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Sandown Park Races Preview for 3 January – Veterans Final & Mares’ Hurdle Headline Saturday Card

1 January 2026
Michael Lee
Michael Lee
Michael Lee
Betting Expert
Michael has worked in the sports betting industry for many years. Following football, horse racing and track and field athletics, he has covered the last three Olympic Games, World Cups and other major sporting events.
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Sandown Park races preview for 3 January includes Gustavian

The Sandown Park races on Saturday, 3 January see a lot of old favourites take to the Greater London track. That’s because it is the scene of the Veterans’ Final for staying chasers. Supporting that is Listed hurdle for mares and the usual array of handicaps punters know and love from weekend fixtures.

Over at the Esher venue, there is even more veterans’ action too as the latest in the series of Middle Distance races also takes place. There’s even a seniors only handicap hurdle following the opening maiden and a handicap chase over the Tingle Creek course and distance. It’s a supporting card with plenty on it to get stuck into, that’s for sure.

Helping you make sense of everything going on at Sandown Park races for the first time in 2026 are out experts. No New Year partying for them! They studied the form carefully, so you know which runners to back on horse racing betting sites in the UK and Ireland. Their detailed analysis of past performances, combined with the available prices cuts the mustard.

Fresh from finding festive winners, check out our experts Saturday selections from this Grade 1 track below. They compile shortlists in every single one of the seven contests on the card, so read on as they reveal all…

Sandown Park Races Preview for Saturday, 3 January

12:15 – 1m 7f 216y Class 3 Maiden Hurdle


Kabral Du Mathan silks This looks to be between Paul Nicholls juvenile Pourquoi Pas Papa and Dan Skelton inmate SINNATRA. Preference is for the latter after two solid seconds around Newbury. Sinnatra hit the front way too soon last time out, but shaped nicely behind a subsequent winner on his hurdles bow previously. The third and fourth have also won since, so there’s some substance to that form.

Sinnatra should be making it third time lucky here, delivering a later challenge up the Esher hill. The massive 13lb weight for age Porquoi Pas Papa receives from his elders means he’s a huge danger, however. We saw at Newbury on Monday how Sinnatra’s conqueror Act Of Innocence couldn’t concede both that and a winners’ penalty to a Ditcheat juvenile.

Porquoi Pas Papa placed over course and distance against horses of his own age last time out, but the form hasn’t worked out anything like as well. The winner, Macktoad, saw placings reversed by both the third and fourth in the Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle on the Welsh Grand National card from Chepstow. Of the others, hurdling debutant Fouroneohfever is one to note for Ben Pauling with a Flat rating of 93.

12:45 – 1m 7f 99y Class 3 Handicap Chase (0-140)

Lady Dulverton silks Bar one bad jump down the back, Keep Running was mighty impressive from the front at Sandown Park races over course and distance during the Tingle Creek Festival. The problem Warren Greatrex now has with this eight-year-old is an 11lb hike and career high mark. Those in-behind Keep Running have done nothing whatsoever to frank the form since, so the Pauling novice VANDERPOEL appeals instead.

He has his own 8lb rise for a seven-length success to contend with here but, after posting better efforts with every chase start, has more scope for further improvement. Vanderpoel also brings an unbeaten record when racing right-handed into this. Gary & Josh Moore fit first-time blinkers on the course and distance winner in the line-up, Kotmask, meanwhile.

Off a reduced mark of 129, he could be well-handicapped. The risk attached to Kotmask is a lack of fluent jumps. Anthony Honeyball runner Gabriel’s Getaway got no further than the first fence in the Desert Orchid around Kempton last Saturday. He raced from out the handicap there, so these are much better terms. Bottom weight Siam Park is 4-6 over fences, but all his wins have come in lower class events.

1:15 – 2m 3f 178y Class 3 Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle (0-135)

Diana Whateley silks Walters Plant Hire Potter silks Those at the top of the weights in this event at Sandown Park races for eight-year-olds and up don’t make much appeal. Nicholls runs two, but dual course and distance winner Henri The Second would prefer much softer ground. Luttrell Lad rolled back the years around Exeter the last day, but RANGE caught the eye staying on into forth over an extended two-and-a-quarter miles.

Sam Thomas’ charge has been dropped 2lb by the handicapper since then, whereas Luttrell Lad effectively has 8lb more on his back now. Range also has stable jockey Dylan Johnston back on board. Another of interest here is Olly Murphy runner DOMINIC’S FAULT. He hasn’t been the easiest to train after just seven career starts, but has come on for a reappearance run in the past.

Dominic’s Fault also has a first-time tongue on after wind surgery to aid him with his breathing. If both have the desired effect, then he could run well. Plumpton scorer Poncho gets in off a featherweight for the Moore stable. He gave 4lb and a three-length beating to one who came out and won the next twice over fences, so could be lurking.

