Architect Tips has five tips at Sandown for Scilly Isles Saturday.
13:25 Sandown
With conditions set to be testing, this could suit the unexposed and handicap debutant IN LIMBO (best price 14/1). The seven-year-old has shown encouragement in both outings this winter, including when staying on to finish fourth in a warm race at Exeter on rules debut.
That form is strong, given the first, second, third, and fifth have either won or run well since. He could only finish a distant third at Newbury when last seen, but that form looks useful as well. Stepping up in trip off an opening figure of 115, he could be an each-way contender.
GRAND GESTE (best price 14/1) is dropping down in trip for his handicap debut, but this is likely to be a slog in the mud, and that will play to the strengths of this six-year-old, who has been strong at the finish the last two times over further.
An opening mark of 111 looks workable, and Gavin Sheehan is an interesting jockey booking with the first-time cheekpieces equipped on his mount. He can run a big race. De Kingpin was flattered by the winner last time out and is short enough.
14:00 Sandown
Although his winning sequence came to an end when seeking the four-timer at Haydock last time out, CLASSIC MAESTRO (best price 6/1) made a brave bid to finish a close-up third despite not being ridden aggressively enough when the race heated up.
The consistent seven-year-old boasts figures of 2221121113 on ground that is soft/heavy, while his record over two miles reads 1121111! His attacking style of edging should see him in full flow around this course, and I really like his chances in this contest.
15:07 Sandown
This is extremely competitive, but DARTMOOR PIRATE (best price 17/2) has a good record over hurdles, winning once and placing in the other five (four times runner-up) and could pose a serious threat with conditions holding no fears.
His four seconds in this sphere have seen him be beaten by horses such as Tellherthename (rated 135), Steel Ally (rated 143), Panjari (rated 136), and Thomas Moor (rated 144). All of those efforts in defeat have worked out really well.
His sole previous course start saw him finish a staying-on fourth of 17 in the EBF Final under today’s conditions, and he stuck to the task well when second to an above-average prospect over three miles for the first time in December.
Anthony Honeyball’s charge has so much more to come over this trip, and that course form he has is an advantage. With all of his form working out nicely and a mark of 124 remaining handy, I’m optimistic he will have a say in the matter.
15:42 Sandown
It’s been a while since GUSTAVIAN (best price 6/1) last managed a win, but the 10-year-old has knocked on the door several times since that last win in 2023 and came within a neck of winning at Aintree last time out.
His last win was off a 6lb higher mark, and if you look at his form with heavy in the description, it’s pretty impressive, with it reading 212211U2F2U33. He ran well in a hot handicap here last February on ground that was against him.
Returned to his favoured ground today, and with Sam Twiston-Davies likely to make use of him on the front end, there’s a decent chance he could resume winning ways. His trainer runs two, but he’s the one I want to side with.
