Harry Cobden’s Planet Sport bet blog: Hermes Allen the one to beat at Sandown
Hermes Allen and Harry Cobden clears the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
Planet Sport Ambassador Harry Cobden is back to preview his rides for the meeting at Sandown on Saturday, February 3.
13:25 (Sandown) Onethreefivenotout
Onethreefivenotout is a horse I like a lot and has improved with every run he has had. The track at Sandown should suit him and the ground shouldn’t be an issue either, so I’m hoping he’ll get the day off to a good start.
Touchwood he jumps well, and off of a fair mark of 118, I’m hopeful he will be in the frame.
14:35 (Sandown) Hermes Allen
Hermes Allen is a fantastic horse and I’m hopeful he’ll go very close in the Scilly Isles Novices Chase.
He ran a brilliant race at Newbury first time out and he ran a respectable race in second behind Il Est Francais at Kempton on Boxing Day. The winner looks a freak, so I wasn’t disappointed to be beaten.
He’s come out of that race in good form, and he schooled really well in the week. Charlie rides him every day back at home and she’s delighted with how he is working.
I think he’s probably my best chance of the day, it looks a competitive race with not much between the runners, but he’s the one to beat.
15:10 (Sandown) Ambitious Fellow
Ambitious Fellow looks quite an interesting ride to pick up. He obviously hasn’t had a run since the start of November but on his best form he’d have a chance.
He’s got plenty of weight, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him run well in what looks a competitive handicap.
15:45 (Sandown) Grozni
I then ride Grozni who is another horse I wouldn’t know too much about. I’ve seen him run a couple of time for James [Owen] and I thought it was a good second at Musselburgh last time.
He’ll probably be a decent price and if he could return to the form which saw him finish second at last year’s Dublin Racing Festival, he wouldn’t be without a shout.
16:20 (Sandown) Touquet
I’m looking forward to riding Touquet in the closing bumper. He’s a lovely horse and although he won first time out at Sandown, the race probably wasn’t run to. We went quite steady, then sprinted which wasn’t ideal.
He’s a horse with lots and lots of ability, whatever he does this year will just be a stepping stone before going hurdling and chasing.
He’s a brilliant workhorse, whilst being very straight-forward. He’ll be one of our smarter ones.
