Rory Delargy returns to guide you towards three of the most eyecatching betting opportunities in Britain on Sunday afternoon.
Recommended bets, Sunday October 8
2pts win Phoenix Dawn in 12.20 Stratford at 100/30 (2/1 minimum)
1pt win Sevarano in 1.15 Sandown at 5/2 (9/4 minimum)
1pt win Gold Present in 3.30 Sandown at 15/2 (5/1 minimum)
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Classy novice Klaxon - Sevarano, 1.15 Sandown
Standout bet on Sandown’s Sunday card is Oliver Sherwood’s Sevarano in the Guildford Novices' Limited Handicap Chase. The son of Shantou really impressed me when winning at Newbury’s Winter Festival just under a year ago, and ran well when second to subsequent winner The Macon Lugnatic when conceding that rival 10lb at Doncaster, and raised his game again when chasing home top-class prospect McFabulous in EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final at Kempton. He is, as cliché has it, every inch a chaser in appearance and I’d expect him to make a smooth transition to fences. He had Igor behind him on both of those placed runs, and has little to fear from that rival on just 3lb worse terms than Kempton.
Sevarano has form figures of 212 over hurdles after a break, and seems likely to be both well-schooled and conditioned for this chase debut, and while Flegmatik is respected after winning at Carlisle, I’d be very disappointed if the Sherwood gelding isn’t the best chasing prospect in the line-up.
Gold-en opportunity - Gold Present, 3.30 Sandown
The veterans’ chase is another appealing heat for betting purposes, and my first line of attack in such races is to concentrate on those who have only recently qualified for veteran status, as by definition open company is more exacting than these confined events, and I set more store by the form. Gold Present needs to be forgiven a blow-out on his only start last season, but that’s not difficult as it came in the Grand Sefton over the Grand National fences, and his second in the Oaksey Chase at this track on his final start of the 2018/19 season reads very well here, as you’d expect of a Grade 2 chase.
He can go well fresh, is at his best on a sound surface over fences, and is lightly raced for his age. He’s had issues with breathing and breaking blood vessels in the past (the latter often exacerbated by the former), but the fact that connections are persevering with him is encouraging, and he’s been given a chance by the handicapper having had wind surgery since last seen.
Gold Present is a class act in a race of this type, and the early odds about him seem much too big. He’s got more tactical speed than thorough stayers Jepeck and Step Back, accepting that pair are suited by Sandown, and with the ground riding good, stamina alone won’t be enough to win this, which may also count against Crosspark, another who stays 4m. Smooth Stepper has been murdered by the handicapper for a heavy-ground win last time, and John Cotton’s other runner, Sametegal may give the selection most to do.
Significant stable switch - Phoenix Dawn, 12.20 Stratford
A couple of seasons ago, Phoenix Dawn won a handicap hurdle off 118 for Brendan Powell, but he hadn’t done much for Louise Allan until a change of headgear saw him finish second to Dr Richard Newland’s Chef De Troupe at Huntingdon last week, after which he was claimed by Newland, and races in the trainer’s own colours here. Needless to say, a mark today of 103 sees him thrown in on old form and you’d have to say that the change of scenery is likely to see him improve; the very fact that Newland claimed him suggests he has a very good handle on the strength of that form, and such a claim from the winning stable is often significant.
He’s got multiple entries over the next few days, and has been declared for Kempton on Monday in a conditionals race, so there’s clearly a plan to exploit what the astute Newland sees as a lenient mark. I can see him starting pretty short here if that’s the case, and there is a bit of juice in his current price despite him being favourite. There really isn’t a great deal of depth in this contest.
Posted at 1800 GMT on 07/10/20
