Four key horses to note at Sandown and Wincanton on Saturday

From the Unibet Tolworth Novices' Hurdle at Sandown to the valuable Virgin Bet Handicap Chase at Wincanton, there’s no shortage of compelling action in which to sink one’s teeth this Saturday.

Here, we consider four horses that this weekend have the potential to make waves live on Racing TV:

1.30 Wincanton: Virgin Bet Handicap Chase. Odds: a general 10-1

Few racing fans would wish Alan King’s 11-year-old nothing but good fortune upon his return to the track at Wincanton. After all, it’s hard to think of a horse in training whose career has been so badly afflicted by injury.

Messire Des Obeaux has continually struggled with leg problems but is happily back in business – this time after a 385-day absence. The Barbury Castle resident won the 2016 Challow in his pomp before finishing third in both the Neptune at the Festival and the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.

He has also looked sharp over fences, over which he has raced just five time since December 2020.

Messire Des Obeaux, who goes well fresh and is twice a winner at Wincanton, would surely have a grand chance if fit enough, but the key thing here is the hope he returns home a sound horse.

2.05 Wincanton: Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Chase. Odds: a general 5-2

With over £425,000 in prize-money, 17 winners and a host of big-race placed horses, Venetia Williams must have been exceedingly happy with her lot in November and December.

The challenge now, of course, is for the Herefordshire-based handler to maintain such exemplary levels of form throughout the winter and beyond. Williams loves this time of the year as her horses, at least in general terms, simply love a scrap when the mud is flying.

That certainly applies to Desque De L'Isle, who is on a hat-trick at Wincanton after back-to-back victories at Ludlow.

The 10-year-old might have been chinned by Bun Doran within a few more strides on his last start in December, but he would unquestionably have been better suited by deeper ground.

Desque De L'Isle should get that at Wincanton, at least to judge by the forecast, and has only gone up 4lb for his most recent Ludlow success.

3.00 Sandown: Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase. Odds: a general 5-1

The final for this popular veterans’ handicap chase is reminiscent of a greatest hits album featuring your band’s favourite tracks.

From Ballyandy to Ramses De Teillee, the race is packed with chart-topping thoroughbreds bidding to reach number one for yet another time in their illustrious careers.

Yet perhaps the horse that has most sparked the public’s interest in recent years is Snow Leopardess.

Things have gone a little awry for last season’s Becher Chase winner since she was pulled up in the National, but she showed a little more vim when defending her Becher crown at Aintree on ground that was way too quick for her.

By contrast, conditions look made to measure for a big run at Sandown. Odds of 100-1 about the mare winning the 2023 National might not look so fanciful if she goes well here.

3.35 Sandown: Unibet Handicap Hurdle. Odds: --

With Bravemansgame and Hermes Allen sticking to their end of the bargain, Paul Nicholls can once again reflect upon another prosperous festive period.

At a lower grade, the Ditcheat handler will also be fascinated to see how Iceo shapes on his first start for 315 days.

Chris Giles’ five-year-old looked a potential superstar when he made a startling British debut at Sandown, after which he went on to finish fourth in the Dovecote back at the Sunbury circuit last February.

Nicholls then resisted the urge to go to Cheltenham with the soft-ground-loving Iceo, who has the frame and scope to make into a serious smart chaser.

It is fascinating, then, to see him remain over hurdles for this two-mile heat, in which he looks sensibly handicapped for a horse of his obvious potential.