blogsandown park races preview 31 january scilly isles novices chase

Sandown Park Races Preview for 31 January – Irish Duo in Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase Challenge

29 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 31 January includes Red Dirt Road

The Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase over two-and-a-half miles on very testing ground headlines the Sandown Park races on Saturday, 31 January. Storm Chandra has battered the British Isles in recent days, leaving the going at the Greater London track heavy, but that doesn’t discourage some smart Irish horses from coming over.

Such was the doubt surrounding this fixture that The Jockey Club put a contingency plan in place for the Esher venue. If the hurdles course hadn’t passed an inspection on Thursday morning, then an all-steeplechase card would’ve happened instead. As both tracks passed muster and are raceable at the time of writing, we get the normal day of racing from the Esher venue including action over timber.

One of the chief supporting races to Scilly Isles day at Sandown Park races is the Heroes Handicap Hurdle. This will be a real test of stamina in the conditions. There is also the Masters Handicap Chase over fences, which years ago was the Gainsborough Chase. On the undercard, meanwhile, are some novice handicaps using the two sets of obstacles.

The Esher action gets underway with a National Hunt novice hurdle. Besides that, there’s also a handicap chase over the Tingle Creek course and distance of an extended mile and seven furlongs. Sifting through the form book for heavy ground lovers are our experts. They combine that with the odds available with the best online horse racing bookmakers in the UK and Ireland.

Our experts give Saturday selections and shortlists from the full card in Greater London. This helps you to see their thinking behind their fancies and also identifies dangers that could also go well in tough conditions. Let’s take a look at who appeals and why.

Sandown Park Races Preview for Saturday, 31 January

12:20 – 1m 7f 216y Class 3 National Hunt Novice Hurdle

The opener looks a major step down in class for Listed course bumper winner CRACKERJACQUE from contesting the Grade 2 Winter Novices’ Hurdle here in December. Trainer Anthony Honeyball enjoyed winners at both Cheltenham and Doncaster last weekend. Crackerjacque won at this meeting 12 months ago in similarly heavy conditions, so can cash in on the ease in grade under Sam Twiston-Davies.

Nicky Henderson has two for Michael Buckley here in the unraced Grand Teton and Ionian (in a first-time hood). Nico de Boinville partners the latter, but this going is a complete unknown for both Seven Barrows representatives. Wispit Twob has a featherweight for Martin Keighley, but also an alternative engagement around Ffos Las on Friday.

Fellow penalised runners The Cistercian and Sinchi Roca are both heavy ground winners. The former looks a little on the exposed side following five hurdles outings for Stuart Edmunds. Syd Hosie books Charlie Deutsch for the ride on Sinchi Roca, meanwhile, but the English Point winner’s victories under Rules have come on flatter tracks.

12:55 – 2m 3f 178y Class 3 Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (0-125)

Heavy going winners are thin on the ground for this event at Sandown Park races and, while it was tempting to suggest in-form Nick Scholfield horse Bollin Thou, his improvement at a lower level has come on good to soft and slightly worse. While he could land the four-timer up in class, Joe Tizzard’s TENNESSEE TANGO appeals more on his handicap debut upped in trip.

He simply couldn’t go the pace over two miles even around galloping and undulating courses like Exeter and Chepstow. A number of those home in front of him previously have come out and won, so Tennessee Tango has decent form. An opening mark of 116 not only looks fair, but unexploitable. Jack Tudor deputises for Brendan Powell in the saddle with the stable jockey going to Musselburgh instead.

Going up in trip may also help Henrietta Knight runner Precious Metal. He has topweight, however, after a 4lb rise for his Lingfield maiden success by a neck last time out. Tim Vaughan’s Calm Olympien ran any number of times on this going without success in France, meanwhile. Hot Goddess and Zainy Champ complete the line-up.

1:25 – 2m 4f 15y Class 3 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (0-125)

Ged Mason silks Despite a 7lb penalty at Sandown Park races here, Monday’s Hereford winner MON CHAMPION won on heavy ground in France before joining Paul Nicholls. The master of Ditcheat negates 5lb of that following such recent success with stable conditional Jay Tidball taking the ride. Mon Champion should appreciate going up in trip as well. He ran second here in December, but needs further.

Of the others, Gary & Josh Moore run two with Lylian capable of better. He’s another French import with proven stamina and used to testing conditions. Lylian won over 2m 6f across the Channel and trailing in last of three around Ascot on good ground in November doesn’t look as bad as it did at the time. Both the winner and runner-up have landed races since. Back on a much softer surface, don’t be surprised if we see some improvement.

