Catching Pigeons: Gallops gossip and tips for Tolworth Hurdle day
The well-handicapped Le Reve is fancied to win the veterans' chase at Sandown as our gallops watcher looks ahead to the weekend's action.
Le Reve - 3.00 Sandown
Le Reve is something of a Sandown specialist and he can claim his most important course win so far in the Unibet Veterans Handicap Chase on Saturday.
Three course successes came the way of Lucy Wadham’s 11-year-old before training problems interrupted his career, but he showed there were signs of a revival with his comeback behind Beat That at Warwick six and a half weeks ago.
That left-handed course was far from ideal for the son of Milan, and connections will have had this race on a much more favourable layout on his radar for some time.
His problems have seen his rating slip to 7lb below the mark of his last win here just under two years ago, when he gave a stone and a two and a quarter length-beating to another course hero Pete The Feat, who won this race in 2017 and was second 12 months ago. Interestingly, Le Reve now meets him on 12lb better terms.
Rathhill - 2.25 Sandown
Rathhill can see off Elixir De Nutz and win the Grade One Unibet Tolworth Novices Hurdle.
It would only be a bit of a stretch to say that Nicky Henderson was spoilt for choice when deciding which horse to run in this prestigious New Year heat, and there has been a fair debate this week as to whether impressive Warwick winner Birchdale should fly the flag rather than Rathhill, who produced a win in similar style at Newbury just before Christmas.
The latter gets the vote and his subsequent work suggests he should be able to overcome the relatively quick 17-day turn around from that debut win.
Demopolis - 3.35 Sandown
Barry Geraghty, Rathhill's partner, teams up with Philip Hobbs for the very unexposed Demopolis in the 32Red.com Handicap Hurdle.
A winner of a Hurdle at Autueil in back in May 2017, he came up against a highly rated sort in The Big Bite on his British debut at Haydock a month ago. He acquitted himself well and should make a significant step forward despite having to carry 11-12 on his handicap debut.
Darius Des Bois - 1.20 Sandown
Darius Des Bois will find this course more to his liking than the twists and turns of Ludlow on his chasing bow, and he should initiate a course double for Henderson in the 32Red Handicap Chase.
It is another rarity for the champion trainer to run a novice in a full handicap on only his second outing, but this rangy son of Great Pretender jumps well.
Wallace Spirit - 2.40 Wincanton
Wallace Spirit missed an entry over Christmas to wait for better ground and conditions should favour him in the Lengthen the Odds With Betvictor Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton.
The six year old may not be one of the Seven Barrows stars, but he does seem to be improving, and his recently work has been more encouraging than in the past.
He looks an each-way possibility, along with Jonjo O’Neill’s Tedham, who makes his first appearance in a handicap after three sold efforts in maiden and novice events.
Harvey Dent - 2.50 Lingfield
Harvey Dent can step upon his promising debut effort over this course and distance a couple of weeks ago in the Ladbrokes Novice Median Auction Stakes at Lingfield.
Archie Watson’s three-year-old did not enjoy the clearest of passages during the course of the race, but ran on well to finish third, and should come on a good deal for the run.
Straight Right - 2.15 Lingfield
Andrew Balding’s Straight Right would have been more involved in the finish in a Listed event at Kempton on his latest start with a trouble free journey, and he looks to have found a good opening in the Follow Sun Racing On Twitter Conditions Stakes. A winner of minor events on his previous two outings, he is well treated at the weights here, and is reported in good nick after his short break.
Give Him Time - 2.10 Plumpton
Nick Gifford’s Give Him Time showed his appreciation for a wind operation when narrowly beaten on the flat last month, and he looks worth an interest on his return to the jumping arena in the Download The Attheraces App Handicap Hurdle. A rating of 95 looks lenient In his current form.
Dutch Uncle - 1.45 Lingfield
Nosing his head in front in a Lingfield seller might just spark something in Dutch Uncle, who has always been talented but occasionally looked to have his own ideas about the game.
Formerly with Robert Cowell and then Archie Watson earlier this year, the in-form Olly Murphy now takes charge of the seven-year-old and stepping back up to a mile and a half clearly worked last week.
A handicap mark of 80 is not beyond this horse who has Luke Morris back in the saddle this weekend.
Vandella - 4.15 Kempton
Vandella - Gosden's only Saturday entry - has been showing all the right signs in her preparatory work ahead of a first spin in public in Kempton’s opening 32Red Casino Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
She was an October Book 1 purchase and cost George Strawbridge’s representatives 280,000 guineas which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise given she’s bred to win races.
The daughter of Invincible Spirit is closely related to Elle Woods who won first time out and Gosden's work with promising fillies needs no introduction.
She's up against Roger Varian's Invitational, who is expected to improve significantly on her Lingfield debut effort when too green to do herself justice.
Lord George - 6.15 Kempton
It’s been 12 months since Lord George last got his head in front, but he returns for another crack at the two-mile 32Red Handicap with sound claims of a repeat.
James Fashawe’s reliable stayer didn’t quite go on to hit the heights in 2018 but looked as dependable as ever with feasible excuses on his last two starts at Kempton (first run for two months) and Lingfield (1m4f too sharp).
He's 8lb higher in the weights than when striking last January but looks better than ever in his homework.
Rajman - 4.45 Kempton
Tom Clover is settling into new surroundings at Willie Musson's Saville House Stables and looks to have found a reasonable opportunity for Rajman in the Introducing Racing TV Handicap.
The Zoffany colt hasn't had the rub of the green so far and was certainly a little unlucky not to finish a bit closer when third at Chelmsford last time.
He stayed on well after not getting a clear run and is expected to appreciate the move up to a mile for the first time at Kempton.
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