1.50pm Sandown Tips & Betting Preview 06/02/2016

1.50pm Sandown Saturday 6th February

Free Tip: Chris Pea Green at 13/2 EW

Race Details

Race Time: 1.50pm Meeting: Sandown Day: Saturday 6th February 2016 Full Race Name: Betfred “Treble Odds On Lucky 15’s” Handicap Chase Class Two

Betting Preview

The first race of an enjoyable day is over a fraction short of two miles and the entries include some interesting and high-class sorts taking this in on their way to Cheltenham, assuming everything goes according to plan, that is.  Paul Nicholls will be building his string up to a peak ahead of March and he will be expecting a better run from Ulck Du Lin (9/1) who has been a bitter disappointment so far this season. Now an eight year old, he signed off last season with a win at Wincanton but has pulled up at Ascot and was then well beaten at Cheltenham and looks to us to be the stable second string today even if he does get over a stone from his stable companion.

How many more chances the supporters of Mr Mole (13/2) give him is open to question, but at his best the Paul Nicholls trained gelding is well handicapped without argument. After racking up four wins in a row in late 2014 and early 2015, culminating in a win over Upsilon Blue at Newbury he peaked at a mark of 165, and hasn’t won in five races since. Being beaten by Dodging Bullets, Sprinter Sacre, Sire De Grugy, and Special Tiara is still top class two-mile form but he dropped in to handicap company last time out, yet still failed to put up much of a show. Stepped up to two miles five at Cheltenham he was sent off a 16/1 chance (so not exactly expected to win), and ran accordingly when finishing tenth of elven to Village Vic after weakening, but can he bounce back over his favourite trip today? Dropped another three pounds to 157 here he must have an each way chance at the very least, and despite top weight could prove an each way alternative – here’s hoping for the same sort of price.

Sussex trainer Gary Moore has his horses in pretty decent form and he looks sure to send Chris Pea Green (13/2) here for his first run since unseating Josh Moore at Fontwell when already looking well beaten. Only a seven year old, he has plenty of experience over fences with a total of nine starts for a couple of wins and four places, all in his novice season. Stepping up to handicap grade he looks as if he could do a good deal better today receiving weight from the better beasts, and he will at least arrive pretty fresh after a few months off and could surprise a few with a place at a price though that may be the best connections can be hoping for.

Trying to balance the better horses against the rest at the weights is always a challenge but Kerry Lee has her horses in such great form that the ratings may not matter quite as much! Grey Gold (10/1) seems to be a horse who goes best fresh these days as evidenced with a win at Newbury last November on his first run since the end of April, and may explain his poor effort when pulled up here a mere month after his victory. Whether a month or so off is enough for him to get back to his best is only a remote possibility in our book, but the yard are extremely selective with their runners this season and don’t run them unless they feel they have chances, so that could be a clue in itself come race day.

Lastly, Philip Hobbs can do little wrong of late and he has Bold Henry (11/4) in here after his win at Sandown in January where he beat Arthur’s Oak two and a quarter lengths when receiving five pounds. They meet at level terms today so it should be close but he had any amount in hand and we think he can finish ahead of that rival once again and arrives here with a superb chance.