Selections for Saturday 7th of January
1.30 Wincanton
1 point each way Galahad Quest (5/1 Skybet, 3 places or else 6/1 Paddy power/ Betfair/ Bet365/ Coral/ Ladbrokes/ Betway, 2 places)
Galahad Quest finds it hard to get his head in front but the main reason for that is he is competing in the top handicaps Chases such as the Paddy power Chase at Cheltenham when finishing second off a mark of 132 last January. He can be forgiven for his last run at Cheltenham when finishing ninth of fourteen as ( vet said horse had an irregular heartbeat). Back on soft ground, in calmer waters and a smaller field with just the six runners off a mark of 129 I feel he may be underestimated in the market.
1.15 Sandown
1 point each way Scipion (11/2 General, 3 places)
Scipion has some good form on soft ground having finished third in a Grade Two at Warwick over 2m5f last January. He was third of five on his Chasing debut but had to make the running on that occasion on ground that was plenty fast for him. He has never been out of the top three so far in his career and is a solid each way option. He is still relatively unexposed as a chaser and coming from the Irish P2P scene he may have more to offer.
3.00 Sandown
1 point each way Snow Leopardess (9/1 Paddy power/ Betfair, 6 places)
Snow Leopardess travelled and jumped impressively last time out at Aintree before just fading approaching the second last and probably needed the run. She didn’t get too far on her seasonal reappearance when slipping at the first fence and leaving jockey Aidan Coleman missing an iron. Three Miles on soft ground is exactly what this mare enjoys and at the age of eleven she is younger than many in here. She was a three times winner last season and was sent off at 10/1 for the Grand National at Aintree where she just never travelled on ground too lively for her.
1 point each way Chirico Vallis (14/1 Paddy power, 6 places or else 12/1 Skybet/ William Hill/ Betfair, 6 places)
Chirico Vallis is another eleven year old who loves soft ground and a trip from 3m – 3m5f. He was a solid third of seven on his reappearance at Wetherby over 3m on soft ground. His form last winter on this ground looks solid, finishing third at Warwick over 3m5f behind Eclair Surf and Gericault Roque and a place ahead of Corach Rambler. Both of whom finished first and second in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham festival. Chirico Vallis then finished third of five in the Veterans Series at Doncaster finishing 1 ¼ lengths behind Up Helly Aa King off a mark of 135. He comes into this off a mark of 130 and must have an each way chance with Richie McLernon taking over in the saddle from Robbie Dunne.
3.35 Sandown
1 point each way In The Air (9/2 Skybet/ William Hill/ Coral, 4 places)
Gary Moore is in fine form of late and conditions have come right for In The Air on a track that his trainer loves. He needs testing conditions and by 3.35 he should get exactly that with more rain forecasted. He was a winner in Auteuil as a three year old on heavy ground and defied a penalty at Newbury on his British debut when winning at Newbury on soft ground. That had him on a rating of 127. He underperformed in the Grade One at Aintree in April and twice since at Fontwell and Ascot, both on ground that was too fast to see him at his best. As a result he has been dropped 7lbs by the handicapper to a mark of 120 which makes him of interest again back on his preferred ground.
**Date & Time of next Selections Friday 13th of January at 9pm..