There’s a bit to like about Quothquan’s chance in the Sandown opener on Saturday at first glance, with Harry Reed taking over and able to utilise a useful 7lb claims, and a strict reading of his second to Sussex Ranger over C&D on his penultimate outing makes him the one to beat.
I fancy he is flattered by his proximity to Gary Moore’s charge, however, and he was given a good chance to break his duck at Fontwell last time but could finish only third behind Aiguille Rouge in a steadily run contest.
Perhaps he wasn’t helped by the relative test of speed there, but taking his form on balance, he would appear to have no better chance than several of these rivals. Shambra and Eregon de Chanay have been well beaten of late, but those runs were in much better company than this, and either of the pair could bounce back, and look better performers than the market leader.
I was against Call Me Lord in the Kingwell Hurdle, and I will oppose him again here on the same logic. When he won here two starts back, he was beating much inferior opposition as he was entitled to do given his ability, and I’m not sure that run justified much of a rise in the ratings.
The Kingwell was a muddling race, and it can be argued that he improved again when taking collateral form into account, but I thought he was readily brushed aside, and expect the same again in this ultra-tough handicap. He’s too big to lay in the win market, and I would advise taking him on for a place at around 2.80.
Finally, I can’t get why the badly handicapped Shanroe Santos is disputing favouritism having been raised harshly for a win in a modest race at Carlisle.
He won this contest last year but is often let down by his jumping, which is not ideal at a track like this, and his last two visits to Sandown have seen him fail to complete.
He should be at least a couple of points bigger in the betting.
