Pattern Race Focus: Henderson hoping his little fish are sweet.

/ Rory Delargy / 05 February 2010 / Leave a Comment

That legend of the training ranks, Arthur Stephenson, was often asked why he eschewed the glamour tracks with his horses and was rarely seen at the top table himself (he was typically at Hexham when The Thinker won him a Cheltenham Gold Cup, and would rather enter his better horses for small races where they would win under big weights rather than tilt at more valuable pots). He famously, and enigmatically replied: "Little fish are sweet". Nicky Henderson takes a leaf out of Arthur's book when finding prep races for two of his stars at at Sandown tomorrow, and while the prizes are hardly paltry, they give Binocular and Punchestowns easy pickings against inferior opposition.

The toteplacepot Contenders Hurdle at 13:30 looks a cakewalk for Binocular against two opponents who have no Champion Hurdle agenda. Dee Ee Williams has lost his way temporarily over fences and Marodima is having an ongoing crisis of identity. This should prove a confidence booster for a horse who has looked very vulnerable of late.

In the non-graded Juvenile Hurdle at 14:05, Henderson unleashes the highly regarded According in the Zaynar colours and he should be too good for those who have raced if home reports are to be believed. Don't be surprised if there is a new Triumph Hurdle favourite by a quarter past!

It should be treble time at 14:35 in a weak renewal of the Scilly Isles, run this year as the totepool Challengers Novices' Chase where Punchestowns looks hard to oppose. Tchico Polos has never appealed as staying beyond two miles and he was legless when falling in the Feltham where Pocket Aces was pulled up.

Doncaster get a quick chance to salvage two of the graded races they lost last weekend, beginning with the BSq Lightning Novices' Chase (14:25) in which the massive Mad Max will be odds on. He's always looked a chaser and ought to follow up his Kempton debut win but he's a horse with well reported problems and I'd prefer to watch him than take a chance that his physical problems won't re-emerge. He makes no appeal as an Arkle Chase candidate for me, however impressive he might look.

The BSq Doncaster Mares Hurdle at 14:55 is another which is unlikely to provide the winner of the Festival race it precedes, unless Alegralil can continue her rapid improvement. She has plenty to find strictly on form with several of her opponents here but has made an excellent impression so far and is fancied to confirm that by winning again. The Jessica Harrington trained pair of Give It Time and Zarinava are likely to provide the biggest stumbling blocks.

Wetherby plays host to a small but select but select field for the totesport Towton Novices' Chase at 14:50 where Knockara Beau can pay a handsome tribute to Diamond Harry by beating main rival Weird Al. The latter beat George Charlton's doughty stayer at Cheltenham's Paddy Power meeting but the runner up was conceding 8lb that day and should gain revenge at level weights.