Who To Follow At Sandown On Saturday - 23/04/22

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Sandown - April 22 2022
Sandown 14:32
4
Jack Tudor

Kitty's Light

J: Jack Tudor
T: Christian Williams
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-3
OR: 145
Days: 21

The feature race of the meeting is the Grade Three bet365 Gold Cup over a marathon trip and we have a strong fancy in this one with the Christian Williams trained Kitty's Light looking to have his day in the sun.

A winner at Kelso back in March last year off a mark of 135, he then stepped up in trip for this event off 139 and was a narrow second in a photo-finish running a career best and if not for being hampered would have won the race.

Kitty's Light returned in October at Chepstow finishing a narrow second to a well handicapped rival in Chirico Vallis.

He was then bumped up to a mark of 149 where he finished a superb second in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase, but struggled back in handicaps since, being pulled up at Newbury and then running no race at all on two occasions in soft ground.

Back down to a mark of 140 two starts ago he was seen getting back to form at Kempton in the Grade Three Coral Trophy he only found stablemate Cap Du Nord too good.

Up 3lb for that he was last seen in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr, where again he bumped into a well handicapped stablemate in Win My Wings, where he could only run on into second behind the mare.

The six year old on Saturday has so much going for him, off a mark of 145 which is only 2lb higher than his Scottish National win, he gets his desired good ground and from giving 10lb away to Win My Wings last time out he is now receiving 9lb, with the mare going up a stone in the weights for her latest win.

We can't look past him and he looks a solid bet.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
13/11/23KEM21Gd11-07
29/10/23AIN20GS11-104
29/04/23SAN28.5GS10-81
22/04/23AYR32Gd11-01
25/02/23NCS33.5GS11-41

Trainer To Follow - Dan Skelton

Dan Skelton is looking to round off the season in style at Sandown sending a strong team of runners which is likely to see him in the winners enclosure.

In the opening race of the day Boombawn is not without a chance with handy 5lb claimer Jack Andrews taking some nice weight off.

One of Skelton's best chance of the day comes in the Grade One Celebration Chase with Nube Negra having his preferred good ground and goes well fresh.

In the bet365 Gold Cup Flegmatik has had some early money ahead of the marathon race and then in the Novices' Handicap Chase Beakstown still looks well handicapped.

Skelton has had six winners over the last fortnight from 39 runners which sees him pose a respectable 15% strike rate.

Jockey To Follow - Harry Cobden

Harry Cobden has a handful of top class rides for the Champion trainer elect, with the partnership looking to end the season just how they started.

In the opener he rides Knappers Hill who is a Grade Two winning bumper horse and a three time winner over obstacles that will love the ground.

Cobden will be looking to get Saint Calvados back to winning ways having no won since 2019, but has gone well in some good Grade Ones.

Greaneteen is one of his big chances of the afternoon looking to land the race for a second season running and a third Grade One at the track.

He also rides the favourite in the bet365 Gold Cup with Enrilo looking to put the record right after losing the race in the stewards room last year.

Another nice ride for the young talent is Scaramanga in the Grade Two Select Hurdle with the gelding currently leading the market.

Other nice rides for the jockey include Flic Ou Voyou in the Novices' Handicap Chase and Samarrive in the Handicap Hurdle.

Cobden heads into the meeting sporting a strike rate of 31% for the last two weeks, managing nine winners from his last 29 rides.