Setting the Scene: A Midsummer Chase Worth Your Attention
Now, I know what you're thinking. August? Jumps racing? Sure, isn't that the preserve of the flat brigade and their silky-smooth turf merchants? Well, hold your whiskey and listen up, because the Brian and Sheila Vaughan Memorial Handicap Steeple Chase at Sandown Park is one of those summer jumping contests that genuinely rewards the serious student of the game. At £25,000 in prize money and carrying Class 2 status, this is no glorified point-to-point. Trainers don't send horses here for the fresh air — they send them because they believe they can win.
Six declared runners, good to firm ground, and a trip of 2m 3f 98y around one of jump racing's most demanding tracks. Sandown's railway fences sort out the pretenders from the genuine articles, and on this ground, you need a horse that can travel, jump cleanly, and sustain its effort up that famous finishing hill. This isn't a race for the faint-hearted, and neither is my preview. Let's get stuck in.
Going and Conditions: The Great Leveller
Good to firm in August at Sandown. That's the headline, and it matters enormously here. This trip — just shy of two and a half miles — on quick ground means stamina is at a premium but so is foot speed. You want a horse that's nimble enough to ping its fences without wasting energy, yet has the engine to grind up the hill when the race truly begins in earnest.
Horses that have won on soft or heavy ground and haven't been seen on a quick surface should be viewed with caution. Conversely, any runner with a proven record on good to firm — particularly over course and distance — immediately earns a gold star in my notebook. Keep that in mind as we work through the field. Check the full Sandown Park racecard for the latest going updates on the day.
Contender-by-Contender Breakdown
1. Crebilly (9yo, 11-7) — Jonjo & A.J. O'Neill / Harry Cobden
Top weight and top billing for the O'Neill yard, with Harry Cobden in the saddle — and that combination alone tells you this horse is meant to run well. Cobden doesn't travel to Sandown on a Thursday evening in August for a jolly. He's a distance winner, which is a crucial tick in the box, and at nine years old, he's a seasoned campaigner who should handle the pressure of carrying 11-7 if his jumping holds up.
The concern? Good to firm ground for a nine-year-old who may have done the bulk of his winning on easier surfaces. The O'Neill team are sharp operators and they'll have done their homework, but top weight on quick ground is always a leveller, and I wouldn't be going overboard in the market. Solid each-way claims, but not the banker some might make him.
2. Magistrato (8yo, 11-5) — Deborah Cole / James Bowen
Now here's a horse that catches the eye immediately. Course winner, distance winner — that's a double tick that you simply cannot ignore at Sandown. Deborah Cole is a trainer who picks her spots carefully, and sending Magistrato here with James Bowen up suggests serious intent. He's wearing a tongue tie, which often indicates a trainer trying to get the best out of a horse that's been slightly frustrating — or simply maintaining something that's been working.
Eight years old, a rating of 127, and proven credentials around this track over this trip on what is likely to be similar ground to his course win. If Magistrato arrives here in form, he is the one they all have to beat. James Bowen is a jockey who rides Sandown well and won't be intimidated by the occasion. This is my idea of the race favourite, and I think the layers will agree.
3. Bagheera Ginge (8yo, 11-5) — Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies / Sam Twiston-Davies
A family affair, with Sam Twiston-Davies riding for the Twiston-Davies yard, and you know what that means — this horse will be ridden with confidence and jumped from the front if necessary. Bagheera Ginge is a course winner, which is significant, and the visor (headgear: V) suggests connections are looking to sharpen him up mentally. That can be a positive flag.
He's on the same mark as Magistrato at 127, but without the distance-winning form, he's slightly harder to trust over 2m 3f 98y on quick ground. Still, the Twiston-Davies team know Sandown well, and Sam will give him every chance. Don't write him off — an each-way flutter at the right price wouldn't embarrass you.
4. Captain Cool (6yo, 11-4) — Jennie Candlish / Sean Quinlan
The youngster of the party at six years old, and a course winner to boot — which is encouraging for a horse still learning his trade. Jennie Candlish is a trainer on the rise, and Sean Quinlan is a jockey who rides with real purpose. The tongue tie is noted.
However, six years old in a competitive Class 2 against battle-hardened older horses on quick summer ground gives me slight pause. Captain Cool may well have a big future, but is this the day? He's 2lb well-in off the top weight, and if he's improving, that could be significant. The one for the each-way accumulators rather than the win-only merchants, but worth respecting.
5. Parisencore (10yo, 11-3) — Nicky Richards / Danny McMenamin
A decade old and still at it — you have to admire the old warrior. Nicky Richards is a trainer who keeps his horses remarkably fresh, and Danny McMenamin is a jockey who gets on well with veteran campaigners. No headgear, no form flags beyond his rating of 125, and at ten years of age on good to firm ground, I'd want to see recent evidence of him handling these conditions before getting carried away.
He's the bottom of the market in terms of ratings among the top five, and while experience counts for something around Sandown's fences, I think there are more compelling options in this field. Respect but oppose would be my stance.
6. Sir Tivo (12yo, 11-2) — Gary Hanmer / Sean Bowen
Twelve years old and a course winner — Sir Tivo is the romantic option, and I've a soft spot for the old boys who keep defying Father Time. Gary Hanmer is a patient handler, and Sean Bowen is a canny jockey. But at 12, on good to firm ground, carrying a tongue tie, and on the lowest rating in the field? The head says this is a bridge too far. The heart says cheer him home. Back the heart for the memories, back the head for the money.
Value Picks and Dangers
My value pick is Magistrato — course and distance form is the golden combination at Sandown, and Deborah Cole has clearly targeted this race. James Bowen aboard only strengthens the case. If he goes off at a generous price, he represents the best bet on the card.
The danger I'd flag is Captain Cool. Six-year-olds with course form can spring surprises, and if Jennie Candlish has him cherry-ripe, he could outrun his odds at what might be a bigger price than he deserves.
Tom's Tip: Magistrato Each-Way
I'm not going to dress this up with unnecessary complexity. Magistrato is my selection. Course winner, distance winner, good trainer, good jockey, right age, right weight. Everything points in his direction for this race on this ground. If he's anywhere near his best, he ought to be going very close indeed.
Crebilly is the obvious danger from the top weight, and Captain Cool could outrun his odds, but Magistrato ticks more boxes than any other runner in this field. Back him each-way, enjoy your Thursday evening, and raise a glass to Brian and Sheila Vaughan — because this race deserves to be won by a horse with a bit of class about him.
Good luck, and may your fences be clean and your winners plentiful.
Who is the favourite for the Brian and Sheila Vaughan Memorial Handicap Chase?
Based on the form book and race conditions, Magistrato looks the most likely market leader. His combination of course and distance winning form at Sandown Park makes him the standout on paper, with Crebilly likely to attract support as top weight from the O'Neill yard with Harry Cobden aboard. Always check the latest market moves before racing.
Is the going suitable for all runners in the Vaughan Memorial Chase?
Good to firm ground at Sandown in August will suit horses with proven form on quick surfaces. Magistrato and Captain Cool both have course form that suggests they handle Sandown well, but punters should check each horse's going preferences carefully. Older horses like Sir Tivo (12yo) and Parisencore (10yo) may find the quick ground more demanding on ageing legs.
What distance is the Brian and Sheila Vaughan Memorial Handicap Chase?
The race is run over 2 miles 3 furlongs 98 yards at Sandown Park — a trip that rewards genuine stayers who can also travel with fluency. The famous Sandown hill makes the final stages particularly gruelling, meaning stamina and jumping accuracy are both at a premium. See the full Sandown Park racecard for all race details.
