Saturdays Racing News

4th January 2019

Hi ,

The countdown has begun for the Cheltenham Festival and there are major trials each weekend. There are two decent meetings at Sandown and Wincanton on Saturday but it's handicaps rather than conditions races that are the best betting races of the day. The Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown often recognizes one of the leading novices and contenders for the novice hurdles at the Festival. However, the veteran’s handicap chase at Sandown will probably attract the most betting turnover and non betting interest. Pete The Feat would bring the house down if he won the race again.

In Ireland there is an interest in Flat racing but a love for the jumps. In Britain horses get most affection from the public when they run over a number of seasons and that is more often jumpers than horses that run on the Flat. The best chasers can compete for many seasons and Cue Card is a great example of longevity. Roaring Lion was one of the best three year olds of last season but the horse has been retired to stud. Cue Card had 41 career starts over while Roaring Lion only ran aged just two and three 12 times in total. A veteran’s race for Flat horses could never happen. Pete The Feat is now 15.

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Persian Punch was one of the most popular Flat horses and he ran for nine seasons up to the age of 10. The horse was an exception but there are many ‘household’ names that race for many years over jumps. The veteran’s race at Sandown on Saturday brings together horses from 10 qualifying races but the entrants in the series must be aged 10 or older. It’s a initiative for the golden oldies and Pete The Feat is the senior citizen of the group and the winner of the race in 2017. The horse finished second to Buywise a year ago and has run in 65 races, from 2007 to 2018. However another veteran’s chase series looks beyond Pete The Feat and others are preferred.

The Sandown final is a handicap which should attract at least 16 runners. Bookmakers will pay out on each way bets down to fourth place at one quarter the odds. As the race is competitive with the ante post favourite at 7/1 and being shown live on ITV some bookmakers may offer an extra place and payout on the first five home. The betting suggests Pete The Feat can make the frame and the trainer, Charlie Longsdon, is expecting a good run. Aged 15 his horse is described ‘as sprightly as ever’. However, his stable mate, Loose Chips is a better proposition at the age or 13.

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The card could also feature a leading Champion Hurdle contender. Laurina has not been seen on the track since winning the mares’ novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Her seasonal reappearance keeps being put on hold due to unsuitable ground so Willie Mullins might bring his superstar mare to Sandown for the listed mares’ hurdle over two miles and almost four furlongs. Laurina is one of the best female jumps horses in training and would need a convincing win at Sandown to get in the mix for the Champion Hurdle. Even though it is a championship race Laurina would receive the mare’s allowance of seven pounds.

In terms of grade the Class 1 Tolworth Hurdle and Mares’ Hurdle are the best races of the day. Nicky Henderson has won the Tolworth five times and trains the favourite for the race on Saturday. Rathhill ran well at Newbury and the trainer believes the horse has a great temperament for racing. Even if Laurina and Rathhill perform impressively the biggest cheer will be for Pete The Feat win, lose or draw.

Best Wishes,

BetFan