Paul Ferguson has two selections from Sandown on Saturday; We’re Red and Blue at 1.20 and Dancing City at 4.10. | Free Bets |
The domestic National Hunt season comes to an end at Sandown on Saturday and whilst Sean Bowen will be crowned as champion jockey for the first time, the trainers’ title is still up for grabs, with both Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins looking to secure the prize. Given the number (and quality) of runners he has on the card, Mullins looks to hold every chance of retaining his crown.
He runs no fewer than 10 of the 20 runners in the bet365 Gold Cup and with Grand National third Grangeclare West being declared, only nine of the 20 are racing off the correct mark, with the other 11 being out of the handicap. Of those towards the head of the market (and the weights), Dancing City (4:10) looks capable of a bold show and ought to relish the longer trip. Arriving on the back of a fall is far from ideal, but Quai de Bourbon (who he brought down at Aintree) ran really well in the Irish National on Monday and this eight-year-old holds a class edge here. A three-time Grade 1 winner as a novice hurdler last term, he remains unexposed as a chaser and if his jumping holds up, it will be a surprise if he is not involved in the finish. Back him each-way.
Earlier on the card, the opening novices’ handicap hurdle is one race in which neither Mullins and Skelton are represented. The couple of horses who I had in mind for this from entry stage weren’t declared, so I am taking a chance at big odds on We’re Red And Blue (1:20) for the O’Neill team. His defeat of Grade 2 winner Jet To Vegas reads well and he won with ease at Kelso in mid-February. Although he finished eighth in the Imperial Cup last month, he was beaten only 5 lengths by Go Dante and the better ground will help. This is a weaker race than that and although the stable aren’t in great form at present, he is worth chancing at generous odds of 33-1.
Saturday’s selections:
1:20 Sandown – We’re Red And Blue; 14/1 Betfred
4:10 Sandown – Dancing City; 7/1 Betfred
NB. All odds shown are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
