L’Eau du Sud
Just six runners are still in the running for the action on Saturday afternoon for the Grade 1 Novices’ Chase.
But that also includes the promising grey from Dan Skelton’s yard, L’Eau du Sud, who stormed clear when tipped at 13/8 in the November Meeting at Cheltenham.
He could be set to take on chase debutant Rubaud, trained by Paul Nicholls who could be asking a lot for the six-year-old to win first time out over fences in a race of this class.
Soul Icon has the makings of a top-class chaser based on his form and has the perk of more experience over his rivals but from eight starts over fences he’s placed 2nd on five occasions.
Each one of those though has been in tough contests each while rising in the weights as he steps up in class with aplomb.
He’ll need plenty more to win this though and it’s a stiffer task going back down to 2m.
Down Memory Lane might be the one to watch out for though.
The Gordon Elliott-trained horse is dangerously unexposed not only over fences but also over hurdles.
He won on hurdle debut in November 2023 before disappointing the in the Grade 1 Future Champions at Leopardstown in the Christmas Festival, where something wasn’t quite right finishing a distant third of nine 45 lengths behind Caldwell Potter.
He was off since that run until making a return in November, over fences for the first time at Navan, where he won convincingly at 7/1 ahead of the likes of Nurburgring and favourite (and stablemate) King Of Kingsfield.
Jordans is another rival to consider but will also likely need a lot more despite his first two chases of the season working out well – winning the Grade 3 Novice Chase at Punchestown in October but did unseat Danny Mullins at the same track a couple of weeks ago in the Grade 2 Craddockstown Chase.
The manner in which L’Eau du Sud has won his opening two chases and that coupled with his hurdle form, suggests the Skeltons have a star on their hands.
Winning comfortably ahead of Western Zephyr at Cheltenham really confirmed that along with his speed over 2m, which will bode well at Sandown which has a tough uphill run-in notoriously difficult for novices, not least chase debutant Rubaud and Down Memory Lane making just his fourth start over obstacles and under rules.
Jonbon
It’s hard not to side with Jonbon if he makes the quick reappearance from winning his seasonal debut at Cheltenham’s November Meeting.
He won by only a length and a half but he had plenty more to offer that day where not only did he make all but also jumped much, much better than many other chase runs.
That’s part of his game that could always have done with improving, yet despite the odd mistake and lack of fluency jumping – he’s still managed to win big Grade 1 races.
Including when winning this last year ahead of Edwardstone when 30/100 favourite, where though he didn’t always jump the best he still won with plenty in hand.
In fact, the Nicky Henderson-trained horse seems to love it at Sandown with a record of 1111 here – winning the Henry VIII in 2022, the Celebration Chase in 2023 and 2024 along with the 2023 Tingle Creek.
He made the quick return from winning the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in November to winning the Tingle Creek last year so realistically his 4/7 odds could be the best price you can get.
Springwell Bay
Early on for the Class 2 Handicap Chase at Aintree over the Mildmay course, it’s the top-rated three clear of the rest in the betting, with Springwell Bay the big favourite at the time of writing.
Richmond Lake won this last year off the same weight and has since struggled in each race but could be a danger back to this mark.
Springwell Bay was well beaten by Hyland last time out at Cheltenham and does make a fairly quick return going down in trip.
He’s very unexposed over fences though and with just two chase starts could be a big danger to the likes of Richmond Lake.
Sure Touch would have been my each-way tip but he was withdrawn from contention, which leaves it wide open ultimately.
Springwell Bay may well have seen a marginal drift in the odds but has potential over fences based on his first two races.
Going third in a small four runner race, but still close to Hyland is a big plus form-wise realistically, considering that was his first time going that far over fences.
Has a good strike-rate around this distance and the yard will welcome the winners in these big contests.
This news appeared first on @Talksport
