While there are four Grade 1 races on the first day of the Dublin Racing Festival on Saturday, the racing in England is less spectacular. There are still some stand out bets and we like Laurina in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown.
Call Me Lord is the form horse in the Contenders Hurdle on the same card and Ask Ben is fancied for the handicap hurdle that is the richest race of the day, this side of the Irish Sea.
The Leopardstown fixture should provide some pointers for races at the Cheltenham Festival. Previous articles this week have highlighted the prospects for Chacun Pour Soi (Ladbrokes Dublin Chase) and Honeysuckle (Irish Champion Hurdle). Both horses are expected to produce winning performances in dress rehearsals for the Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle at the Festival. Laurina's effort at Sandown should confirm her target at Cheltenham in March.
The Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (14.25 GMT) is a Grade 1 contest over two miles and four furlongs and there are 17 fences. Horses aged five and older carry 11-04 but mares receive 7 pounds which means Laurina will have a burden of 10-11. She was a high class hurdler but a disappointing run in the 2019 Champion Hurdle prompted Willie Mullins, the trainer, to send the horse over fences. She was a beaten favourite in a Grade 1 novices' chase over Christmas but that was not typical.
Laurina was a prolific winner over hurdles and won the mares' novices race over the smaller obstacles at the Cheltenham Festival in 2018. Her highest career Racing Post Rating (RPR) over hurdles was 158 and the horse ran to a mark of 154 over fences. The eight length winning margin from Minella Indo in second place in Laurina's first chase at Gowran Park last November makes the horse the worthy favourite and most likely winner of her Sandown race.
The Contenders Hurdle (13.50 GMT) is a Class 1 Listed race over a shade less than two miles and there are eight obstacles. It has been an important prep-race for the Champion Hurdle in the past and Buveur d'Air, the dual champion, won the race in the last three years. There is a small field of five runners which means each way bets are settled at one quarter the odds for 2 places.
Nicky Henderson has won the race six times since 2008 and he trains Call Me Lord, the -137.49 favourite with William Hill who cannot be opposed. Call Me Lord has won three races at Sandown and was a good third in a competitive handicap hurdle carrying a big weight last March.
The horse won the Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham in November so receives a penalty of three pounds. Call Me Lord still has a few pounds in hand over the other four runners and is the selection for the Contenders Hurdle.
The Betway Heroes Handicap Hurdle (15.00 GMT) is the biggest betting heat at Sandown and there is a total prize fund of £100,000. There are 17 declared runners so four payout places but some bookmakers may offer extra places. Each way bets are settled at one quarter the odds because it is a handicap with 16 or more runners.
Ask Ben looks overpriced and is the tip at +650 with Bovada but stakes should be kept to a minimum because this is an open contest. The horse won two novice hurdles and ran well in his first handicap at Cheltenham 50 days ago. He didn't get a clear run in that race and could be a blot on the handicap.
Agrapart has won at Grade 2 level and Bold Plan was progressive in novice hurdles last season. Golan Fortune has a penalty for a handicap win at Cheltenham in November and looks well weighted. However, Ask Ben ticks most of the boxes and can win the Betway sponsored handicap hurdle this Saturday.