The Mandarin’s Sandown Racecard for Saturday 9th March 2024

The Mandarin’s Sandown Racecard for Saturday 9th March

Betfair Racing Podcasts Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 1.15
Through The Ages
Gary Moore can take the opener with Through The Ages. This Golden Horn gelding lines up here on a hat-trick after wins at Newbury and Plumpton, and won’t be minding this deep ground. Course and distance winner Castelfort rates the main danger, but had a hard race at Haydock Park just three weeks back, whereas Through The Ages has been wrapped up since his win at Plumpton in the first week of January. Harry Cobden is booked for the trip, so Through The Ages is the one to follow

European Breeders’ Fund Betfair ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final (Premier Handicap) 1.50
Fire Flyer
Top weight Fire Flyer looks the pick of these for this Handicap Hurdle Final. There’s sure to be plenty of support for Jonjo O’Neill’s Hasthing now returned to a more suitable trip, but Fire Flyer hails from Paul Nicholls’s yard that has a solid record in this race, and with jockey Harry Cobden in red-hot form, expect a big run. Hat-trick seeking Asta La Pasta and Ben Pauling’s Champagne Twist complete the list of dangers, but Fire Flyer must have more to offer now handicapping, so gets the nudge

Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle 2.25
Making Headway
It may pay to side with Oliver Greenall’s and Josh Guerriero’s Making Headway as he drops into handicap company. After putting in a couple of decent shifts in Graded contests at Haydock Park and Aintree, the drop in class at Newbury Park last month gave this Malinas gelding a cosy win, easily drawing clear after the last. One going the right way, and each-way claims at the least

British Stallion Studs EBF Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed) 3.00
Just Call Me Lucy
Mark Walford has Just Call Me Lucy lining up for this Mares’ Bumper, and any repeat of the form she showed at Carlisle last time out puts her right in the picture here. Only twice raced under rules, she fairly well waltzed away from the field on soft ground in that last run, and looks worth another chance, with the Skelton brothers sending out Honky Tonk Highway for her racecourse debut looking the likeliest threat. Just Call Me Lucy to continue to progress, with Honky Tonk Highway and Sunset Marquesa to make up the numbers

Betfair Serial Winners Fund Novices’ Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3.35
Golden Son (nap)
Golden Son got it all together at Kempton last time out, with the addition of cheekpieces aiding the concentration. It’s taken on trust that the headgear will have the same effect, but this Martaline grey is pretty unexposed over fences and should score for the in-form Ditcheat yard of Paul Nicholls. With Cheltenham just four days away, this could be another boost for Harry Cobden as he chases down the Jump Jockeys’ Championship

Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase 4.10
Rose Of Arcadia (nb)
Joe Tizzard’s mare was runner-up over course and distance in the Grand Military Gold Cup here in January, and can go one better with Brendan Powell taking up the reins. She lost a shoe in that race, which can’t have helped her cause, and now freshened up, has to have a chance of taking this from a very workable mark. A model of consistency, Rose Of Arcadia has never failed to finish in twenty-one starts, and can make the frame once more

betting.betfair.com Handicap Chase 4.40
Imperial Bede
This French bred gelding made no mistake on his chasing bow at Southwell, pulling well clear on desperate ground. Things didn’t go according to plan at Kelso last week when unshipping Jonjo O’Neill Jnr at the second, but if none the worse for that early spill should be ready to fire again. The cut in the ground won’t be a concern, so Imperial Bede to make it two from three over fences

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