By Tony Calvin - 2 January 2026
I think Hot Fuss is much the most likely winner of the 3.35pm at Sandown , and the [5/2] looks very fair, if not quite tempting enough for me to get involved.
It is only available with two firms, too.
One from one at the track, he ran a screamer when second to the well-handicapped Wilful at Ascot last time, with Alexei and Mondo Man in behind.
Tom Dascombe’s 5yo only went up 2lb for that and he looks weighted to go one better here.
He is the bet in the race if you want one. The yard have only had three runners in recent weeks, and all have come second, two narrowly so; Tom’s luck is set to turn here.
Bourbali has been clipped in a point in the last 15 minutes from [15/2] to [13/2] , but he still looks a fair each-way bet.
If you want four places, you have to accept far less (a laughable 9/2).
I love course form at Sandown so the fact that his track form figures are 122 are a massive plus for me.
He also comes here in form, having finished second at Plumpton last time on his return to hurdles, and a mark of 127 gives him a winning chance here. Trip and ground are fine.
I’ve had a small bet on him at 6s each-way (couldn’t get the 13/2}.
Good luck today. I’ll update the stats/info once we know about Wincanton.
The 8am and 10.15am Wincanton inspections have failed, and they are looking again at 11.30am.
Wincanton is abandoned (frozen).
Sandown passed their morning inspection.
“Precautionary Inspection PASSED. Temperatures have hovered around 0 degrees since midnight, and under the covers the ground is deemed raceable. We will need to continue to monitor conditions this morning once the covers being being lifted from 8.30am”.
Wincanton update: “Frost caught small areas of worn ground. Hopeful these areas will improve with sunlight & rising temps.”
They are now looking again at 10.15am, and it was abandoned after a third inspection at 11.30am.
With the fate of Wincanton not kn0wn for a couple of hours (now abandoned), I think I have arrived at a Kevin Pullein today, as I have not had a bet myself and I am highly unlikely to, looking at the Sandown card.
I’ll have a final look now, but it’s pretty average stuff.
It’s not on ITV but the final hope is the 10-runner 2m4f seniors’ handicap hurdle at 1.15pm, which I am delving into now.
Well done to Wincanton/ITV/sponsors MGM for re-ordering the card to maximise betting turnover; it’s thin gruel as it is – it really is pretty grim betting stuff for a Saturday.
I often think of Mark Winstanley’s line about “more headgear than Hannibal Lecter” when assessing races like this, as three of the seven wear first-time accoutrements (C/O Nick Luck), The stats are below.
Seven runners and five of those priced at 5s or less, even if the best prices are accessible to you.
Just the six runners in this 2m4f veterans’ handicap chase. Tight at the top of the early betting between Jet Plane, Can You Call and Triple Trade.
Actually, make that five as Hurricane Bay is a NR as at 6.43pm on Friday as “blood analysis not normal” (the same with the stable’s Contacto in the opener).
Join the club.
At best prices, it is 5s the field in this 12-strong heat, with Premier at 5s and Three Pikes at 11/2.
Now this 1m7f50yd 0-110 handicap hurdle is on ITV, you’d be hoping this race will now be worth more than a pitiful 9k.
That’s £4,753 to the winner.
On a Saturday.
On ITV.
Jubilee Alpha is the early favourite at 6/5 in this six-runner 2m4f mares’ Listed hurdle, ahead of Nurse Susan, who shot back to life in a race she won two years earlier at Cheltenham last time, at 5/2.
The dangerous dead-eight in this 2m5f+ 0-120 handicap hurdle , worth 12k.
The low prize money at Wincanton really is not a good look for ITV races.
Got A Dream is the early 11/4 jolly.
We have each way 1,2,3 betting here for now in this 3m veterans’ chase, in which Gustavian and Le Milos are available at 7/2 if you can shop around.
This 2m handicap hurdle is another very tight-knit betting heat, with a gnat’s hampton between All in You, Hot Fuss and Dance and Glance sub-4s.
