Horse racing betting tips: Casko D’Airy to reward patience of connections in Heroes Handicap
SNOW is due to have arrived overnight and if the weather forecasters are right, Sandown’s card is unlikely to go ahead on Saturday.
We can never rely on the weather, though, so let’s hope they’re wrong and that it warms up a bit to get the meeting on.
Hot Champion Hurdle favourite Buveur D’Air is bidding for a hat-trick in the Contenders Hurdle (1.50pm) and the fact he is 1/8 with Ladbrokes before the final declarations tells you all you need to know about the task at hand.
He was 1/16 when taking this prize 12 months ago and another penalty kick awaits here.
We’ll focus on the more competitive stuff, with the big betting race of the day being the Heroes Handicap Hurdle (3.00pm).
In the past year, Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Ballymoy has shown outstanding improvement, winning six of his seven starts with the only defeat coming in a hot renewal of the Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury in December.
Top weight wasn’t a problem for him at Ascot last month and he’s only been raised 5lbs for that impressive victory so you can’t rule him out in this.
However, he’s going up significantly in trip and this looks quite a tough ask conceding weight to some progressive staying handicap hurdlers.
Paul Nicholls won this prize a year ago with Topofthegame and I think he can land the pot again with CASKO D’AIRY, who is owned by Sir Alex Ferguson and Ged Mason.
The seven-year-old is clearly fragile having only made it to the track for the first time in November since he was bought from France over two years previously.
The patience of his connections was rewarded in fine style when the son of Voix Du Nord landed a handicap hurdle at Ascot by seven lengths just before Christmas.
That was off a mark of 113, but even though he has gone up a stone he could still be well ahead of his mark.
He was stepping up in trip at Ascot, so this 2m7½f on a stiff track like Sandown should be ideal.
Harry Cobden takes the ride and with just 10st1lb in the saddle he looks a great each-way bet at 10/1 with Coral.
Nicholls also saddles Brio Conti who has some decent form in the book but hasn’t been seen since November 2017.
It’s a wide open handicap with plenty in with chances, including last time out winners Keeper Hill, Eminent Poet and Virginia Chick.
Venetia Williams has been having a fantastic time of it lately and she could run three in the Masters Handicap Chase (3.35pm), a race she has won twice in the last five years.
Belami Des Pictons is potentially the most interesting on his first start since finishing second to Waiting Patiently at Carlisle well over a year ago.
However, the ground wasn’t deemed to be soft enough at Ascot a couple of weeks ago and it may be the same problem.
Houblon Des Obeaux has gone up 9lbs for winning the Veterans’ Final, while Otago Trail has questions to answer after his last two starts.
I’m actually siding with an ex-Williams trained horse in BENNYS KING for Dan Skelton at 6/1 with Coral.
He is two from two since joining the yard and couldn’t have been any more impressive at Market Rasen on his latest outing.
Wetherby is probably more likely to be off than Sandown, but if it does get the green light I’d be very keen to back TOP VILLE BEN at 2/1 in the Towton Novices’ Chase (2.40pm).
Phil Kirby has been in great form this season and this seven-year-old, who is unbeaten in two starts over the larger obstacles, bolted up by 46 lengths over course and distance last time.
He jumps very well and his front-running style takes no prisoners.
This is another step up the ladder, but he could end up being an interesting outsider for the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Top Ville Ben 2.40pm Sandown
Casko D’Airy e/w 3.00pm Sandown
Bennys King e/w 3.35pm Sandown