There are four meetings in the UK and Ireland on Sunday, with racing coming from Cork, Ffos Las, Naas and Sandown.
The Future Stars Intermediate Chase is the feature race at Sandown, a Listed Contest over 3m, while there is also the Cork Grand National to look forward to in Ireland.
Selections
- Sandown 12:50 – The Cob @ 10/3
- Sandown 14:35 – Pic D’Orrhy @ EVENS
- Naas 14:57 – Duke De Sessa @ 2/1
- Cork 15:13 – Captain Kangaroo @ 9/1
Tip 1
THE COB (10/3) was pulled up on his last two appearances, but they came in graded action at the end of a busy campaign. This horse runs well fresh, so expect to see him back to his best on his return to the track.
Ben Pauling’s gelding finished second in this race 12 months from a 7lb higher mark than this and the handicapper has given him a good chance to score for the first time since January 2021.
The eight-year-old features on today’s Betfred Betfinder as one of the most napped selections in the opening race at the Esher-based venue. He can hopefully get you off to a good start to the card.
Tip 2
Paul Nicholls has made an excellent start to the jumps season and the Ditcheat trainer will be looking for more success on Sunday with PIC D’ORHY (EVENS) in the feature race at Sandown.
This horse won the Grade Two Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton back in February. He was then pulled up in a Grade One contest at Aintree on his final start of the campaign in a race won by Millers Banks.
The seven-year-old prevailed on his seasonal reappearance at Newton Abbot in a run that came following wind surgery. He is the highest-rated horse in this race and his class should show.
Tip 3
With heavy ground to contend with, conditions are going to be tough for many horses at Naas on Sunday. One horse who will relish the ground is DUKE DE SESSA (2/1), who features in the Listed race over 1m4f at 14:57.
Dermot Weld’s colt won a Group Three contest on soft ground at Leopardstown (1m4f) on his penultimate outing. He then finished a close third in the Prix Chaudenay (1m7f) at Longchamp on Arc weekend where it was very soft.
The three-year-old is stepping down in class here. He will need to concede weight to the rest of the field, but he has the ability to successfully do that.
Tip 4
The 3m4f trip in the Cork Grand National is going to take some getting this afternoon, so it may suit a horse who is at the bottom end of the weights. CAPTAIN KANGAROO (9/1) fits that profile for the maestro trainer Willie Mullins.
The bumper and hurdles winner has yet to score over fences, but he came very close last time out at Gowran Park, going down by just a neck. He remains off a very lenient mark and, with improvement likely, he can take advantage of that on this step up in trip.
