One of my favourite days racing today at Sandown Park - two Grade 1 high speed chases over those fantastic fences plus a Pertemps qualifier.
In the Pertemps qualifier it is hard to understand why Call Me Lord is running - he is already qualified for the final having won the Kempton qualifier and there are doubts around his stamina beyond 2m 5f anyway. Dolphin Square has been making hay in Hunter Chases but the form of his Cheltenham hurdle victory at the beginning of the year reads very well in the context of this race and he is just 2lbs above that mark. He does go well fresh but there may be something lurking further down the handicap. Solid e/w claims though and he ought to be able to qualify for the final. Wilde About Oscar seems to have lost his way completely but is now 11 lbs below his last winning mark and will surely come good soon - albeit not today I think. Saturday afternoon maestro Paul Nicholls has booked young Freddie Gingell for Halo Des Obeaux and he seemed to be really getting his act together when scoring last time out at the course, over 2m 4f. However he is up 6lbs for that win and Freddie's claim is reduced by 3lbs, making him 9lbs higher. Nambiti and Sirobbie are both interesting at the bottom of the handicap but I will stick with Dolphin Square e/w.
Hopefully Jonbon and Shishkin can get the job down - the latter will be given a stern examination by Greaneteen and Edwardstone and of course the Mullins runner warrants respect (although disappointing last time).
Over at Fairyhouse it is a big day for team Mullins with Facile Vega making his hurdle debut and I Am Maximus, having moved from Seven Barrows to Closutton, making his chase debut.
