January started poorly for the column with a blank at Cheltenham on Wednesday, but I’m hoping for different success on Sandown Veterans Final Day on Saturday.
It’s a tough day for action in the UK tomorrow, but I’ve found a few bets that I’m hoping will go well.
Let’s dive in.
12:40 Sandown – Xcitations @ 4/1 with BoyleSports – 1pt Win
The market is dominated by two unexposed horses who are on career-high marks in the two-mile handicap chase, and while I respect them, I think Xcitations is a fine bet.
He’s down to a mark of 125 which is 9lbs below his last winning mark, and that success came over course and distance in November 2023.
He has also won off 133, 130, 128, and 120 before, so his mark of 125 makes him well-treated here.
During his last success, he beat Western Zephyr who has improved 8lbs since thanks to a win at Carlisle and a good run behind L’Eau Du Sud at Cheltenham.
Xcitations also ran a good race off 138 at Newbury in December 2023 when behind two subsequent Grade 1 winners, Elixir De Nutz and Master Chewy.
So, in a winnable race, I’m chancing Pam Sly’s 10-year-old.
1:15 Sandown – Fine Casting @ 6/1 with BoyleSports (3 places) – 1pt EW
I backed Fine Casting at Lingfield last month and he ran into a well-handicapped horse, so I’m hoping I can get paid on Saturday instead.
He travelled like the winner from a long way out last time out, and even though the handicapper has given him 2lbs for the effort, that still puts him 4lbs below his last winning mark.
Furthermore, he’s run well at Sandown before, notably when fourth off 129 in the 2023 Imperial Cup, and some of his chase form is progressively working out well.
On New Year’s Day last year, he finished a fine third to Libberty Hunter and Matata. The winner went on to bolt up off 144 at Cheltenham in December and the runner-up placed behind JPR One on his next start before winning a Cheltenham handicap off 150 four starts later.
I think he’s well-handicapped and the naturally softer conditions at Sandown will suit him nicely.
2:25 Sandown – Aston Martini @ 5/1 with BoyleSports – 1pt Win
In what is a wide-open Listed contest, Aston Martini could be the answer for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.
In his At The Races stable tour at the start of the season, Henderson said: “We might try her over fences in time, but she has some unfinished business over hurdles before that and has a very bright future.”
Those are some nice words that could be true based on some of her form.
At Lingfield last year, she beat Ooh Betty and Only By Night which is a piece of form that’s worked out nicely,
The second, Ooh Betty, chased home Golden Ace at Cheltenham in April before winning two races in handicap company this season, and the third, Only By Night, bolted up in a Grade 2 mares’ novice chase at Cork last month.
Although she was beaten on her first two starts this season, they were both in handicap company against the boys, so a return to conditions company against her own gender looks like a positive.
She’s a nice price and I think she can hit the frame.
