Sunday Tote Placepot Tips for Sandown from Architect

Leg 1 Selections: Issam, Mamoon Star 

A case can be made for all of these, but the most persuasive one is top-weight ISSAM, who won at Exeter when last seen in March, despite making late mistakes. Open to further improvement this season, he should be able to make a bold bid.

I will also add in MAMOON STAR, who is the only runner with a run under his belt, so he might sneak into the picture in the latter stages.

Leg 2 Selections: Henri The Second, Blow Your Wad, Le Patron, Game Winner

HENRI THE SECOND won a Grade 2 here last December, and although he was disappointing on his final start of last season, he should be hard to beat for last year’s winning connections on his chase debut.

Tom Lacey’s BLOW YOUR WAD travelled well en route to finishing second in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow on his return, and the top-weight is respected on his chase debut.

LE PATRON impressed on his first go in this sphere at Fontwell and is clearly a smart prospect, while GAME WINNER should have a future over fences and cannot be discounted.  

Leg 3 Selections: Classic Anthem 

I quite like the chances of CLASSIC ANTHEM, who made a positive start to his hurdles career when second at Kempton. He only found Father Of Jazz too good, and the latter has won twice since.

This five-year-old should have more to offer and should be able to at least fill the frame. He is the banker to get us through to the next race.

Leg 4 Selections: Xcitations, Jetronic, In The Air

The top-weight XCITATIONS is only a pound higher than when he scored over course and distance towards the start of the year, and this is an easier contest. He will be fitter after his comeback run last time and can go well.

JETRONIC has been granted a handy mark after shaping well when second at Cheltenham on his stable debut, while IN THE AIR ran well when second on his chase debut at Huntingdon two weeks ago and is another to consider.

Leg 5 Selections: Legendary Day

The handicapper has underestimated LEGENDARY DAY on handicap debut, who has done very well on the flat most of this year, and is unexposed in this sphere with a win and two placed efforts from just three starts.

Brian Hughes is retained to ride, and being only one of a few with fitness assured, he is the standout and only choice in this race.

Leg 6 Selections: Elegant Escape, De Rasher Counter, Lord Du Mesnil, Larry 

ELEGANT ESCAPE is on a career low mark, has winning form over track and trip, and his trainer couldn’t be in better form, so he must be shortlisted. I think this is the time he will bounce back and get involved. Overall, statistically, he is the best horse in the race.

DE RASHER COUNTER isn’t the force of old, but he is too well-treated to ignore, and his last win came off a 13-pound higher mark. If the application of headgear has a positive outcome, he could easily get back on track.

LORD DU MESNIL ran well on his return last season at Bangor when second and concluded the campaign with back-to-back seconds. He has to shoulder top-weight but should be thereabouts.

Gary Moore’s LARRY has two course wins to his name and made the frame on his last couple of starts, so he can also be concluded.