Saturday Racing Tips: Unioniste well worth backing at Sandown

We hit the bar with three placed double-digit selections on New Year's Day, but big-priced fancies are much harder to come by today.
 
And they certainly are in the Tolworth Hurdle if you don't fancy the rag to pull off the shock of the century in the four-runner Grade 1 contest!
 
Jolly's Cracked It and Shelford are two very smart novices but I will be very surprised if they are up to lowering the colours of odds-on favourite L'Ami Serge, who has looked out of the top drawer at Newbury and Ascot since coming over from France. 
 
It looks like Messrs Munir and Souede are getting the cream of the crop from their friends across the Channel.
 
I suspect there could be an old-fashioned "public" gamble on Unioniste in the 15:35 - which is normally just lazy media shorthand for the ring following the Betfair market as off-time approaches - and I wouldn't put anyone off backing him at odds of around 9-2. I can really see him going off a 3-1 poke or shorter.
 
First off, you have to applaud his connections, as not many owners would have come out over Christmas and said that they want to win the Grand National at this time of the season. Namely before the Aintree weights have come out, and while the horse is currently running over fences. 
 
I think the handicapper reads the papers, as well.
 
Normally, you get the nonsense of such horses running over hurdles to "protect" their handicap mark, such as last year's National winner Pineau du Re. But not so Unioniste, who could really rocket up the handicap if he bolts up here.
 
And he could just do that.
 
He is very well-handicapped if returning to the form of his Aintree win last season - after which he went off a 9-2 chance for the Lexus - and ran well when badly in need of the outing when a staying-on sixth in the Hennessy, after coming in late from his summer break.
 
If he is now fully tuned up, then he could just totally outclass these off a mark of just 148. And remember he had a breathing operation in the summer, so it is conceivable that he is a better horse this season, and he is still only a 7yo.
 
Yes, I will be backing him at 5.59/2 or better. 
 
Earlier on the card, I like Jumps Road at odds of 10.09/1 in the 13:50.
 
Mr Mole is the obvious one to beat but Jumps Road is a very solid horse who comes here in good form, and I think a reproduction of his second to the progressive Top Gamble last time will see him hard to kick out of the frame, and maybe just win this at decent odds if his jumping holds up.
 
Song Light and Rayvin Black are my two against the field in the 15:00, so I have to row in with the latter given that he is over double the price at odds of 15.014/1.
 
There is nothing new to tell with him in truth, other than that I thought he again ran pretty well at Wincanton last time - the race was run in a good time - and he is a pretty consistent sort who could prove difficult to peg back around here if getting his own way out in front. 
 
Over at Wincanton, it may well be that Paul Nicholls has a very good day at his local track and he could dominate the 14:40 with his pair.
 
But for my sole bet at the course I am going with Viva Steve in the C4-opener at 14:05, at odds of 7.06/1.
 
I don't think that he fully lasts home 3m in testing conditions, but I reckon this extended 2m4f on soft ground could just bring out the best in him and he has shaped on a couple of occasions as a better horse than a mark of 121 indicates.
 
I better wrap this up a bit sharpish before I tip every horse running on Saturday, so be lucky. 
 
And if you miss my ugly, bald mug on the Morning Line on Saturday, you certainly will have been...

 
Recommended Bets
 
Back Unioniste at 5.59/2 in the 15:35 at Sandown
Back Jumps Road at 10.09/1 in the 13.50 at Sandown 
Back Rayvin Black at 15.014/1 in the 15:00 at Sandown 
Back Viva Steve at 6.05/1 in the 14:05 at Wincanton