HERMES ALLEN can win the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (2.25pm) at Sandown Park on Saturday afternoon.
Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old can land the Grade One feature at the Esher track en route to next month’s Cheltenham Festival. Hermes Allen won the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury last year but couldn’t add to that at the Cheltenham Festival and also the Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse – finishing sixth at Prestbury Park and third to Irish Point in the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at the famous Liverpool track last April.
He always looked likely to make up into a top-class chaser and he made a winning debut at Newbury in the Grade Two Coral John Francome Novices’ Chase in early December. That Grade Two contest has been won by some smart performers down the years including future Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Denman (2006), Bobs Worth (2014) and Coneygree (2016) as well as smart Grade One performers Clan des Obeaux and Champ. Nicholls trained Denman and Clan des Obeaux and although Hermes Allen will have to improve to be in their league, connections have always believed he has the potential to be a smart chaser.
There was no disgrace in Hermes Allen’s defeat when stepped up in trip to three miles behind Il Est Francais in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, with the Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm-trained five-year-old looking like a top-class staying chaser in the making. Dropped back to 2m4f and with the opposition not of that class, Hermes Allen can get back to winning ways and land a first success over fences in Grade One company. He still has plenty of improvement in him and with a lot of pace likely, the race could be set up for Hermes Allen to stay on and land the spoils.
Gary Moore’s Le Patron – unbeaten in three starts over the bigger obstacles including a Grade One success over course and distance – looks the chief danger to Hermes Allen.
Lydia Richards’ CERTAINLY RED can win the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.45pm). The 10-year-old has not won in almost 12 months since a treble around this time last year, including success at Sandown in 2m4f contest. He is now back down to the same handicap mark as his last success over 3m1f at Wincanton last February. He has been running well enough in defeat in three starts this season, hinting at a return to form when fifth, weakening late on in the 3m2f Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase at Newbury in December. Certainly Red can now return to winning ways.
Emma Lavelle’s RED ROOKIE is another who can end an almost year-long losing run with victory in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2pm). The nine-year-old is down to 3lb below his last winning handicap mark, from which he scored over two miles at Warwick last March. Red Rookie was fourth at Kempton last time over 2m4f but back down to the minimum distance and off an attractive handicap mark, he may be able to bounce back.
Anthony Honeyball’s GOOD LUCK CHARM can win the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.10pm). The eight-year-old won at Wincasnton when sent back over hurdles on his seasonal return. He has run well when third at Cheltenham and fourth at Kempton since in two decent-looking handicaps. He can be competitive again here and may land a second success of the season.
Others who can also score at Sandown are Gary Moore’s newcomer PEKING OPERA in the opener, the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB) (12.50pm); Nicky Henderson’s Newbury winner JINGKO BLUE in the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.25pm); and the Paul Nicholls-trained Touquest – a winner over course and distance on his only start – in the finale, the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) (4.20pm)
At Musselburgh Venetia Williams’ CHRISTOPHER WOOD can win bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.15pm). The stable is always a force in these long-distance staying chases and remains in good form. And although Christopher Wood is yet to win in five chase starts, the nine-year-old has been running well and has a couple of runner-up finishes from last season. He was third on his seasonal return at Carlisle over 2m4f. He is yet to tackle this sort of distance of 3m7f but it promises to bring out more improvement and he can get the better of chiefly last year’s winner Magna Sam.
Donald McCain’s GENERAL OFFICER – who has one victory and three second-placed finishes in four starts this season – can land another win in the bet365 Frodon Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.40pm).
Champion trainer Nicholls may also triumph up in Scotland with AFADIL in the bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.50pm). The five-year-old won a similar contest to this at Ayr back in April last year and althugh he is yet to triumph since, he hinted at a return to the winner’s enclosure when third to the reopposing Benson – who won the Scottish County Hurdle last season – over course and distance last month. On better terms with that rival and just 2lb above his last winning mark, Afadil may be ready to strike again.
Stable-mate FARNOGE can also return to winning ways in the bet365 Scottish Stayers’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.40pm), despite being pulled up on his latest start at Newbury at the end of last year.
Others who can score are the Iain Jardine-trained BASHFUL in Scotland are in the Glynn Carroll Handicap Hurdle (4pm); and another McCain runner, the hat-trick-seeking CARTONNE, in the bet365 Handicap Chase (4.35pm).
In Ireland at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown Willie Mullins’ GALOPIN DES CHAMPS looks set to win the Grade One Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3.35pm) for the second successive year before going on to try and do the same in the Cheltenham Gold Cup next month.
Stuart Crawford’s AILIE ROSE – a winner at Ayr last month – can go in again in the Listed Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle (3pm).
Others who can win at Leopardstown are hot favourite, the Barry Connell-trained MARINE NATIONALE, in the Grade One Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase (2.25pm); Mullins’ PREDATOR GOLD in the Grade One Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (1.20pm); and stable-mate STORM HEART in the Grade One McCann FitzGerald Spring Juvenile Hurdle (1.50pm).
At Wetherby Mark Walford’s MAGIC WAVE can score in the Vickers.bet Proudly Supporting British Racing Handicap Hurdle (2.42pm).
Wright Ones
SANDOWN
12.50pm Peking Opera
1.25pm Jingko Blue
2pm Red Rookie
2.35pm Hermes Allen
3.10pm Good Look Charm
3.45pm Certainly Red (NAP)
4.20pm Touquet
WETHERBY
1pm St John’s Road
1.32pm Kepagge
2.07pm Jo Arengeot Bey Aa
2.42pm Magic Wave
3.17pm King Of The Hill
3.50pm Super Citizen
4.25pm Piper Park
MUSSELBURGH
1.40pm General Officer
2.15pm Christopher Wood
2.50pm Afadil
3.25pm Farnoge
4pm Cartonne
4.35pm Bashful
KEMPTON
4.45pm Comedian Leader
5.15pm Floridian
5.45pm Belcamo
6.15pm Aspire To Glory
6.45pm Algheed
7.15pm Diamond Bay
7.45pm Jenni
8.15pm Page Three
WOLVERHAMPTON
3.55pm Wee Fat Mac
4.30pm Night At Sea
5pm Twenty Bob
5.30pm Montecristo Gold
6pm Queen Of Ipanema
6.30pm Jenny Ren
7pm Mitigator
LEOPARDSTOWN
1.20pm Predators Gold
1.50pm Storm Heart
2.25pm Marine Nationale
3pm Ailie Rose
3.35pm Galopin Des Champs
4.10pm Solness
4.40pm You Oughta Know
SUNDAY’S NAP: Red Flyer (Lingfield 1.32pm)