1:50 – 2m 4f 15y Class 3 Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase Series Qualifier (0-135)

Rucker silksThe first of the veterans only events from Sandown Park races now, with the last time out winners CAN YOU CALL and Jet Plane most interesting. Evan Williams trains the former and he landed another event in this series from out of the weights around Cheltenham last month. There’s a 7lb rise from the mark he won off that day here now, but Can You Call scored with such authority that he may be able to follow-up.

Jet Plane is by the sire Jet Away, and progeny of that stallion aren’t known for being the most consistent. He has joint-topweight here for Team Skelton, but earned his own 7lb hike for Leicester success when last in action. Connections had him hunter chasing last season, so it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see him switch to that sphere after this.

Triple Trade didn’t seem to get home over course and distance last March and is now 4lb higher. Minella Trump returns to action here after 300 days off the track. He’s won at this track and trip before, but we’re going back over four years for that. Hurricane Bay and Numitor complete the line-up with little on paper to recommend them, based on recent evidence.

2:25 – 2m 3f 178y Listed Mares’ Hurdle

Jubilee Alpha silks Off 12lb better terms from Cheltenham at Sandown Park races, JUBILEE ALPHA should give a much better account of herself against Nurse Susan now. Skelton mentioned a tilt at the Coral Cup for the latter off the back of her December success, so they must be careful with how they campaign that mare moving forward. That huge swing in weight to Jubilee Alpha should prove a great leveller.

A sounder surface will also suit Nicholls’ charge, who is the only previous Listed winner in this line-up. On this better going, meanwhile, Fergal O’Brien may struggle to get the best out of That’ll Do Moss. She ran second in the Grade 1 Honeysuckle during the Fairyhouse Easter Festival in Ireland on rain-softened ground.

The others are someway off being Listed calibre in terms of ratings. Honeyball veteran Good Luck Charm and Joe Tizzard’s Sunset Marquesa are both course and distance handicap winners. They must find more against the big guns, however. Greatrex runner Shantowopointfive has most to find on official figures.

3:00 – 3m 42y Class 2 Stayer’s Veterans’ Chase Final Handicap Chase

Gustavian silks A mark of 140 is about right for Le Milos, best known for winning the Coral Gold Cup. Honeyball runs three against Skelton’s topweight, however, with the pick of those at Sandown Park races being Badger Beers hero GUSTAVIAN. He bolted up around Wincanton and only has an 8lb rise from the assessor. Gustavian had stable companion and mare Credo beaten some dozen lengths behind in third.

These two have met before and defeated one another, but this sound surface looks sure to suit Gustavaian. Harry Cobden rides Credo. Also coming into this off the back of wins are Tom Lacey’s Nocte Volatus and Evan Williams inmate Annsam. Both have 5lb hikes for those recent successes.  Copperhead, meanwhile, is back down to the mark he landed this off when moved to Market Rasen last season.

Blackjack Magic is the third Honeyball runner, but hasn’t run for 328 days and pulled up on each of his last three starts. Nick Scholfield has made a good start to life as a trainer, but he’s still learning about Irish import Gabbys Cross. Dermot McLoughlin sends bottom weight Digby across from the Emerald Isle and has cheekpieces on for the first time.

3:35 – 1m 7f 216y Class 3 Handicap Hurdle (0-140)

Hot Fuss silks The weights have gone up dramatically from initial entries for this concluding event at Sandown Park races. Off just 2lb higher than when runner-up in Ascot’s Festive Handicap Hurdle (formerly the Ladbroke), HOT FUSS appeals most eased in grade. Tom Dascombe’s runner beat the Greatwood Hurdle hero Alexei and well-fancied Mondo Man in Berkshire before Christmas.

Provided the fortnight turnaround isn’t too sharp, Hot Fuss could well cash in on dropping in class here. Dance And Glance just held off All In You in another Ascot race at their festive meeting. Both have 4lb rises in the weights with just a head separating the pair. Skelton maiden Brace For Landing runs in first-time cheekpieces and drops him down in distance from Newbury.

Topweight Nardaran is 5lb higher than when successful over course and distance for Nicholls, but pulled-up last time out and didn’t run at Kempton over Christmas due to lameness. Whatever his problems are, he hasn’t had long to shrug them off. Imaginarium makes his first start for 254 days for Murphy and, whatever he does here, he’ll surely come on for it. Continuance and He’s A Latchico complete the line-up.

Michael Lee
Michael Lee
Betting Expert
Michael Lee
Betting Expert

Michael has worked in the sports betting industry for many years. Following football, horse racing and track and field athletics, he has covered the last three Olympic Games, World Cups and other major sporting events.

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