Grade One at Sandown today

Despite the continued bad weather, all racing is on today, although the going at Ffos Las (for the West Wales Grand National and Welsh Champion Hurdle), at Wetherby (for a graded novice chase) and at Fairyhouse in Ireland will be very testing. However it should not be too bad at the main meeting at Sandown, where the top race is the Grade One novice chase over 2 1/ 2miles at 15.25 CET. Even with only 5 runners, this is a strong field and none of them can be discounted. Splash of Ginge (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Ryan Hatch) is actually top-rated here but we prefer Irish Saint (Paul Nicholls/ Sam T-D),who looks very promising; the two of them met in the Betfair Hurdle last year, which the Splash won, but Irish Saint- who can give his trainer yet another big Saturday winner- was not beaten far and is much better off at the weights. Willie Mullins has an amazing strike rate in the big Irish jumps races, but has not done so well so far in the U.K. this season; however his mare Gitane du Berlais (Daryl Jacob) looks very dangerous in receipt of all the allowances and won her first chase, at Limerick´s Christmas Meeting, in very good style.

There is an even smaller field for ther listed hurdle race at 14.15, but 3 of the 4 runners are very smart and all booked for Cjheltenham in five weeks time. Garde la Victoire (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) is going for the Champion Hurdle, but may find it tough to 11 lbs to Bristol de Mai (Nigel TD/ Jacob), who made an impressive U.K. debut at Chepstow and is only 8-1 for the Triumph Hurdle. Jollyallan (Harry Fry/ AP McCoy) is up in grade here, but is unbeaten in 3 races over sticks and certainly not out of it.

Sandown - betting forecast:
1. Race: Pain Au Chocolat - The Saint James - Old Guard
2. Race: Bristol De Mai - Jollyallan - Garde La Victoire
3. Race: Ballygarvey - French Opera - Brick Red
4. Race: Champagne West - Irish Saint - Splash Of Ginge
5. Race: Polamco - Saffron Wells - Junction Fourteen
6. Race: Theatrical Star - Bennys Mist - There`S No Panic
7. Race: Aigle De La See - Derrintogher Bliss - Monbeg Theatre