Ross Millar: weekend review and Monday tips

We’ve been treated to yet another thrilling and informative weekend of racing.

Sandown took centre stage on Friday where father and son duo Gary and Josh Moore enjoyed a tremendously productive with three winners. Macktoad looked potentially smart when cantering to victory in the opening Juvenile Hurdle, looking pleasingly uncomplicated in the process, before Salver ran away with the Grade Two Betfair Esher Novices’ Chase.

A high-class juvenile two seasons ago, he found life tough last year but at this first attempt of the three-mile trip he looked very exciting, Caoilin Quinn rode a cool race, allowing the two Harry’s, Skelton and Cobden to force the pace, he was effortlessly able to move into contention jumping the pond fence and only needed minimal urgings to power away to a commanding twelve-length victory. Stiffer assignments await but he looks booked for a good season.

However, the most impressive performance of the afternoon came from the Paul Nicholls-trained The Worlds End. He barely came out of second gear when winning the Betfair Winter Novices’ Hurdle and could be the ‘special’ horse his trainer has been lacking in recent seasons. The Challow Hurdle at Newbury could be next although winners of that have a poor record at the Cheltenham Festival so maybe his trainer may look to veer from his initial plan.

Sandown again hosted the best action on Saturday. Lulamba landed the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase, in impressive fashion, jumping soundly before closing down long-time leader Be Aware with ease before drawing away up the hill despite an awkward landing over the final fence.

He showed more speed then I’d perhaps credited him for here and beat some useful rivals comfortably, however speed on winter ground at Sandown is a different kettle of fish to speed on potentially livelier ground on the Old Course at Chepstow in the spring. The Arkle in March is shaping up to be one of the best renewals for a while.

Il Etait Temps won the feature race of the day the Betfair Tingle Creek and probably produced a career best in doing so. The pace was set by Jonbon who looked far more like his old self in first-time cheekpieces with the benefit of his seasonal return behind him and duly reversed the form with his Schloer conqueror L’Eau du Sud by a sizeable 24 lengths.

Yet he had no answer to the winner, who swept past two fences from home. He is now rightly the clear 5-2 favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March, though those wishing to oppose him will point to the fact that he’s 0/3 at the Cheltenham Festival. He is though, clearly progressing with every run.

Away from Sandown, the Beecher Chase at Aintree was won by Twig, ridden by Beau Morgan and owned by his Mother. They prevailed in a nip and tuck battle to the line with top-weight Mr Vango, who ran a brave race on his first start of the season, his connections will be hoping for a wet April now that his rating is high enough to guarantee him a run in the Grand National back over these fences.

The jump action on Monday comes from Musselburgh and Fontwell, and I have three selections.

James Owen sends just one horse north to Musselburgh, so Red Oak is bound to be popular in the market.

However, Timefortom shaped with real promise on his hurdling debut in early October when just outstayed by stablemate and subsequent Cheltenham winner Conman John.

This drop of a furlong in trip should suit and, provided he’s ready to go after a short break, he can better the southern raider.

Dunnet Head was a horse I was hoping would take a big step forward over fences last season for Iain Jardine, but his campaign was hard to fathom. In two chase starts, he raced over three miles when seemingly failing to quite stay, before dropping back a mile in trip for his second chase start where he appeared to lack the speed required.

As a result, Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore have inherited a well-handicapped horse; his rating of 102 is 11lb lower than his peak rating from last season.

He was beaten a long way on his reappearance run in early November, but that followed the general trend of seasonal debutants from this yard. This trip looks ideal and he’s far too well-handicapped to ignore.

Tim Vaughan’s charge shaped well on his seasonal reappearance at Ffos Las, where the good ground would not have given him optimal conditions.

The heavy ground conditions here will play to his strong stamina, with James Bowen a positive jockey booking. The yard form is a mild concern with a recent record of 0/10, but plenty of them have been placed, so it’s a potential negative that I can happily overlook.