Tony McCoy has been passed fit to ride and returns to the saddle at Sandown tomorrow. Mrs Tips informs me she dreamt about the champion jockey last night but, unfortunately, he didn't give her any Cheltenham winners.
I have to admit that during the week I've been concentrating on next week's Cheltenham form, so I haven't looked at this Sandown card in much detail. Five year olds have won the Sunderlands Imperial Cup, due off at 3.15, on five occasions in the last ten years and Gary Moore's Mon Michel looks reasonably handicapped here. The horse was due to run in the Totesport Gold Trophy last month but suffered a setback and had to miss the race; the stable still carried off the main prize with 14/1 shot Wingman. I think the good ground will suit and with the trainer's son Jamie in the saddle Mon Michel rates a decent each-way chance in an ultra-competitive race.
For future reference I'll keep an eye on two front-running chasers returning after a break - Etoile Russe in the 4.25 and Dev in the finale. Etoile Russe faces just three opponents, two of whom, Gentle John and Wogan, have question marks against their jumping while likely favourite Takeroc has his first run in this country after winning over further on soft ground in France. I'll consider taking a chance on ER's fitness if the RP tissue price of 6/1 is available at the off.
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Mon Michel went off a 15/2 shot and unseated his rider at the first - what can you say?
Etoile Russe was sent off at 16/1, led until three out, where he was headed by the 10/11 winner Takeroc, and then fell two from home - possibly a tired fall? Using the market as a guide, 16/1 indicated to me connections didn't really think this horse ready to win.
On the other hand Dev was sent off 7/4 favourite and obliged with a gutsy display to take the spoils by two and a half lengths.
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