It's Tolworth Hurdle day at Sandown and the Racing Post's Robbie Wilders provides a bumper five wagers, one in each of the five live races at the track on ITV.
Scipion @ 13/2
1pt win
Frero Banbou @ 3/1
1pt win
Nemean Lion @ 16/1
1pt win
Coo Star Sivola @ 8/1
1pt each-way
Hardy Du Seuil @ 9/1
1pt win
Scipion stands out like a sore thumb in the 2m4f handicap chase (1.15) off a mark of 129 and could have plenty in hand on his second start over fences.
The Tom Lacey-trained seven-year-old met the quickest ground he had experienced at Uttoxeter when third on his chasing debut in October lugging top weight and shaped okay in third.
That was probably a warm enough race as the winner followed up in better company at Aintree next time and Scipion is back on a slower surface here off 2lb lower.
Scipion has always been held in high regard by Lacey as he was thrown into Grade 2 company on just his second start over hurdles last term, finishing a good third on soft ground to Stag Horn. Conditions here will suit and he is open to plenty of improvement.
Frero Banbou is yet to encounter his preferred conditions this campaign but gets a slower surface in the 1m7½f handicap chase (1.50) and should be tough to beat.
This eight-year-old has emerged with some credit on both starts on good ground at Ascot this term, particularly on the first occasion when runner-up to Thyme White, yet he has been dropped 2lb to a winnable looking mark of 140.
Frero Banbou has recorded a first and a second in two starts at Sandown, including a course-and-distance success, and should be going close.
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The Grade 1 Tolworth Novices' Hurdle (2.25) is more open than the market suggests and it might be worth chancing Nemean Lion at double-figure odds.
Nemean Lion will have few issues with testing ground as he placed in the Group 2 Prix Chaudenay on heavy over 1m7f back in 2020.
This six-year-old has made a bright start over hurdles for Kerry Lee and might have just bumped into a really good horse in Hullnback when second under a 5lb penalty at Haydock last time.
Open to more improvement over hurdles and with plenty of experience to draw upon overall, he might be able to catch out some of the less battle-hardened novices here.
A maximum field of 18 will go to post for a cracking Veterans' Chase Series Final (3.00) and a big performance is expected from Coo Star Sivola, who is worth backing each-way.
Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch were responsible for the winner of this in 2019 and this appears to have been the long-term target for Coo Star Sivola, who qualified for the Final at Haydock in November on his first run for the stable when returning from 595 days off.
The 11-year-old is expected to come on for that and has recorded Racing Post Ratings of 141 and 142 in two starts at Sandown, both on slower ground. He is seriously well treated off a career-low mark of 127 and there is plenty to like about his chances.
The 2m handicap hurdle (3.35) is the final race on the card and Hardy Du Seuil might be the answer at decent odds for Jamie Snowden.
For one reason or another Hardy Du Seuil has been primarily kept to quick ground since joining Snowden from French trainer Mickael Seror in the autumn of 2021, but two of his best efforts for this team came on soft.
He stayed on into second behind Minella Drama on soft in a Grade 2 novice chase at Haydock before running to an RPR of 142 when second off 135 in a decent race at Kelso in March.
Hardy Du Seuil is rated just 124 over hurdles now, has time on his side as a six-year-old and might be able to capitalise on an 11lb lower mark in this sphere.
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