Freddie Mitchell takes 3lb off Lylian with his claim. The yard’s other runner, Rip Wheeler, pulled-up last time and perhaps needs sounder going to be seen to best effect. Norn Iron flopped at odds-on last time out, while Soldierofthestorm retains progress for Jonjo O’Neill and sons after just one chase start, but may need further. Topweight El Granjero still looks badly-handicapped and wasn’t crying out for a drop back in trip last time.

2:02 – 1m 7f 99y Class 2 Handicap Chase

Minella Missile silksDR T J ECKLEBURG ran a blinder in this race 12 months ago when 5lb out of the handicap. If he had been within the weights at Sandown Park races that day, then Evan Williams’ charge would surely have mastered re-opposing winner Gunsight Ridge with just a half-a-length between them. Dr T J Eckleburg is 4lb better off on these revised terms. He also shaped well when keeping on into third at Windsor last time.

Jax Junior is prominent in the betting for Lucy Wadham here, but has no form on heavy ground. He’s a novice open to further improvement over a veteran like Escapeandevade, who has acted on the going in the past. Kotmask scored over course and distance two years ago and chased home a progressive sort here when last in action, so could be another one to consider for the Moores.

Venetia Williams saddles the only other previous Esher winner in the line-up in Martator, but he hasn’t been cut much slack by the handicapper. The remainder make very little appeal. Olly Murphy’s Gunsight Ridge isn’t the most reliable horse; so, despite being down to his last winning mark here, he also looks vulnerable at the grand old age of 11.

2:40 – 3m 4f 15y Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase

Robcour silks Willie Mullins mount Kitzbuhel drops back in trip Kempton and his Kauto Star heroics around a completely different track in the Sandown Park races feature. He won’t mind the ground for Willie Mullins with Harry Cobden deputising as Paul Townend has important rides at the Dublin Racing Festival. Whether Kitzbuhel can concede 7lb to KALA CONTI is another matter. She was most impressive when routing Kargese at Cork last time out.

Gordon Elliott steps Robcour mare Kala Conti up in trip off the back of her Mallow exploits with the runner-up going one better over Christmas. She has also handled testing conditions before, earlier in her career. Elliott nominated this race for Kala Conti in preference to either Leopardstown Grade 1. The same connections also landed this race three years ago with Geri Colombe.

Given the strength of the Irish challenge, the home team really look up against it here. Sixmilebridge, two from two in small field novice chases like this, and Miami Magic, a Cheltenham winner on New Year’s Day, will like as not be in their own private battle to avoid the wooden spoon. All four horses receive some prize money and even last place nets £5,330.

3:10 – 2m 7f 103y Heroes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)

Martin Broughton silks Last year’s first and second return to Sandown Park races for another go. The difference between then and now is simple. Red Dirt Road, who ran out an eight-length winner, had race fitness on his side for the O’Neill family. He makes his reappearance here and that leaves the door very much ajar for HENRI THE SECOND to turn the tables on him. Nicholls’ charge meets his old rival on 8lb better terms.

Given how Henri The Second almost ran down Range in a seniors race here earlier in the month on quicker going than ideal and too sharp a trip, he can now go one better. Hartington looks a big danger for Team Tizzard now stepped back up in trip. His challenge in the big Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle up at Haydock in November just came too late. It’s not a stretch to imagine Hartington gaining compensation here.

Roaring Conquest qualified for the Pertemps Final last time out, but actually drops back a furlong-and-a-half in trip from Carlisle. Henry Daly is keen to exploit a 5lb disparity between the hurdles and chase marks of his mare Party Vibes, meanwhile. Titan Discovery has a career high rating to defy for Welsh trainer Robbie Llewellyn. Santos Blue frames the weight, but he like most of the others don’t have much going for them.

3:42 – 3m 42y Class 2 Masters Handicap Chase

Mr Vango silks Conditions at Sandown Park races are perfect the gigantic MR VANGO as he plots his way towards a tilt at the Grand National. Sara Bradstock wants heavy ground over this trip for her massive horse and he gets it. Mr Vango won the London National here last season and, although almost a stone-and-a-half (20lb) higher in the weights now, he can shoulder the welter burden under Tudor.

Two of the other runners must do from out of the handicap, but Fortunate Man is only inconvenienced by 1lb. Owned by JP McManus, incoming retained rider Harry Cobden now gets the leg-up rather than Jonjo O’Neill Junior. He shouldn’t mind conditions at all. Pic Roc wants a much sounder surface for Ben Pauling, however.

The return to heavy ground can only help Nassalam, who loves it but has seldom completed a race for the Moores since landing the Welsh Grand National in 2023. Wind surgery could help him rediscover his mojo. Honeyball’s Blackjack Magic acts on heavy, but he’s 11 now and vulnerable to younger legs. Hunter Legend completes 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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