William Hill ambassador Nick Luck has six tips for the Sandown Jumps Season Finale.
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Saturday, Sandown
CLASSIC ANTHEM can strike in the opening ITV race on an absorbing day at Sandown for the season finale (1.50). Dan Skelton will have high hopes of an early strike here with Riskintheground, but Jim Boyle’s runner arrives a fresher horse with a progressive profile and strong course form. Unsurprisingly, Sean Bowen seems to have a good rapport with him and the pair can take this rise in class in their stride.
BOOMBAWN might be worth a small each way interest in the Oaksey Chase. (2.25) He crept around quietly to pick up pieces in the Grade One novice at Aintree, but proved he could more than hack it in decent company when the ground is good. I’d expect similar tactics here, and there’s every chance of this being very strongly run, giving him some hope of sneaking into the money at big odds.
KITZBUHEL can appreciate the drop in trip and the application of a hood as he bids to put his Aintree disappointment behind him (3.00). He brushed aside a very solid horse in Colonel Mustard on good ground at Punchestown, and the Gowran win confirmed his significant promise. He’s not had a heavy season, and could bounce back quite stylishly if settling.
JONBON should win again (3.35). Undefeated away from Cheltenham, he’s especially good here, and there’s no obvious reason why Energumene should reverse the Ascot form. Old Edwardstone loves it here, and might just snatch some minor money at odds.
GRANGECLARE WEST looks the overpriced one in the feature (4.10). With just a slight reservation over how hard he ran at Aintree, he’s a fine big horse well up to carrying plenty of weight in a handicap. We know now that he stays extremely well, gets into the sort of relentless rhythm needed for this race, and handles a sound surface. When imagining that his new mark might be high enough, it’s worth remembering that he probably would have won the National with a better jump at the last, so it’s entirely possible that he’s not badly in.
JUMP ALLEN might well round it off for Mullins in the finale (4.45). He went with bags of zest in a nice race at Ayr last time, with the winner just looking a stronger stayer. Harry Cobden takes over, and this trip round here looks about spot-on.
