Daryl Jacob offers his insight on the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown, while we have the Timeform predicted pace maps and free video replays too.
Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase - 14.40 Sandown
Timeform Verdict
KITZBUHEL impressed with his jumping when making all in the Kauto Star at Kempton over Christmas and should prove hard to pass around here with the drop back in trip unlikely to be an issue. Kala Conti is the obvious threat having won both her starts over fences this season, including a Grade 2 mares novice at Cork by a wide margin.
Daryl Jacob Insight
I’m going over to Leopardstown for the Dublin Racing Festival but with inspections and heavy rain potentially causing issues there, we’ll focus on the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown where the outlook is marginally brighter.
This Grade 1 holds a special place in my heart as I won it four times on the spin from 2015 to 2018. Indeed, there’s a plaque commemorating the achievement outside the weighing room and the first of those four winners was Gitane Du Berlais for Willie Mullins who has the odds-on favourite in Kitzbuhel this weekend.
Gitane Du Berlais was not as well fancied, she was 9/2 third best behind a couple of joint-favourites in Irish Saint and Champagne West, but she gave me a great spin around Sandown on the front end and that’s the place you want to be on this track.
It’s all about rhythm at Sandown, a great front-runner track if you’re on the right horse. If you’re on a good jumper and a good traveller you can get away from them over the Railway Fences.
If you’re jumping well up front and you can hear the guys in behind making mistakes it’s a great feeling, as you can get a breather in before and after the Pond Fence, saving energy for the final climb.
The question is, in the Scilly Isles is there that type of horse?
Sixmilebridge could be the one who puts the pressure on if he gets into a good rhythm up front under Kielan Woods, but I do worry a little about pace pressure from both Miami Magic and Kitzbuhel.
I don’t think Kitzbuhel will mind the ground or dropping back from the three miles in the Kauto Star. Make no mistake, this will be a test of stamina on Saturday, but Sandown is a very different track to Kempton.
At Kempton you can wing every fence – and that’s what he did – but such a style is much harder to replicate at Sandown where those Railways come in thick and fast, and that’s just on my mind with Kitzbuhel being such a short price.
If a horse got an easy lead in this race I’d want to be on them in-running, for the reasons discussed, but I don’t think any horse will get an easy lead here and it could all play into the hands of Gordon Elliott's mare KALA CONTI.
She will likely sit off them under James Bowen, but she relaxes well, she jumps well and she stays. I know she won over 2m1f last time but that can help her travel here and we know she stays this trip very well and she goes in the ground.
Her form against Kargese, who she beat very easily, reads well and while this looks a strong renewal I think the 7lb mares’ allowance swings things in her favour considering how this could play out tactically.
Timeform Pace Prediction
Pace Forecast: Weak
Specific Pace Hint: Prominent racers are usually favoured here and a steadily run race will give KITZBUHEL a helping hand at the expense of MIAMI MAGIC.
Individual Price Hint: SIXMILEBRIDGE is likely to be in a very handy position early but even considering the probable pace scenario has a record of getting beaten after trading much lower than Betfair SP.
Free Video Replays
KITZBUHEL - Kempton 26/12/2025
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KALA CONTI - Cork 07/12/2025
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsSIXMILEBRIDGE - Cheltenham 12/12/2025
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsMIAMI MAGIC - Cheltenham 01/01/2026
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