Evening Delights at Esher
Right then, gather 'round for what promises to be a cracking evening's sport at Sandown Park. Seven races of National Hunt action under the late May sun, and with the going reported as good to firm, good in places, we're in for some proper fast-ground jumping. Now, before you start thinking this is just another end-of-season jolly, let me tell you there's serious prize money on offer and some tasty handicaps that'll separate the wheat from the chaff.
The ground conditions are absolutely crucial tonight. That good to firm surface will suit the speedier types and those with a bit of class about them, while the stamina-sapping merchants might find themselves struggling to get home. It's the kind of going that rewards sharp jumping and tactical speed – exactly what Sandown Park racecard delivers on a night like this.
Feature Race Focus: The Farmers Fresh Chase
The evening's feature has to be the 7:20 Farmers Fresh Handicap Steeple Chase – a Class 3 contest over an extended three miles and three furlongs that's worth £13,700 to the winner. Now, this is where the men get separated from the boys, and with only five runners, it's a proper test of stamina and jumping ability.
Ivane heads the weights off a mark of 119 for James Owen, with Jonathan Burke doing the steering. This eight-year-old has been knocking on the door in similar company, and Burke's booking suggests connections fancy their chances. The worry? Three miles and three on this ground might just find him out if the pace is honest.
Imperial Alex, also rated 119, brings the experience of nine seasons to the party for Tom Lacey. Stan Sheppard takes the ride, and this old warrior has seen it all before. The question is whether he's still got the legs for a battle like this, but you'd be foolish to write off anything from the Lacey yard when the prize money's decent.
Novice Hurdle Nuggets
The opener at 5:50 might be titled after someone waving goodbye to their forties, but I'd be saying hello to Maskarvel in the Julie Satterley Novices' Hurdle. Rated 110, this Alastair Ralph-trained five-year-old has Jonathan Burke in the plate again, and that combination has been clicking lately.
Machete Beach for Jamie Snowden and Gavin Sheehan is the other one with a proper rating (108), and Snowden's horses have been running with plenty of enthusiasm this spring. The ground will suit, and Sheehan rarely gets these big-field tactics wrong.
Don't sleep on Usyk either – any horse good enough to carry the name of a heavyweight champion and attract Sam Twiston-Davies for the Twiston-Davies family deserves respect. No rating yet, but that often means there's improvement to come.
Mares' Marathon and Birthday Celebrations
The 6:20 mares' novices' handicap hurdle is one of those races where you need to dig deep into the form book. Kottayam tops the weights off 87 for Dave Roberts, but in a field like this, ratings can be misleading.
I'm drawn to Little Lady Lucy for Neil Mulholland – she's got the 'D' next to her name meaning she's won over the distance before, and that course and distance form is like gold dust on an evening like this. Bradley Harris knows his way around Sandown, and at 85, she might just be well-handicapped.
The 6:50 birthday celebration handicap hurdle is a cracker with just five runners. In The Air has both the 'C' and 'D' markers, meaning he's won at the course and over the distance. Off 118, he's the class act here, and Ciaran Gethings will know exactly how to play this tactically with such a small field.
Late Card Crackers
The two-mile chase at 7:50 looks a proper puzzle. In This World has been consistent without being spectacular, but Robert Dunne's 5lb claim might just tip the scales. Delpotro for Charlie Longsdon and Sean Bowen is the one that catches my eye though – this six-year-old is still learning his trade over fences, and this ground will suit his style.
That final hurdle race over two miles and six furlongs is a cavalry charge with ten runners. American Trio and Tao Enki head the weights, but in a race like this, I'd be looking at Roxboro River with his course and distance form. James Davies has been riding with confidence lately, and Paddy Hanlon knows how to get one ready for a touch.
Best Bets and Ones to Watch
Right, here's where I put my money where my mouth is. For the evening, I'm backing Maskarvel in the opener – that rating of 110 in a Class 4 novice hurdle tells its own story. In The Air in the 6:50 looks a solid each-way proposition with his course and distance credentials.
For the feature chase, I'm torn between the two top-weights, but Imperial Alex's experience might just edge it in what could be a tactical affair. And in that final hurdle marathon, Roxboro River's course form makes him the value play at likely decent odds.
The ground is the key tonight – it'll suit the classier types and those with a bit of pace to burn. Don't be backing any old stayers hoping they'll grind it out, because this surface will find out any horse not firing on all cylinders. It's going to be a grand evening's sport, so grab a pint and enjoy the show!
