ITV Racing Tips: Harry Skelton has chance for Sandown atonement on Flegmatik
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The jumps season in Britain comes to an end this weekend with Sandown’s Jumps Finale at which the champion jockey and trainer will be crowned.
Once those ceremonies are over both Brian Hughes and Paul Nicholls will hope to be among the winners on the Sandown card.
On a rare trip to the south, Hughes has five rides including Domaine de L’Isle in the Gold Cup while Nicholls has ten runners, and plenty with chances.
These include Saint Calvados in the Oaksey Chase and Tingle Creek winner Greaneteen in the Celebration Chase.
He will be particularly keen to put right last year’s ‘wrong’ when Enrilo finished first past the post in the Gold Cup but was demoted for causing interference.
The last big race of the jumps season will provide the climax to ITV’s coverage, which will also take in Flat races from Haydock and Leicester.
Coverage begins on ITV from 13:25 and we have previewed the three of the day’s races in our ITV Racing Tips.
A competitive-looking handicap hurdle opens the programme of which six of the 13 are last time out winners.
There will be plenty of support for the Paul NIcholls runner Knappers Hill who, after some stiff tasks, made short work of winning a novice hurdle at Newton Abbot for which he was odds-on favourite.
Back in stronger company he has top weight to overcome and that may stop him. He has to give 8lb to Head Law who showed he is rising up the ranks quickly when completing a hat-trick under 12st 5lb this month. A four-timer could be within his grasp.
Only four runners for this Listed race but they are well matched. The market will no doubt favour the Godolphin challenger Path Of Thunder given the start to the Flat campaign that Charlie Appleby and William Buick are enjoying.
At better odds, Edraak could be the pick on his return to seven furlongs, having just been touched off over six in the All-Weather Sprint Championship eight days ago.
The one-two-three from last year, Potterman, Kitty’s Light and Enrilo, are back with the latter aiming to atone for his demotion for causing interference having finished first past the post.
Kitty’s Light is joined by stablemates Scottish Grand National winner Win My Wings and Cap Du Nord, fifth last year, to form another powerful challenge from Christian Williams. Musical Slave should go well too but another competitor seeking redemption is Harry Skelton, who rode Enrilo last year.
This time he partners his brother’s Flegmatik. The seven-year-old has had a lightish campaign and seems to enjoy good ground. He was an easy winner over two and a half miles last time but has won over three miles and if he gets this longer trip, he could be the one to prevail.
ITV Racing Schedule, Saturday 23rd April
13:50 Sandown – Novices’ Championship Final
14:05 Haydock – 7f Handicap
14:25 Sandown – Oaksey Chase
14:45 Leicester – King Richard III Stakes
15:00 Sandown – Celebration Chase
15:32 Sandown – Gold Cup
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
