Paul Callaghan’s Sandown Tips – Saturday 24th April

Former jockey and now broadcaster Paul Callaghan previews four of Saturday’s races at Sandown.

1.55 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle over 2m.

Plenty in here with chances, but it’s the Alan King trained On To Victory who gets my vote. His jumping can sometimes let him down, but when he gets it together, he is very capable, as we saw when he scored at Warwick last month.

That was his second victory in three starts over hurdles and he is partnered once again by jockey Tom Cannon, who I cannot confirm, but I would imagine Tom could have rode stable companion, Isolate.

3.05 Celebration Chase (Grade 1) over 2m.

At the prices, I’m going to take a chance on Sceau Royal, who was in the process of playing a big part in the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last month, but for meeting traffic problems and was nearly brought down after 3 out. He was beaten less than four lengths by the winner, Put The Kettle On.

I think with a trouble free passage, Sceau Royal can cut that deficit and take the beating for trainer Alan King and jockey Daryl Jacob.

3.40 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) over 3m 5f.

El Presente is a tentative selection for this ultra competitive handicap. The selection won a Listed Chase at Wincanton earlier this season, where he had Potterman just held in second.

He is generally very consistent but will need to bounce back from his last run, when he finished last of three finishers in a handicap chase at Ludlow at the end of March. I’m expecting the usual “no nonsense” ride, when the tapes go back from jockey David Bass.

4.15 Hurdle (Grade 2) over 2m 5f.

I’m a big fan of the Paul Webber trained Indefatigable, who is partnered once again by jockey Rex Dingle.

Indefatigable was beaten 14 lengths by Thyme Hill at Aintree on her last run, and prior to that she ran an absolute cracking race to finish fourth in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, where she was beaten less than 5 lengths by the winner.

I think there’s a decent pot in Indefatigable and she is my selection here.