It’s the final day of the jumps season and what a season it has been. We’ve seen plenty awesome performances, storylines and shocks and it all ends today. History can be created with Willie Mullins top of the UK trainers championship, whilst Harry Cobden managed to wrap up the jockeys championship yesterday. But we focus on the big races at Sandown for today’s four to follow.
We’re All Playing It
2:25 – Oaksey Chase (Grade Two) – Easy Game @ 9/2 (BetVictor, Boylesports)
This is an incredibly tricky race. The Real Whacker has had a bad season and hasn’t looked himself; Hitman has only won three times in his career and the rest look a little out of depth. Only Easy Game takes the eye for me.
He loves good ground, and he seems to go better right-handed in Ireland, which will suit him at Sandown. He was disappointing at Sandown, always behind the pace and never responding. With better ground and a better suited track, Easy Game can make a big impression.
Final Celebration
3:00 – Celebration Chase (GRADE ONE) – Jonbon @ 2/1 (General)
You can pick holes in both the favourites, but El Fabiolo wasn’t at his best at all at Cheltenham and his jumping has never been the best either. Jonbon comes in off a win over further at Aintree and defending his title in the final Grade One of the season and the market seems to favour the former. With the course experience, Jonbon should be able to find more, jumping-wise, against El Fabiolo.
Long Time, No See
3:35 – bet365 Gold Cup (Premier Handicap Chase) – Le Milos @ 10/1 (William Hill)
The last time we saw Le Milos over fences was in the 2023 Grand National. The 2022 Coral Gold Cup winner hasn’t seen a fence this season, but it’s not like he was bad at jumping over the bigger obstacles. This seems another master plot job by the Skelton boys for the final big handicap of the season.
He’s been dropped three pounds over fences, which only puts him three pounds above his Coral Gold Cup winning mark. He won that race on good ground so will love the conditions. And he’s one for one at Sandown after winning a novice hurdle here back in 2019.
Annual Invictus, along with every horse in the Kim Muir, was struggling when Inothewayurthinkin turned on the taps. He could’ve finished a little higher in the field had it not been for a bad hamper at the fifth last. But with the first horse backing up the form and the second horse, Git Maker, finishing third in the Scottish National, 16/1 (General) doesn’t seem a bad each-way bet.
Sam Brown, despite being one of the elders of the field, is four pounds well-in the handicap. He ran a cracker of a race at Aintree and hasn’t done much wrong in the latter stage of this season. He remains on the same mark and can run a race at a big price on ground he likes. 22/1 (General).
This Time, You Shall Not Passe
Select Hurdle (Grade Two) – Impaire Et Passe @ 5/4 (William Hill)
Two of the first three of THAT Aintree Hurdle reoppose here. There were arguments galore about who should’ve won the race, but ultimately it went to Impaire Et Passe. This middle-distance trip seems to suit him, and they’re not many of these level weight races around so be sure when he turns up. Langer Dan ran really well last time out, but that might have taken too much out of him.
The very best of luck!
