Good Morning, Friend

Straight after yesterday's email, where I stated i'm moving over to thinking all things jumps, one of you long term readers, Dave S, who has the odd share in some of the RTP Syndicate horses also, got in touch to say he's off to Sandown today and wouldn't mind some pointers. Poor sod. Although the last time he asked, also at Sandown, I fired in x3 winners and he mopped up the rest of the card with his own pokes, not bad! Maybe the same today? Here's hoping...

Before that, if you missed yesterday's Uttoxeter 'eye-catchers' email, you can read it HERE >>>

Also, there will be an article from Sam Darby. He didn't like much today, so instead he's scribbling something for a Saturday handicap. That should be up on the blog around 8pm tonight, and you'll be able to find it HERE >>>

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To Sandown...

2.40 - Recon Mission - 12/1 - EW 4p

4.25 - Mitrosonfire - 5/1 (Next Best)

5.00 - Coco Jamboo - 7/2 (Nap)

5.35 - Gallimimus - 14/1 - EW

Recon Mission - this sprint handicap looks as open as they come on paper and far from a confident poke, but this lad runs in a C5 for the first time ever, has been running well, including bumping into a 3YO LTO, is a CD last season, on a workable mark, and should race prominently. I thought Luke could get out and maybe track a couple of others who like to go forward and then pounce. Hopefully doesn't get into an early scrap and set it up for a closer, but I did think with x4 places available with a few firms, he was the bet. A stiffer 5f could be ideal for him now. If he runs to his best I'd be disappointed were he out the x4. In truth not many results would surprise me in this, I originally looked at Twilight Madness, who could blast out and may stay there dropped in class, but he was 12s ,and is now 6s, so bang goes that idea. Maybe he'll still make that look value, or drift back out, but I've changed course.

Mitrosonfire - jockey Stefano Cherchi looks to be back riding with confidence. Amy held his licence as a conditional and he rides out there most days, some asset for the gallops. Like many he maybe struggled a bit at times after losing his claim, but has been in decent form the last two weeks, 3/14,5p, +15. He's a nice lad and can hopefully boot this one home today. Stefano has ridden Mirto to victory before and he's back on his last winning mark of 85, and like many proven winning handicappers, still with age on their side, it should only be a matter of time before he drops in. He's a C2 winner, and I like the move back up to 7f. He ran well two starts back when slightly outpaced over 6f, he got squeezed out but then ran on well. He didn't run well at Kempton, and if that's a reflection of his actual form, won't be winning here. But if he got back to the Newmarket run, and with this return to 7f looking a positive to my eyes, I thought he could outrun these odds. I also like the pace angle, as he could sit in 2nd here, with plenty of these usually more patiently ridden. He should be in the right place to pounce. Muir & Grassick are in form and...

A stat worth noting: In Sandown handicaps, the training team are now: 6/26,8p, +38SP

Coco Jambo - maybe short enough for a Nap but this filly just has to be winning soon when it all drops right. She's 1/2,2p in flat handicaps over 7f, that win in September last season, hopefully she likes this time of year! She spent the first three turf handicaps of this season running over 6f, travelling well, outpaced, staying on. She moved back up to 7f last time at York, falling out the stalls and stone cold last in a big field as they headed for home. She had an awful lot to do there but past the whole field bar one, a very well handicapped Beckett filly who'd raced prominently and bolted up. This filly has to be winning over 7f from this mark at some point. She gets a useful 3lb claim to help and can hopefully start quicker and sit mid division, but this stiff 7f looks well worth a go and I can see her storming up this hill. Hopefully today is the day but it can only be a matter of time before she wins again, down 2 classes back into a C4 here.

Trainer Marco Botti is in decent form also, worth noting, 4/17,6p +21 SP last 14 days. Do note any of his in the nest few days, as a 'way in'.

Gallimimus - a bit of a poke which may not amount to much here but this one does look well handicapped to my eyes and again, just a matter of time. He was in form when last seen 23 days ago, starting slowly and not looking totally at home trying to make ground on the bend going down hill. He got motoring late on and stuffed the rest, hitting the line hard, but bumped into a very well handicapped rival who'd dictated and kicked at the right time. Three starts ago at Bath he bumped into another in rude health also, a race which has now produced x6 subsequent winners. He's since been sold out of Boughey's for 22k, to new trainer John Gallagher, who's in form - 2/10,3p in last 14 days. This one has a very low weight and can race prominently, I also thought he'd been shaping as if he'd relish a stiff 10f. Maybe he won't have the class but its interesting they pitch him in here, in an open enough race on paper to my eyes. I thought he could out-run his odds and be in the mix here if running to his best and building on his last run. But whatever he does, one for the notebook, as I think he'll leave a mark of 70 behind at some point soon.

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Good luck with any bets, and don't forget to check out Sam's article later on.

All the best,

Josh