Sandown preview: Tom Collins provides his tips on Scilly Isles Chase day

The first day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown may take centre stage on Saturday, but there is also Grade 1 action at Sandown courtesy of the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase. Tipster Tom Collins is on hand to provide a race-by-race guide for the meeting at the Esher track.

12.40 Sandown, 2m Novices’ Hurdle

Nicky Henderson has won this race twice in the last three years - Palladium (2020) and Countister (2018) - and is represented by French import Balkeo this time around. The five-year-old son of Galiway has hit the frame on all three starts, but he doesn’t treat hurdles with much respect and might be better once he is sent over fences next season. 

Even if he jumps better now that he is in the care of Henderson, Balkeo will have to be well above average to beat Kempton bumper winner Shallwehaveonemore, who wasn’t beaten far despite racing keenly on his hurdling debut at Ascot and contested the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle at this track last time out.  

This is a big step down in class for Gary Moore’s promising recruit and it would be a surprise if he didn’t land the opener for favourite backers. 

Recommended bet: Shallwehaveonemore at 1.85 

1.15 Sandown, 2m Handicap Chase

This is Dolos’ Gold Cup - the gutsy nine-year-old won back-to-back renewals in 2019 and 2020 and was only narrowly denied by Moonlighter, who reopposes again, 12 months ago. A string of poor efforts have followed and Dolos is now competing off a mark of just 143. He has to be feared, but it is hard to believe he retains all of his ability based on recent showings. 

Gunsight Ridge and Bun Doran, who finished first and second respectively in a course-and-distance contest 28 days ago, are sure to be bang there once again but are priced up accordingly. 

The most likely winner and best value play is Frero Banbou, who finished third in a Grade 3 at Aintree last spring and finally got off the mark this season with a determined, last-gasp effort at Lingfield two weeks ago. He’s been hit with a 6lb rise, but that shouldn’t be enough to stop him. 

Recommended bet: Frero Banbou at 4.3

1.50 Sandown, 2m Listed Contenders Hurdle 

The Contenders Hurdle was used as a stepping stone ahead of the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival for Buveur D’Air in 2017 and 2018, but there is no horse of his calibre in this year’s field.  

Goshen and Song For Someone, both of whom have proved difficult rides this season, currently head the betting and are far from trustworthy despite possessing an abundance of talent. While two miles is the bare minimum trip for the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Guard Your Dreams and he may become outpaced.

It could pay to side with likely pacesetter Global Citizen, who can throw in the odd poor performance but is a dual Grade 2-winner in his career and is a simple ride for jockey Kielan Woods. He could steal this Listed event.

Recommended bet: Global Citizen at 10.5

2.20 Sandown, 2m4f Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase

There have been a couple of brilliant match races in recent weeks - Shishkin versus Energumene in the SBK Clarence House was undoubtedly the highlight, but Life Is Good and Knicks Go’s clash in the Pegasus World Cup similarly got the pulse racing - and we might have another one here. 

L’Homme Presse and Pic D’Orhy are yet to prove themselves as bona fide Grade 1 horses, but they appear well on their way to the top for powerful connections and interestingly clash heads in a mouth-watering edition of the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase. 

Fluent jumping will be the key to success and, although he showed a tendency to run down his fences the last time he went right-handed, L’Homme Presse is the horse to beat. Currently a xx for the Turner’s Novices’ Chase next month, Venetia Williams’ seven-year-old is fancied to remain unbeaten this term.

Recommended bet: L’Homme Presse at 1.8

2.55 Sandown, 3m Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle 

You can make a case for plenty in this competitive handicap hurdle, not least the unexposed Beauport and Ree Okka, who have dominated the antepost market this week. Money could come for Green Book if Venetia Williams lands a couple of the earlier races on the card, while Call Me Lord is a stalwart in this division. 

However, the best punting opportunity here lies with Born Patriot. The Irish-trained six-year-old has only been seen on a racetrack on eight occasions but has regularly shaped like a horse way ahead of his handicap mark. His most recent runner-up effort behind three-time subsequent winner Kansas City Chief is a good example of that. 

Good ground appears crucial for Born Patriot and he will get ideal conditions here. Providing they go a good gallop, which looks likely, he should be finishing fastest of all. 

Recommended bet: Born Patriot at 11

3.30 Sandown, 3m Masters Handicap Chase

One of many returning heroes trying to retain their crown today is Deise Aba, who has won this event for the last two years at reasonable prices. He will be available at similar odds this afternoon, but his most recent effort in the Welsh Grand National failed to spark any kind of enthusiasm. 

Quicker ground could be the undoing of likely favourite Farinet, although his jumping will have his rivals on the stretch early on, while Five Star Getaway has never proved the most consistent conveyance. 

A process of elimination leaves Linelee King, who produced a career-best effort on his seasonal reappearance at Aintree and should have followed up at Ayr just before Christmas. He made a terrible mistake four-out that day and wasn’t beaten too far at the line. Compensation awaits. 

Recommended bet: Linelee King at 5.2

4.05 Sandown, 2m4f Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 

Colin Tizzard has a 21 per cent strike-rate (8-38) with his hurdlers at Sandown in the last five years and he is represented by the lightly raced Whydah Gally in the closing handicap contest. 

He showed very little on his first four runs last year, but Whydah Gally is a big, scopey type and was always going to improve for a longer trip and a summer under his belt. Following placed efforts at Newton Abbot and Lingfield in the autumn, he fended off a couple of smart rivals at Wincanton earlier this month and looks leniently treated off 8lb higher. 

Recommended bet: Whyday Gally at 5.4

Recommended bets: 

Shallwehaveonemore @ 1.85
Frero Banbou @ 4.3
Global Citizen @ 10.5
L’Homme Presse @ 1.8
Born Patriot @ 11
Linelee King @ 5.2
Whydah Gally @ 5.4