Nick Luck’s Blog: Back Authorised to Speed home in the Tolworth

Sandown

PEEJAYBEE is given a chance at 5/1 in the TV opener at Sandown on Saturday (1.15pm). There is surprisingly little soft ground form on offer here, but the selection certainly improved for it this time last year before posting his best effort in the deep here in the EBF Final, a run that should make him competitive off this mark. That certainly seemed the vibe from the market before his recent Haydock run, where he fell mid-race having jumped right. If he’s over that, he can run well.

FRERO BANBOU is a perfectly fair price at 7/2 in a warm two-miler (1.50pm). A cursory glance would suggest he doesn’t have much in hand, but his two decent runs this season have come on ground lively enough for him, and he could move forward again for getting his toe in. On balance, he’s a better horse than when running really well here last February and Grey Diamond and Corrigeen Rock might soften each other up and set it up for the selection.

AUTHORISED SPEED would be a decent favourite in the Tolworth (2.25pm), but is currently 9/4 to Tahmuras’ 2/1. He probably needs a little step up on his win here last time, but he was value for a good bit more than the winning margin, and three of his precious efforts suggest that he might not quite have been at his very best. In addition, the market strength of the runner up hints that it was a pretty decent performance at least. We know that ground and track are fine, that the stable remains in good form and this has been the target for some time. Nemean Lion might chase him home at a price.

SIR IVAN gets the nod in the Veterans’ Chase (3.00pm), even at 14/1. The sprightly teenager has been placed in the last two runnings of this race, and is now fully eleven pounds lower than last year, despite appearing to be in pretty good form. His run at Fontwell the other day was hugely creditable despite a patently insufficient test of stamina, and he’ll find this trip and track much more up his street. CHIRICO VALLIS, also 14/1, ran a very pleasing race at Wetherby on his comeback, and I’ll be saving on him – only the stable form tempers confidence.

DJELO is a confident pick to take the last (3.35pm), priced 10/3. He made quite the impression on his Exeter UK debut, but might have bounced under a penalty at Haydock, as he was way too fresh and threw away his chance. Provided he can benefit from a bit of time to chill out, he should take the world of beating off a mark that still looks reasonable.

Wincanton

MAGIC SAINT is a bit of a tricky customer, but first time off a long break might be the time to catch him at Wincanton (1.30pm) for 13/2. There is no doubting he’s well handicapped, he’s still only nine even though he’s been around forever, and his dangers are either out of sorts or from yards struggling for winners. Freddie Gingell’s claim helps our cause a bit more, while it’s worth noting that he bolted up last time he ran here, and has rarely run right handed since.

NATIVE ROBIN is massively overpriced at 20/1 in the two mile handicap (2.05pm). He’s into his dotage, but he was in sparkling form last season for his excellent trainer, including knocking in a hat trick here at his beloved Wincanton. His two runs this season are pretty readily excused – he travelled well before blowing up at Cheltenham, then ran fine in a much better race at Exeter. He’s come down seven pounds to below his last win, and surely must be chanced at big odds at his happiest hunting ground?

CHIANTI CLASSICO looks to have been kept in very realistic company in the final TV offering from Wincanton (3.15pm). To put it bluntly, he’s looked a class above this in his last two starts, with the form working out really nicely into the bargain. Short-priced favourite at 11/10.