UK Horse Racing Tips: Sandown

Unbeaten under Rules, including two wins over hurdles, it will take a special performance to beat the Olly Murphy-trained CHASING FIRE. He beat a couple of smart rivals in a Wetherby bumper last March, and it's unlikely the son of Maxios has reached the ceiling of his ability yet. Iliko D'olivate was beaten seven and a half lengths by multiple Grade 1 winner Vauban when trained in France and, having made a winning start for new connections, he demands the utmost respect. Getaway Drumlee heads the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Chasing Fire 2nd Iliko Dolivate 3rd Getaway Drumlee

Twinjets beat the reopposing Twin Power (second) by nine lengths when the pair met in novice company at Plumpton last month, but the latter gets an 8lb pull at the weights now in handicap company, and that could see him close the gap. Preference, however, is for I SHUT THAT D'OR. Joe Tizzard's charge appeared to relish the step up in trip when scoring over an extended 2m5f at Wincanton last time out, and he might have more to offer off an opening mark of 120.
Prediction : 1st I Shut That Dor 2nd Twin Power 3rd Twinjets

Having won three of the previous four renewals of this contest, Dolos is fancied to mount another serious challenge as he bids to record yet another success in a race now named after him. However, a chance is taken on FAST BUCK. He exploited a significant drop in the weights when thumping a subsequent winner at Lingfield in December, and an 8lb rise looks manageable if he arrives in a similar vein of form. Eclair D'Ainay is another to take seriously.
Prediction : 1st Fast Buck 2nd Dolos 3rd Eclair DAinay

Gerri Colombe maintained his unbeaten status when landing a Grade 1 over Christmas at Limerick and it appears to be an interesting move that connections opt to travel over ahead of potential big targets in the spring. That said, he is yet to face ground conditions as fast as this, so it remains to be seen how the seven-year-old acts on this quicker surface. Monmiral (second) finished ahead of THUNDER ROCK (third) in the Dipper at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, but it would be no surprise if the latter reversed that form. Olly Murphy's gelding didn't jump as well as he had on both his chase starts prior, including when sauntering to victory at Ascot in November, but finished off his race particularly well and could represent a bit of value.
Prediction : 1st Thunder Rock 2nd Gerri Colombe 3rd Monmiral

REMASTERED arrives having gone one better than his Coral Trophy effort when scoring at Kempton over Christmas. That success was made all the more impressive as he was inconvenienced at the start and the switch back to hurdles, where he is 10lb lower than his chase rating, may see him continue in a similar vein of form. Call Me Lord tends to save his best for Sandown and was very unlucky here on his penultimate start in December when narrowly beaten by Dolphin Square due to his rider dropping his hands. He is respected along with Green Book, who won this contest 12 months ago.
Prediction : 1st Remastered 2nd Call Me Lord 3rd Green Book

A case can be made for several of these, including the hat-trick seeking Bangers And Cash, who steps up in class following a comfortable win in the Lincolnshire National on Boxing Day. However, the grade-dropping EVA'S OSKAR kept on well to land a Grade 3 over 3m2f at Cheltenham in December and could be worth sticking with off a 3lb raised mark. Emir Sacree is entitled to improve for his seasonal debut effort and warrants a market check.
Prediction : 1st Evas Oskar 2nd Bangers And Cash 3rd Emir Sacree

WRAPPEDUPINMAY bolted up on his Rules/stable debut at Exeter last month and is expected to follow up in this, despite having to shoulder a 4lb penalty for that success. Stablemate Inthewaterside seems his biggest threat, given he also secured a comfortable win on his racecourse bow at Exeter in December, while the unraced Ten Lengths Tom warrants a market check.
Prediction : 1st Wrappedupinmay 2nd Inthewaterside 3rd Ten Lengths Tom