{"id":11798,"date":"2025-01-30T12:52:51","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T12:52:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bettingsitesreviewed.co.uk\/?p=11798"},"modified":"2025-01-30T16:37:11","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T16:37:11","slug":"sandown-park-racecourse-preview-scilly-isles-saturday-1-february","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bettingsitesreviewed.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/01\/30\/sandown-park-racecourse-preview-scilly-isles-saturday-1-february\/","title":{"rendered":"Sandown Park Racecourse Preview for Scilly Isles Saturday – Key February Fixture Gets Go Ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Sandown<\/p>\n

A dry midweek means Sandown Park Racecourse has the green light for its Scilly Isles Saturday card on 1 February. Conditions at the Esher venue in Greater London look very testing, however.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On passing an official inspection two days before racing, the Sandown going was heavy, soft in places on the hurdle track. The steeplechase course is soft, heavy in places, meanwhile. That means the feature Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase will be a real war of attrition.<\/p>\n

Stamina is essential despite some parts down the back straight walking good to soft, according to the Clerk of the Course. Sandown provides a real jumping test even for experienced horses with its famous Railway Fences and the Pond Fence before turning for home.<\/p>\n

It is uphill all the way out of the back on both tracks and that will sap the horses turning up at Esher. This brings mudlarks and even those runners proven over further than the race distance in question into the equation.<\/p>\n

That is something for both punters and traders the behind horse racing betting sites<\/a> alike must consider. You will have to stay to enjoy Sandown success on Scilly Isles Saturday, that’s for sure.<\/p>\n

The supporting card contains the Heroes Handicap Hurdle, a Premier Handicap over about three miles. Without further ado, our horse racing experts have their say and analysis of all the action taking place at the Esher track.<\/p>\n

Sandown Park Racecourse Preview for Scilly Isles Saturday, 1 February<\/h2>\n

12:50 – 2m Class 3 Novice Hurdle<\/h3>\n

\"DianaJust four in this Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier, and the one to beat is\u00a0DIAMONDS FOR LUCK<\/strong>. If he had better fortune in his Irish Points, then he would’ve won both instead of falling at the business end on both occasions. Diamonds For Luck clearly handles heavy ground, but carries a penalty for his Wetherby win last time out.<\/p>\n

Olly Murphy now books Harry Cobden for the ride, while the third home has come out and won since. This simply doesn’t ask much more of Diamond For Luck in his bid to follow-up. Gary & Josh Moore’s\u00a0Old Cowboy\u00a0<\/strong>made a promising stable, Rules and hurdles debut when third around Newbury a couple of weeks ago.<\/p>\n

He looks the biggest danger if handling the testing conditions here. On the forecast going, there is little to recommend good ground Irish Point winner Ballela Blaze even with Philip Armson taking 3lb off with his claim. Noble Park in the Constitution Hill silks needs a big step forward after not firing yet in four career starts, meanwhile.<\/p>\n

1:25 – 2m 4f 0-125 Class 3 Novices’ Handicap Hurdle<\/h3>\n

The one that may best handle things at Sandown Park Racecourse on this day is\u00a0SOLE SOLUTION<\/strong>. Venetia Williams’ charge is a heavy ground winner who bumped into subsequent Grade 2 scorer Sixmilebridge around Leicester on his penultimate start. As Sole Solution has also gone in since himself at Hereford, an opening mark of 114 looks fair.<\/p>\n

Just Lucky Sivola\u00a0<\/strong>found 3m around Ascot a stretch stamina wise last time, but is another heavy going bumper winner. Dropping back in trip off 1lb lower might be the answer for Cobden and trainer Paul Nicholls, who hope to put a difficult January for everyone at Ditcheat behind them.<\/p>\n

Topweight\u00a0De Kingpin\u00a0<\/strong>shaped like this trip was within his compass when a close third here in November. Ben Pauling’s runner was duly awarded the race over this distance on his latest outing when the rider of Captain Bellamy broke whip rules at Newbury. De Kingpin earlier chased home dark horse Mister Meggit in a heavy ground Doncaster bumper.<\/p>\n

Those three towards the top of the handicap bring the best form on offer into this contest. Nothing lurking lower down the weights appears to have the same scope for further progress on really tough going.<\/p>\n

2:00 – 1m 7.5f Class 2 Handicap Chase<\/h3>\n
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ETALON \ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n

An impressive winner of our second race at Royal Artillery Day \ud83d\ude4cpic.twitter.com\/0WQO2jC3rb<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) February 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n