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Jubilee Alpha meets Cheltenham winner on much better terms
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Credo back in headgear she wore when successful last term
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Bin Ajwad ended 2025 with course-and-distance hat-trick
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14:25, Sandown - Jubilee Alpha clear pick of the weights
Paul Nicholls got 2026 off to a good start with three winners on New Year's Day and he can keep that up with Jubilee Alpha who looks the clear pick of the weights in Sandown's listed hurdle for mares.
Jubilee Alpha is a dual winner at this level already over hurdles, including at Cheltenham last April when winning readily under a penalty for her third victory in all in her novice campaign. She has run in a couple of mares' handicaps this season, giving lumps of weight to another progressive type, Sweet Caryline, at Wincanton and then shaping better than the result when fifth at Cheltenham last time.
After making good progress wide in the straight and then briefly being short of room, Jubilee Alpha was keeping on when blundering at the last before her effort flattened out, earning the 'Horse In Focus' flag. Jubilee Alpha meets the Cheltenham winner Nurse Susan again but on much better terms than when conceding a stone to her in that handicap. That makes Jubilee Alpha clear top in the Timeform weight-adjusted ratings and she can come out on top ahead of Nurse Susan this time.
Back Jubilee Alpha in the 14:25 at Sandown
15:05, Sandown - Credo reunited with Harry Cobden
Anthony Honeyball has won Sandown's Veterans' Handicap Chase before as well as saddling the runner-up last year and has three chances this time, with the mare Credo looking much the most interesting of his trio.
Not only is she reunited with Harry Cobden for the first time this season, she is also fitted with a visor for the first time since last term when she won two of her four starts in the headgear with Cobden in the saddle. Those wins came in veterans chases at Exeter and Carlisle, with her Exeter win coming at the expense of stablemate Gustavian, with last year's winner of this race Copperhead further back. Both those rivals are in the field again here.
Credo has shaped as though in better heart than her two efforts this season might suggest, finishing third to Gustavian in the Badger Beers Handicap Chase at Wincanton and fourth in the Berkshire National at Ascot. Only a pound higher than when successful at Carlisle last spring, Credo looks of strong interest back in the headgear.
Back Credo in the 15:05 at Sandown
19:00, Southwell - Bin Ajwad unbeaten at Southwell
James Tate had a fine strike rate in 2025 and one who contributed to it was his likeable three-year-old Bin Ajwad who ended his campaign with a hat-trick in handicaps at Southwell. He can make that a four-timer over the same course and distance off top weight in Southwell's mile handicap.
Unraced at two, Bin Ajwad got off the mark on his handicap debut in September and completed his hat-trick with a useful effort in November, finding extra when tackled in the final furlong and going on to win by half a length from Mr Mistoffelees in what looked strong-looking form for the time of year.
Fourth-placed Tribal Wisdom won his next two starts at Wolverhampton and meets Bin Ajwad, who has the 'Horse In Focus' flag, again here. Going the right way and clearly possessing a good attitude, Bin Ajwad can go in again.
Back Bin Ajwad in the 19:00 at Southwell