Sandown Preview - 02/01/21

This looks a weak renewal with Gary Moore’s Hudson De Grugy the sole horse with substantial UK form in the line-up.

The 4-y-o French recruit clocked an RPR of 128 when second on his stable debut which clearly makes him the one to beat, but at the forecasted 4/7, we are happy to take him on with Hystery Bere.

Tom Symonds’ charge was a cosy 8l winner over at Le Lion D'angers in late July and it will be interesting to see what the in-form handler can get out of him on his first start.

Same connections won the race in 2017.

Stormy Ireland has 15lb in hand if running to form in this mares hurdle but she isn’t one for maximum faith so we are happy to take her on with Whitehotchillifili, who was a respectable second over C&D the last time.

She had to carry a massive weight that day but still managed to run a big race and she is proven in this testing conditions.

Harry Fry is in excellent form and she gets 4lb from the favourite.

The younger horses tend to dominate this contest which makes both Evander and Destinee Royale the most interesting, with the latter being the selection in receipt of 11lb.

Venetia Williams’ 8y-o is extremely lightly-raced for her age, which may point to training issues, however she won by 34l on chase debut and looks well-handicapped off 121.

She will need to have improved on her jumping, but the yard’s horses often step forward for a look at a fence, and she is proven in these conditions.

Early Du Lemo is better off at the weights for his second to 2019 winner Darebin on their recent C&D clash so he has to be feared however Ibeo looks the form pick on his recent second at Cheltenham.

This 8-y-o has become frustrating for punters, but his chase form reads: 11222 and this looks his easiest assignment of the season.

A sharp 2m will suit and the yard are in form.

The omission of Adrimel means we lose the perfect eight for e/w backers and Metier looks the one to beat based on his two emphatic hurdle victories for Harry Fry.

The yard are no stranger to a smart novice and this former flat horse pinged the final flat at Ascot like a horse going places.

He has to take a step up in grade but this is probably the weakest Grade 1 you will see this season and he is the highest rated at 142.

Last year’s winner Jepeck is interesting off the same mark as last year, but with conditions on the chase course looking less-testing, Strong Pursuit is the pick for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson.

He is very lightly raced for an 11yo and his recent comeback at Warwick was full of promise.

This is the first time since March 2019 he will have had a prep run for a race so much better can be expected in conditions he enjoys.

We have a wide-open handicap to finish things off with Guard Your Dreams a potential threat to our selection Monsieur Lecoq, who actually won this race a couple of years ago off 122.

He has since progressed into a classy animal reaching a ceiling of 151 after finishing second to Not So Sleepy at Ascot last season.

A re-production of that effort would make him very hard to beat here and the rider shaves off a useful 5lb.