LE MILOS is fancied to give Dan Skelton a handsome consolation prize by landing the bet365 Gold Cup (3.35) at Sandown Park today.
Only a miracle will see Skelton, top of the table for much of the spring, overtake Willie Mullins in the race for the 2023-24 trainers’ title.
But the 39-year-old can reflect on a breakthrough season, including four Cheltenham Festival triumphs – and capped by victory in the final signature handicap chase of the campaign.
Le Milos has had three runs over hurdles since his 10th behind Corach Rambler in last year’s Grand National.
Although well held on each occasion, the nine-year-old son of Shirocco gives every indication that the fire still burns.
Newsboy’s Daily Double plus tips on every race from Monday’s four meetings
The return to fences will be the making of Le Milos and British Horseracing Authority handicap mark of 149 – 3lb above the figure from which my selection captured the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury 17 months ago – gives Harry Skelton’s mount every chance of landing another big prize.
JONBON gets the vote to floor hotpot El Fabiolo and mount a successful defence of his title in the bet365 Celebration Chase (3.00).
It’s hard to argue with the widely held view that El Fabiolo is ‘the best horse’ in the two-mile Grade 1 test.
But the same was true when he went off the 2-9 favourite for Cheltenham’s Queen Mother Champion Chase last month - and the Willie Mullins trainee was pulled up abruptly after slamming into the fifth obstacles.
Sandown’s chase course, with the three Railway Fences at the end of the back straight, provides a stern jumping test – but it’s one that Jonbon has already passed three times, including when landing this race in 2023.
The six-time Grade 1 winner missed a planned clash with El Fabiolo – the score between the pair is currently 1-1 – when fears over the well-being of Nicky Henderson’s string saw Jonbon pulled out of the Champion Chase.
He subsequently stepped up to two and a half miles to beat Conflated by a length and a quarter in the top-level Melling Chase at Aintree 15 days ago, and the step back to the minimum trip should not trouble Nico de Boinville’s partner.
Jonbon is Newsboy's pick in the Celebration Chase (3.00) at Sandown (Getty Images)The Grade 2 bet365 Oaksey Chase (2.25) is fascinating, not least because three of the four market leaders were pulled up on their latest outing, and the value may lie with AL DANCER.
The Sam Thomas-saddled 11-year-old steps up from handicap company, but ran a blinder when second to Forward Plan in the Coral Trophy at Kempton Park in February.
A reproduction of that form should see Dylan Johnston’s mount play a role in the finish.
Newsboy's horse racing picks for Tuesday's three meetings, plus Musselburgh Nap
The bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (1.50) looks fiendish – but GEEZER ROCKSTAR should give a good account.
Heavy ground didn’t suit when Harry Fry’s Getaway gelding pulled up at Exeter on New Year’s Day, but a one-length call from Zanndabad at Ascot at the end of last month was much more like it.
Geezer Rockstar starts life in handicaps from a British Horseracing Authority rating of 121, and has the potential to improve past that mark.
At Leicester, THUNDER ROAR, an excellent second in Doncaster’s Spring Mile on his turf comeback, is the selection to go one better in the Madri Excepcional King Richard III Cup Handicap (2.05).
Haydock Park’s trustatrader.com Handicap is a good opportunity for Irish raider EARLS to lord it over nine opponents after a near miss at the Curragh last Saturday.
Saturday's selections
LEICESTER
1.30 BLEWBURTON
2.05 THUNDER ROAR
2.37 SPACE LEGEND
3.12 WILLINGLY
3.45 BROKEN SPEAR
4.20 MACHO SUN
4.55 HOMBRE (NB)
HAYDOCK PARK
1.38 CANDONOMORE
2.10 COLD STARE
2.45 EARLS
3.20 SHELBOURNE
3.53 SHEMOZZLE
4.28 OFFER AND RECEIVE
5.00 NORTHERN CRACKSMAN
SANDOWN PARK
1.50 GEEZER ROCKSTAR
2.25 AL DANCER
3.00 JONBON
3.35 LE MILOS
4.10 LANGER DAN
4.45 KOTMASK
5.20 PIC ROC
RIPON
4.05 NIGHT IN PARIS
4.40 SPIRIT OF ACKLAM
5.15 CLEAR ANGEL
5.50 LOOKING FOR LYNDA
6.20 CHILLINGHAM (NAP)
6.50 ZIMMERMAN
7.20 TRAVIS
DONCASTER
5.05 CORSICAN CAPER
5.40 BELLA KOPELLA
6.10 MIDREAM
6.40 FANTASY MASTER
7.10 SHAGPYLE
7.45 JACQUES CARTIER
8.15 KURIMU
WOLVERHAMPTON
6.00 LADY WINGALONG
6.30 APPROVAL
7.00 BIG BLUE BOY
7.30 SWEET CAROLINA
8.00 TWIRLER
8.30 WANNABE BRAVE
9.00 PERIPETEIA
DOUBLE: CHILLINGHAM and HOMBRE
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