The Mandarin’s Sandown Park Racecard for 4th January 2025

The Mandarin’s Sandown Park Racecard for January 4th

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Juby Ball
A tricky one for the opener on Sandown Park’s Saturday card, but Evan Williams’s Juby Ball looked a nice prospect in a Bumper here last year, so gets the vote. French import Khrisma was last seen placing in a Group One on the flat at Fontainebleau over 12 furlongs, and has made the move to Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard, so is noted, while Tom Symonds Lud’or has racing experience under his belt to complete the shortlist. Juby Ball to score in the opener with Lud’or to make a fight of it.

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Dr T J Eckleburg
Another one that can go to Evan Williams with Dr T J Eckleburg, who should cope with this ground better than most. Despite the cold snap, clerk of the course Andrew Cooper doesn’t think that the frost will change the going, so soft conditions should favour the selection over Dan Skelton’s Beat Box, and Venetia Williams’s Ostrava Du Berlais. That said, Ostrava Du Berlais is on a hat-trick after wins at Ludlow and Taunton, so makes plenty of appeal for the in-form yard, while Beat Box has only lost once in seven starts since August, so lines up with plenty of merit. Dr T J Eckleburg to come out on top in tough conditions.

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Hourvari
The chance is taken on Olly Murphy’s Hourvari to return to winning ways in this Handicap Hurdle. After over a year off, this French bred gelding went well for a long way on his return to action at Wetherby, and should only come on for that run on ground to suit. Nicky Henderson’s Doddiethegreat has been well supported in the markets this week, while Ben Pauling, who had a fine run of form over the Christmas period sends out Fine Casting, and this rounds up of the list of possibles. Top-weight West To The Bridge might find this a bit on the sharp side, as he’s well into the veteran stage now, so Hourvari is the one to follow.

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Roccovango (nb)
The switch to Olly Murphy’s yard, at the end of January last year, really sparked something in Roccovango, and he’s taken to take the step up in grade here in his stride. Taking to fences well, he’s now two from three and must be worth a try for this Class 2 contest. Roccovango showed plenty of spirit last time out at Uttoxeter, gamely holding on to track position when bumped coming into the last, and a repeat of that puts him right in the mix here, with Sean Bowen back in the saddle adding to the points for. Dan Skelton’s Etalon is a classy sort on his day, but needs to regain some form after three lacklustre runs this season, so Triple Trade could be the danger from a reduced mark.

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Dameofthecotswolds
The hat-trick seeking Dameofthecotswolds can take this step up to a Black Type contest and score for Nigel Twiston-Davies. She finished in tremendous style at Doncaster last time out, stretching the field from two out, and going through the line 8 lengths clear under James Turner’s 7lb claim. Up in grade now, and her first run at Sandown Park, but she looks one going the right way as Sam Twiston-Davies takes up the reins. Della Casa Lunga rates the main threat, but might be wanting a quicker surface, so Dameofthecotswolds appeals the most.

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Copperhead
A good contest in store between stablemates Copperhead and Eldorado Allen. Both are in fine form for Joe Tizzard, Copperhead putting together two wins and two runners-up spots since returning to the track in October, while Eldorado Allen has been just as good as ever after a wind-op. Whether Eldorado Allen can give over a stone to Copperhead, with Freddie Gingell’s 3lb claim tipping the scales even further remains to be seen, but on soft ground up Sandown Park’s stiff finish that looks a big ask. Sandy Thomson does wonders with these veterans, so Empire Steel gets a mention, but Copperhead looks set up for a third win this term, despite the penalty.

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Honky Tonk Highway (nap)
Dan Skelton can take the closer with Honky Tonk Highway. She won over course and distance on heavy ground just four weeks back, to make it two from two around Sandown Park, the other being a Listed Bumper in March, so every chance she can make it a course hat-trick here. The big danger is Oh My Johnny, who put his progression back on track when scoring at Uttoxeter, to make amends for a last fence fall when looking all the way the winner at Bangor in November. Honky Tonk Highway to keep the Sandown Park record intact with a win here.

The Mandarin