Sandown 4:45

Vroum Vroum Mag has basically beaten nothing of note in her whole career so has to be opposed here on that basis. Over this trip and ground I’m very keen on Vaniteux here at what looks a decent price. He has been as good over fences this year as he was over hurdles before, and ran some good races at the start of last year against some proper benchmark’s like Rock on Ruby etc. I don’t like Ptit Zig and that leaves a price of 15/2 or 7/1 looking very decent value in this race.

2 Point win 15/2 Vaniteux  365/sky/vc

Sandown 2:55

Valseur Lido fairly obviously has a favourites change here but I’m not sure he the odds on shot he is in the betting here. One that might cause a mild surprise is Saphir Du Rheu. I’ll be first to admit he isn’t one of my favourite horses but on looking at his form this year he could well have a very decent chance here. His 5th in the Hennessey giving lump’s of weight away against proven top class horse looks very good now and his win on good ground at Aintree last year augurs well for him flying around here today. Blinkers look sure to help and the stable is in flying form (mores the pity as I’m all for Willie today). 12/1 is far too big. A lot depends of the form of Menorah here today but he hasn’t done anything at all this year.

2 Points win 12/1 Saphir Du Rheu Generally

Sandown 5:20

I was hoping for 10/1 about Volnay De Thaix here. I was disappointed with his run last time out in the Grade 1 at Aintree but this is a much poorer race and he is in here of a decent mark. He was very well supported last time out as well and if he can string together a decent few jumps he should be right in the firing line here. Nicky has a good record at this meeting and hopefully this one can improve and make his mark look silly.

1 Point win 10/1 Generally

Sandown 5:55

I’m going to take a change on the class horse in the race here in Wilde Blue Yonder. He hasn’t been seen in a long time but it’s a pointer for me that he is running at this time of the season at all instead of waiting until next year. He is certainly well in on his old form when close up in grade 1s at both Cheltenham and Aintree and I’ll take the chance that he is running here for a good reason. He has also won on his seasonal reappearance before.

1 Point win 22/1 sporting/vc/coral/betfair

 

Haydock 3:20

Alfonso De Sousa has been trying to give lumps of weight away on the AW of late and running well. He showed plenty of speed as a 2yo and I don’t think this step back in trip will be any harm in a fast run race. He should be competitive of a mark of 101 and has the advantage of a decent few runs this year compared to a lot of these. I think he is worth the risk at 33/1 .

 1 Point EW 33/1 Genreally 40/1 with Sporting

4:10

The young master looks the most likely winner here but I can’t get that excited about a price of 8/1 in what looks a strong race especially when he has never run around here. The first one I like here is Theatre Guide. He has gone up a lot in the weight but in my view can overcome that as he won his last race with any amount in hand and could well be ready to fulfil a lot of his promise from his younger days. He was 3rd in the Hennessey of 145 a couple of years ago and looks a better horse now. He still has a nice racing weight here and 16/1 looks big.

If Sir Des Champs has recovered from his fall in the national he was reported to be working very well at home before that and he is well in here of that mark with one of the best 3lbs claimers on today he could well bounce back here at a huge looking 25/1.

1 Point win 16/1 Theatre Guide generally

1 Point win 25/1 Sir Des Champs  365/vc/lads/hills