The National Stakes at Sandown has thrown up some decent speedsters over the years. It seemed to be farmed by the Hannon family at one stage and they had the "Pocket Rocket" Lyric Fantasy winning it back on the day and more recently Tiggy Wiggy.
This year Richard Hannon has sent something of a no-hoper in Hotline Bling, who is 12/1 and on the drift, suggesting that the family record of 12 wins since 1992, when the Pocket Rocket started the ball rolling, will not be added to this year.
The favourite is unsurprisingly Navello, who was 8th on debut for George Boughey but quickly came forward from that to record a hat-trick. He hacked up by six lengths last time and he seems pretty progressive based on that being a Class 2 contest but I don't really trust the form myself.
Navello won easily in the Lily Agnes but the other 3 in the 4 runner affair all ran poorly. They were below their previous best by a fair margin and the runner up went on to run a howler, albeit when an outsider upped to Listed Class. All Navello's wins so far have been a sharp tracks and this is a stiffer test for him. He may well win but at 2/1 I have enough concerns to warrant taking him on.
Chipotle is 2/2 for Eve Johnston-Houghton. He won the Brocklesby before following up in a conditions race. He has done nothing wrong but I don't think he improved much from the Brocklesby in winning a four runner affair and the runner up The Gatekeeper, was awful next time at Newbury.
Choux is 1/1 for David Evans and landed a plunge when winning at Thirsk. I always raise eyebrows when these gambles come off and the favourite co-incidentally runs an abysmal race. In this instance the Fav had run to 78 and 80, before throwing in a 53 in 9th, well behind rank no-hopers. Choux could be anything but a 125/1 shot was runner-up at Thirsk and I am dubious myself.
Bond Chairman has landed his sole start for Bryan Smart. The son of Kodiac wasn't cheap at 120,000 Guineas and he won nicely enough at Musselburgh last time. The ground was good then though and is soft now, plus he needs to step up a bit. Worth thinking about though at decent odds.
In the end I opted for Ebro River.
Ebro River is a son of Galileo Gold who was only 6th on debut but he dwelt that day and had to race in the rear. He made some headway but was hampered late on. Next time out he stepped up a fair bit in winning at Doncaster and I was surprised he managed to win because he was very green and wandered about quite a bit. He struck me as one who would do better when he learns his trade. He has won on soft and that helped tick the box for me. Hugo Palmer is in good form recently.
An open race but I wanted to take one more than three times the odds of the favourite.
6.15 Sandown Ebro River 13/2
Well done and thank you very much
