Grade Two Oaksey Chase Sandown Guide 2023

Kim Bailey sends one to the Oaksey Chase, with 11-year-old First Flow who is yet to win on two separate occasions here, but they came in 2019 and 2020. He has been kept pretty fresh by Bailey in the last year or so, running twice in 2022 to finish third on both occasions in Clarence House Chase and the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon, behind Millers Bank and Marsh Chase winner Pic D’Orhy.

His only outing in 2023 was in the Ascot Chase, where he unseated at the sixth fence as Shishkin went on to claim victory. The experienced 11-year-old looks unlikely to win here for the first time, but he does go well fresh and shouldn’t be discounted.

Joe Tizzard has one in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown on Saturday with nine-year-old Eldorado Allen. The gelding arrives at Sandown having finished fifth in Aintree handicap over 3m last time out. That followed a seventh-place finish in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month, finishing last of those who finished and has been a bit exposed at the top level.

His last win came in the Denman Chase at Newbury in February last year at this sort of level, which may suit him now after some below-par runs in better company. Probably shouldn’t be dismissed at this level as he makes his first appearance here since 2020.

Paul Nicholls has two in this race in the form of Solo and McFabulous. The latter has been decent over fences for Nicholls after pulling up at Wincanton on debut over the larger obstacles in November last year. The nine-year-old won Exeter novice before winning again at grade two level at Newbury in November, ahead of 4/7fav Thyme Hill.

Decent second in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase a month later at Kempton, where Thyme Hill reversed the form before pulling up after the 12th fence in Newbury handicap in February. The nine-year-old arrives fresher than a few here and could go well after a break. Others are stepping down from better company and may make it tough.

168-rated chaser Hewick is sent to the Oaksey Chase at Sandown by trainer John Hanlon after falling in the 3m 2f Cheltenham Gold Cup last month when travelling well before that fall two out. He won the bet365 Gold Cup handicap here last year on the same card, eight lengths to Musical Slave but has been inconsistent since.

Drops down in class here which is a positive for him and is a course winner, which cannot be underestimated. Rachael Blackmore takes the ride on the eight-year-old who is the one to beat on form, as he rarely finishes outside the top three when completing.

Gary Moore’s sole runner in the Oaksey Chase is Black Gerry, an eight-year-old gelding who has won five of his last eight races over fences. Those wins have come at the likes of Exeter, Fontwell and Ascot as well as his most recent victory at Plumpton in the Sussex Champion Handicap over 2m 3f.

Ran in class one handicap at Kempton in February but was pulled up before three out and we haven’t seen him in this sort of company since. Looks a tough ask for the eight-year-old in grade two company. Others preferred but his form should still be considered.

Paul Nicholls sends seven-year-old Solo to Sandown with the gelding arriving in good form, having won the Grade Two Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton in February, beating Datsalrightgino and favourite Boothill to claim grade two success. That was his return to graded company since finishing third in the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton a year prior.

This requires another step up and is up against a Gold Cup runner in Hewick, but he is a good jumper who looks able to make the step up here. Big chance of winning two races in a row. Harry Cobden takes the ride.

English trainer Nicky Henderson sends one to the Oaksey Chase with eight-year-old Fantastic Lady, who arrives in decent form, finishing in the top three in five of her last seven races. Those runs include wins at Warwick, Bangor-on-Dee and the most impressive of all, in listed Market Rasen contest over 2m 7f in November last year (over four lengths ahead of Zambella).

12th at Cheltenham in class one handicap can be forgotten about as the mare finished second in the 29-runner Topham Handicap at Aintree earlier this month, just under two lengths behind winner Bill Baxter. May still be more to come from the mare who goes off 145 for this contest and should not be discounted. Nico de Boinville does the steering for Henderson.