greek1971

SHERMINATOR (5/2) is lightly raced winning on hurdle debut in January 2025 before winning again under a penalty two months later - the form of those two races has worked out well. After a 277 day break, he was running well in a Class 2 hurde at Cheltenham in December when taking a heavy fall. Bryan Carver rejoins him today and he rates a great value bet in this race. Others of note are Skelton's FIRST CANDIDATE (4/1) and the EMERALD TIME (33/1).

Dan Skelton trained SHEEZER DANCER takes a big drop in class here after flopping in a Listed event at Newbury last time under Tristan Durell who employed hold-up tactics. The average OR of the runners in that race was 120 and she finished a well-beaten 8th or 9 runners. Three weeks earlier, son Harry Skelton did the steering job keeping him close-up to the pace. That was a Class 2 event over the same course and distance, and although the grade of race was slightly lower, the average OR of the runners in that race was 127. She finished a close-up 6th of 13 that day and the 5 in front of her have all won races since. Harry also got her within 1 length of the winner in a Class 2 bumper on her Rules debut. Maybe Harry just gets on with her and thats the angle I'm siding with, that and the fact the Skelton stable are in fine form........think I said that yesterday too!

Talk The Talk is the only proven Grade 1 performer in this line up and should have won if not coming to grief at the last hurdle last time out. He can make amends today.

Skelton's stable are in fine form of late and although MADE U BLUSH (13/2) only won a Class 4 last time, she did so in emphatic style. Secret Force was 15 lengths ahead of Lord in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in November and these two are potentially classy, but at the weights and with expected improvement, she's in good hands and a player in this small field.

The ground at Sandown today is heavy but that will only be another good reason to side with CRACKERJACQUE (3/1). He won a very strong Class 2 bumper here on similar ground on this course last year and has since run well on soft ground. He destroyed the opposition by 7 lengths on hurdle debut in November, but arguably the best piece of form was his last run back in December where he raced in second place in a Grade 2 hurdle over 2m 4f until fading at the 2m 1f point. Back down to 1m 7f today in a Class 3 should see him win this if showing the same form.

Close-up placed efforts on only 2 hurdle runs in November and December on heavy ground so today's soft surface should hold no problems. Prior to that, he contested a Grade 3 bumper in April 2025 so he is obviously highly regarded. His rivals today are nothing out of the ordinary and a bold show can be expected.

This race is quite competitive but PORT STATION has the services of Brian Hughes this time after finishing close 2nd and 3rd on his only 2 hurdle starts back in November, those races were against good quality opposition with the form working out well and a repeat performance will see him bang there.

ROARIN SUCCESS was a decent flat horse and made an encouraging hurdle debut last month at Catterick in a hot race for the grade. Finishing 6th of 7 doesn't look that great and the Racing Post comments of 'soundly beaten' are unfair in my opinion, she raced just behind the leaders for the most part but made a couple of junping errors which done her chances. She obviously has a good turn of foot and was still charging forward at the end and she will have learned a lot from her debut run. Today's rivals are nothing special and on bare ratings, she is 3rd highest RPR, and 2nd highest Topspeed and Geegeez SR. McCain's horses are in good form at present and with the jockey and fillies allowances, she has 12lb on the prinicipals.