Alex Hammond looks ahead to this weekend's racing
Alex Hammond looks ahead to this weekend's racing

Alex Hammond with her weekend fancies for Sandown and Aintree


The Sky Sports Racing presenter has some strong fancies this weekend including a 10/1 chance in the Randox Health Becher Chase.

Lots of noteworthy performances at the Newbury Winter Festival and Newcastle last week. Which horses particularly impressed you – and why?

I’m going to start at Newcastle as I was there for Sky Sports Racing and we had a fabulous day despite the weather trying it’s best to scupper things. Firstly, a quick mention for Tavus, who won the opening Introductory Juvenile Hurdle on his first start for Jedd O’Keeffe. He was bought by his new connections for 105,000 guineas at the end of October and looked an intriguing recruit to the jumping game.

He was a decent staying handicapper on the flat for Roger Charlton and this win was an encouraging start to his hurdling career. There’s sure to be more to come with this hurdling experience under his belt and he should also appreciate better ground (it was particularly hard work at Newcastle after plenty of rain and a severe frost overnight). He’s on my watch list.

Huge congratulations to Micky Hammond and his team for their first Grade One victory which came courtesy of Cornerstone Lad in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. All eyes were on Buveur D’Air beforehand, but he sadly sustained a serious puncture wound in the latter stages of the race and could only finish second. The focus though, should have been on Cornerstone Lad and his innovative jockey Henry Brooke when the pair kicked on when no one wanted to make the running. They never pegged back.

Huge shock! Cornerstone Lad defeats Buveur D'Air in the 2019 Fighting Fifth

It’s easy to say that Buveur D’Air would have won had he not suffered the injury, but (and I’m no vet) he had plenty to do to reel in the leader and I’m not sure the result would have been any different. Horses seem to deal with injury in the heat of the moment with their adrenaline pumping, so who knows how much he was feeling it at the time. Cornerstone Lad deserves plenty of credit, he is incredibly consistent and hasn’t been out of the first three over hurdles to date. However, he needs testing ground, so watch out for similar conditions if you are thinking about backing him in the future.

At Newbury I was thrilled to see De Rasher Counter win the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase as he was my selection and I’d also backed/tipped him. His trainer Emma Lavelle had a superb couple of days at the Berkshire track, with the winning reappearance of Paisley Park on Friday and this would have been the icing on the cake. De Rasher Counter looks your typical improving second season chaser and there should be much more to come from this exciting seven-year-old. The Randox Health Grand National has been mentioned for this lad but whether this season comes too soon remains to be seen. Regardless, he’s a progressive staying chaser with more to offer.

De Rasher Counter jumps to victory at Newbury
De Rasher Counter jumps to victory at Newbury

Fantastic weekend of action to look forward to – who are you expecting to come out on top in the Tingle Creek?

Do you know, at the prices, I’m inclined to take a chance on Un De Sceaux. Defi Du Seuil is Sky Bet’s 6/4 favourite and deservedly so, given his defeat of Politologue in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham on his reappearance last month. He was getting weight off all his rivals that day, and whilst I don’t think a few pounds was the tipping point for him, it certainly helped.

Un De Sceaux may be 11-years-old, but he was firing on all cylinders when we last saw him back in April and he loves it raound Sandown. At 4/1 he appeals more and with a record that reads 2-1-2 over this course and distance I’d like him on my side. He won this race back in 2016, beating Sire De Grugy, and certainly wasn’t disgraced when second to Altior in last year’s renewal.

Defi Du Seuil is doing plenty right and seems versatile regards the trip he runs over and he will be a popular choice at Sandown on Saturday, but I’m hoping to see the veteran lift the prize again for Willie Mullins.

Un De Sceaux wins at Punchestown again
Un De Sceaux - can roll back the years

Competitive stuff too at Aintree – who catches your eye on that card?

I’m looking forward to seeing 2018 Gold Cup winner Native River back on track in the Many Clouds Chase and it looks like Philip Hobbs has found a good opportunity for him to win his first race since that Cheltenham triumph.

He’s 11/8 favourite with Sky Bet to win, but won’t have things all his own way with Might Bite a potential rival and Black Corton. Aso may offer some each way value at 13/2. He is yet to completely convince over three miles but ran well over the trip on his seasonal reappearance in the Charlie Hall Chase last month. It should be a cracking contest.

Native River gets the better of Might Bite in an enthralling Gold Cup
Native River gets the better of Might Bite in an enthralling Gold Cup

The Randox Health Becher Chase is another ultra-competitive contest, but Walk In The Mill has claims judging on his win in this race 12 months ago (off a 4lb lower mark). He has only run over the Grand National fences twice; when winning this and then finishing fourth in the big race itself to Tiger Roll back in April.

A return to this track and the first-time application of cheekpieces could do the trick. He has problems with his feet apparently so we don’t see him out too often, but if he turns up at Aintree fit and firing can go well at 10/1 with Sky Bet.


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