Altior The Star Of Saturday’s Sandown Action

The National Hunt season draws to a close in the UK today with a good card at Sandown where Altior is undoubtedly going to be the star of the show.

But the 3m4f handicap chase on the card offers a better prospect for punters and there could be some good bets in Ireland too.

Veteran can be The Master
Neil Mulholland’s charge The Young Master only barely missed the cut for the Aintree Grand National and he would have lined up in that with a live outside chance but compensation can be got at Sandown today.

The 10-year-old actually won this race in 2016 and will meet last years winner Step Back but while Step Back is running off a higher mark of 145 compared to 135, The Young Master is actually down to 142 compared to 148, albeit a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.

Sam Waley-Cohen is still claiming 3lbs so today The Young Master will have to carry just 10st5lbs and that is a lovely weight to be going around with in this marathon.

The Young Master has been running with credit this season and certainly not showing signs of aging and his run behind Any Second Now at the Cheltenham Festival was a very good effort at a big price.

There won’t quite be the fancy price around today about The Young Master but he’s been running consistently and more than warrants his place in this line up. The trip and the track should suit and in a wide open race he looks to have a very solid chance.

Harrington and Foley to land Limerick feature
Onlyhuman ran a nice race to finish second on his stable debut for Jessica Harrington earlier this month and the six-year-old might be able to land Limerick’s feature this afternoon.

The weather warning in place for that part of the country is expected to see a bit of rain at the Munster track and that doesn’t look like it will hinder the chances of Onlyhuman at all as his only win came on a heavy ground Gowran Park.

Drawn in stall nine for the €30,000 heat, Onlyhuman had to settle for second behind Latchet at Leopardstown but two of the horses behind him that day have come out and won since and there is every chance the selection will have himself improved for the outing.

A step up in trip and more of an ease in the ground can be positives for the son of Invincible Spirit whose biggest challenge is likely to come from Gasta and Canary Row at a decent price.

Shop local at Wexford
Wexford stage a tricky card this afternoon but the second division of the low grade handicap hurdle should stay look with Paul Nolan’s Wild Desire.

The six-year-old filly finished fourth a fortnight ago for Nolan and she is generally fairly consistent in this type of company having won a similar race at Gowran Park last summer.

Sean O’Keeffe is a positive jockey booking as he takes 7lbs off her back and he looks to be a conditional rider with a bright future so that is only a bonus.

That allowance leaves Wild Desire with only 10st9lbs on her back and in what looks the weaker of the two divisions of this race, it would be a surprise if she wasn’t able to win a second race for the Ratpack Partnership.

Recommended Bets
Young Master (9/1) – 3.35 Sandown
Wild Desire (11/4) – 3.40 Wexford
Only Human (9/2) – 4.25 Limerick

*Prices correct at time of publication