THE ADVISOR - Sandown 2.25 Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle  - Class 2 - 2 miles - 16 run - Soft

 

A race long associated with some absolute Handicap specialists like Martin Pipe and Reg Akehurst who would ready one for this and gain an entry into a race at Cheltenham with a whopping bonus prize on offer. It's not as easy these days to play that system but a few are adept at it no more than Gary Moore, always to be feared at Sandown.

 

Minx Tara is a big priced dark horse from Ireland, Go Dante for Olly Murphy just missed out on a nomination as did the Skelton pair Falvoir (could be returning to form) and Knickerbockerglory, about whom Ian will be discussing tomorrow!), Jipcot for the Pauling yard and at bigger Odds Lively Citizen who is thrown in comparison to the 2022 mark it was runner up in this race then and Making Headway, well fancied on handicap debut, were the other chief considerations. 

 

I'm most keen though on BAD for Ben Pauling who needs to basically win or place here to get a penalty that would just squeeze him in to Cheltenham, SANS BRUIT the sole Paul Nicholls entry from what must have been at least half a dozen solid options in a race where he has an excellent cv, SPIRIT D'AUNOU a Course and Distance winner who is 2-2 here for the already mentioned Gary Moore. For some shrapnel SHARED made a pleasing return and looks laid out for this to me and JUNKANDO is another dark one for Gary Moore who just got the nod over Goonhilly who at 40/1 for the Skeletons looks a very interesting entry at 40/1.

 

Tips (1) Bad / (2) Sans Bruit / (3) Spirit D'Aunou / (4s) Shared / (5s) Junkando (4 points invested)