3.00pm Sandown Tips & Betting Preview 02/12/2016

7 go to post for the penultimate race on Sandown’s Friday card. See our full race preview and betting tips below.

IN SUMMARY: This seems the perfect opportunity for RED DEVIL STAR to notch up his first victory over the bigger obstacles. He is twice raced over fences finishing 2nd on his latest outing where the winner was enterprisingly ridden to victory. With natural progression he should improve again from that effort and has Jack Sherwood taking a useful 5lb off his back to further boost his claims. Main danger will most likely be Gores Island, with Gary Moore winning this race last year.

1 RED DEVIL STAR – Twice raced over fences and improved on his last run when 2nd at Wincanton (1m7f, Good), where the winner was enterprisingly ridden and never for the catching. He’s shown a good amount of potential thus far and with further improvement he should be capable of a big run today, and with Jack Sherwood taking off 5lb his claims are obvious for all to see. Has to be hugely respected.

2 GORES ISLAND – 10yo who returned at Plumpton with a 9l 2nd to a runaway 2 weeks ago (2m3f, Good). Previous winner here at Sandown and usually runs his race without managing to get the win, with his latest back in January 2015. Vulnerable here most likely.

3 UPSANDDOWNS – Consistent in the main over fences but hasn’t managed to shatter the glass ceiling yet. His latest 2nd at Worcester back in September (2m, Good) was a decent enough effort but needs to have improved for the short break and place claims if he has done just that, taking into account that Evan Williams’ yard is in very good form at present.

4 LITTLE JAMMY – Not seen since March when a poor 5th at Bangor over further (2m4f, Soft). Needs to show more for win purposes and best efforts have come in softer conditions which is a slight concern, so probably best watched on return .

5 CHESTNUT BEN – 11yo who seemed to be regressing towards the end of last season and returned with a very poor 7th of 10 at Wetherby a few weeks ago (2m3f, Good to Soft). That return effort doesn’t do much to boost his chances but entitled to come on for it and has conditions suit today, but can’t be put forward in current form.

6 GREYWEL BOY – Another who seemed to be regressing as the season came to a close, pulling up at Warwick when last seen, never getting into the race at any point. Has shown promise in the past and lightly raced for his age but can’t be recommended in his current state and best watched on reappearance.

7 BACK BY MIDNIGHT – Not the most fluent but decent enough debut nonetheless when 3rd at Chepstow at the start of the month, 16 lengths behind the winner (2m, Good). Needs to improve jumping and show much more and probably will struggle today.

myracing Forecast Prices: 2/1 Gores Island, 3/1 Red Devil Star, 3/1 Greywell Boy, 6/1 Upsanddowns, 10/1 Little Jimmy, 11/1 Back By Midnight, 16/1 Chestnut Ben