Beware the dead-eight.,,,
Precautionary Inspection PASSED. Temperatures have hovered around 0 degrees since midnight, and under the covers the ground is deemed raceable. We will need to continue to monitor conditions this morning once the covers begin being lifted from 8.30am. With covers still down at 11am there will be no Going Stick update.
GOING – Chase: Good; Hurdle: Good to Soft. good in places (from Monday)
Low sun could result in obstacle omission at this fixture
Saturday morning course update: Precautionary Inspection PASSED. Temperatures have hovered around 0 degrees since midnight, and under the covers the ground is deemed raceable. We will need to continue to monitor conditions this morning once the covers begin being lifted from 8.30am. With covers still down at 11am there will be no Going Stick update.
Weather (yr.no latest): Dry and sunny
Watering: Some selective watering in places in the back straight of both courses during Monday – 7.5mm.
GOING: Good
Frost caught small areas of worn ground. Hopeful these areas will improve with sunlight & rising temps.
Going Stick 6.8 on Thu 7:15am
(SoilMoisture:52% on 01-01-2026 at 07:15) (SoilTemperature:4.56C on 01-01-2026 at 07:15)
Rails: All Chase Bends out 2 yards. All Hurdle Bends out 4-5 yards.
Saturday morning course update: 1.8mm of rainfall on Friday morning. Temps dropped to -1.7C pre midnight. Lingered around 0C since midnight. Forecast – Temps raising to +4C raceday. Clear and sunny.
Frost caught small areas of worn ground. Hopeful these areas will improve with sunlight & rising temps.
Weather (yr.no latest): Dry and sunny
Neil Mulholland visor; Transmission, 1.30pm Wincanton; 1-24
Seamus Mullins cheekpieces; Tommie Beau, 1.30pm Wincanton; 2-36
David Pipe blinkers; Vision De Maine; 1.30pm Wincanton; 22-167
Harry Fry cheekpieces; Geezer Rockstar, 2.40pm Wincanton; 5-27
Anthony Honeyball visor; Good Look Charm, 2.25pm Sandown; 4-14
Dan Skelton cheekpieces; Brace For Landing, 3.35pm Sandown; 20-124
1.30pm Wincanton: Tommie Beau (prom), Silver Thorn, Wicked Thoughts, Tommy The Tank, Kelce, Vision De Maine
1.50pm Sandown: Jet Plane, Numitor (prom)
2.05pm Wincanton: Purple Owl, Three Pikes, Raffles Nobu, Victory Shout, Celine Man
2.25pm Sandown: Good Look Charm (prom), Sunset Marquesa
2.40pm Wincanton: Cruden, Maldini Milano, Moutarde, The Expensive One, Call Me Legend, George Henry
3.05pm Sandown: Gustavian, Le Milos (prom), Copperhead, Blackjack Magic (prom), Digby (prom)?
3.35pm Sandown : Nardaran, Hot Fuss (prom), Continuance, Imaginarium?, Brace For Landing (prom)
Good: Warren Greatrex (among the winners again on NYD), Paul Nicholls (treble on NYD), Anthony Honeyball (very good), Olly Murphy (double on Wednesday, and another brace on Friday), Heather Main (two from two recently), Nick Scholfield (four from nine), Harry Fry (small sample), Dan Skelton
Fair: Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies, Fergal O’Brien (winner on Wednesday), Lucy Wadham (arguably moderate), Tom Lacey, Emma Lavelle, Gary and Josh Moore, Hobbs and White, David Pipe, Donald McCain (18-1 winner on NYD, and another 1-3 scorer), Neil Mulholland (borderline good), Daisy Hitchins, Henry Oliver, John Jenkins
Moderate: Martin Keighley (11-4 winner on Wednesday), Joe Tizzard (winner on Tuesday though), Evan Williams, Dermot A McLoughlin (all big prices though), Newland and Insole, Syd Hosie, Seamus Mullins
Don’t know: Tom Dascombe (though two runners, two seconds), Nicky Martin, Dan Horsford, Robert Stephens
Confusion sorted There seems to be confusion as to why my 20/1 ante-post fancy Grand…
TUESDAY race-by-race copy for Saturday 1.15pm Ascot – First three in the betting are due…
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