1:50 Sandown – Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
Head Law 4/1 – Jonjo O’Neill, Jonjo O’Neill Jr.
The market indicates an open contest in this handicap, with Knappers Hill currently favourite with bookmakers.
Whilst Knappers Hill is a solid candidate and prepared well for this with a win in the qualifier at Newton Abbot last week, he will have to give 8lbs to the progressive Head Law who is bidding for a four-timer.
He steps up in class here but there is plenty to suggest he’ll be able to cope in a more competitive field and conditions should be perfect for him.
Unbeaten in three runs this year, Jonjo O’Neill’s five-year-old has been impressive of late and has been given a 10lbs rise in ratings following his convincing win at Southwell earlier in the month.
Usually ridden patiently, it’s likely he’ll bide his time during the race and put his good turn of foot to use at the finish.
We haven’t seen the best of him and he’s yet to be truly tested.
If he is able to perform well here he could be an exciting prospect to look forward to next season.
3:32 Sandown – bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Win My Wings 6/1 – Christian Williams, Mr R James (7)
This nine-year-old mare has truly come into her own this season and has been performing spectacularly, winning her last three races.
She was last seen winning the Scottish Grand National at a canter in tremendous fashion, and has subsequently been given a deserved hike in the ratings.
Here she will run off a career high mark of 154, which means she is the highest-rated runner in this competitive race.
Her task is made slightly easier by jockey Rob James claiming 7lbs once again, keeping the ride aboard the mare having guided her to victory at Ayr earlier this month.
Stablemate Kitty’s Light could be her biggest danger, and is better off in the weights this time around having finished a distant second in the Scottish National.
He is a consistent performer and would be a deserving winner in his own right, having been unlucky in the finish during last year’s contest.
His day in the sun will surely come, but it may not come here as he has plenty to do to reverse form with the formidable Win My Wings.
3:41 Navan – Committed Stakes (Listed)
New York City 15/2 (each-way) – Aidan O’Brien, Wayne Lordan
The three-year-old colt steps back up in class in this Listed contest having won his maiden on seasonal reappearance at the track last month.
He has performed respectably enough for trainer Aidan O’Brien since making his racecourse debut last September, but did disappoint in Group One company over 6f on his third run.
That was a hotly-contested race which featured plenty of progressive colts however, and this looks to be less competitive.
He faces a tough opponent in Straight Answer who makes his reappearance, but he disappointed on his last run over 7f and tries this distance for the first time.
Cadamosto and King Of Bavaria also represent Ballydoyle in the race but neither benefit from a recent run and New York City could be fitter and more capable of mounting a challenge at this stage of the season.
4:46 Navan – Vintage Crop Stakes (Listed)
Search For A Song 2/1 – D K Weld, Chris Hayes
The six-year-old mare has won two Irish St Leger’s in her career and is the highest-rated in this race.
She receives 7lbs from her biggest danger on ratings, Baron Samedi, who won this contest last year but has since been inconsistent.
He was last seen finishing last of the field over an extra 2f at Meydan in February, and a drop back in trip to 1m6f, a distance he has enjoyed success over in the past, could show improvement in Joseph O’Brien’s gelding.
But, it may not be enough to beat this classy daughter of Galileo.
Search For A Song hasn’t been seen since October, and therefore lacks a recent run which may be of concern, but she did finish a respectable second on seasonal reappearance last season.
If anything near her best form she should be there or thereabouts, and could prove too good for the rest of the field which includes her full brother, Kyprios.
By Katie Midwinter (22/04/22)
THE CONDITIONAL 