet365 Celebration Chase for Willie Mullins.

Nicholls fields three of the six runners but it is far from a Mullins v Nicholls affair as they face Sprinter Sacre. ALPHA DELPHINI appeared to be making great strides towards the end of last term and can pick up where he left off in the toteswinger Handicap at Musselburgh tomorrow.

Bryan Smart’s charge finally made it fourth-time lucky at Beverley last August when landing what was a fair maiden event that has yielded a couple of subsequent winners.

His final outing at Pontefract in October provided contrasting fortunes as he was slow to break and fighting a losing battle from virtually the off.

That was a decent contest and Alpha Delphini deserves plenty of credit for finishing a three-length fifth, with plenty seemingly left in the tank.

A starting mark of 79 looks more than workable, with a step up to six furlongs also likely to suit in due course.

SELECTIONS

SANDOWN: 2.20 Wolf Of Windlesham, 3.00 Valseur Lido, 3.35 UN DE SCEAUX (NAP), 4.10 The Young Master, 4.45 Vroum Vroum Mag, 5.20 Junction Fourteen, 5.55 Close Touch. Tomorrow: MUSSELBURGH: 2.00 Tawdeea, 2.30 Opt Out, 3.00 Lopes Dancer, 3.30 Rock On Bollinski, 4.00 ALPHA DELPHINI (NAP), 4.30 Dark Command, 5.00 Little Belter.