-
Mondo can prove the Man in Imperial test
-
Recent confidence booster should put selection spot on
-
Betfair are offering Non-Runner No Bet at Cheltenham!
-
Click here for more racing tips
-
Check out our 2026 Cheltenham Festival Mega Guide
Saturday, Sandown, 13.50 - Back Fortune Timmy each-way @ 12/113.00
Wednesday's fare is borderline dreadful, so it may pay to turn attentions to the weekend action to uncover a couple of prospective angles.
The EBF Novices' Handicap Hurdle is always a keen betting heat and can often resemble one of the Cheltenham festival handicaps for its competitiveness therefore it is hard to be truly confident at this early stage, however Fortune Timmy appeals as a horse which could be well treated so gains the ante-post vote.
With a dry week forecast, Sandown are reportedly watering this week (yes I know, unreal right?), but a sounder surface shouldn't necessarily concern the son of Soldier Of Fortune who went well enough around Kempton in November on good ground behind warm Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Old Park Star.
The drop to the minimum trip was arguably the selection's undoing that day, not least the fact he was beaten by a horse that has won his next two starts by an aggregate of 30 lengths and goes into next Tuesday's festival curtain raiser one of the hottest favourites of the week.
Fortune Timmy has since bolted up at Fontwell in a minor event by a wide margin and ran highly respectably when last seen on Trials Day at Cheltenham in a Grade 2 over this trip win by Kripticjim.
The highly-touted Taurus Bay was runner-up that day and Chris Gordon's gelding was closing in on him at the line after being outpaced as the main protagonists kicked past the unjumped final hurdle.
Sandown can often favour those that race prominently and Fortune Timmy could well be a little underestimated on a mark of 132 so looks worth playing with Freddie Gordon already jocked up.
Back Fortune Timmy E/W in 13.50 at Sandown
Saturday, Sandown, 14.27 - Back Mondo Man @ 4/15.00
The pre-Christmas handicap staged at Ascot won by Wilful was one of the stronger races of its type run this year.
Runner-up Hot Fuss landed a valuable Windsor event on his next start, while third-home Alexei won the Kingwell Hurdle and is as low as 14/115.00 for the Champion Hurde next Tuesday.
Even Fiercely Proud, who only beat one home, has won since to endorse the form so fourth-placed Mondo Man makes some appeal in Saturday's Betfair Imperial Cup at the 5/16.00 generally on offer.
It hasn't been smooth sailing over hurdles for the selection since his switch from the level where he was rated in excess of 100 and recorded career bests in the French Derby (5th) and the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot courtesy of an eight-length fourth to the magnificent Calandagan.
The prospect of nice spring ground should suit a classy flat performer who was good enough to finish fourth in the Ormonde at Chester last May and a recent confidence booster at Plumpton in a weak affair following a 65-day break should put him spot on for this assignment.
Another which catches the eye is Rubber Ball following his impressive Newbury success last weekend but, although his participation is intended according to trainer Neil King, I just want to hang fire until he is a confirmed runner.
Back Mondo Man in 14.27 at Sandown