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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Chris Wright

Horse Power: Certainly Red to strike Gold at Sandown

Gold Jonbon Paul Nicholls SOLO Haydock (Facility) Kempton

CERTAINLY RED can grab victory on the final day of the Jumps season in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (2.15pm) at Sandown on Saturday afternoon. While on the Flat at Haydock Park RAINBOW FIRE can win the Join Racing TV Now Handicap (3.45pm).

At Sandown, Lydia Richards’ nine-year-old can land his biggest career success in the feature of the final day of the season. Certainly Red built on a single victory during his first season over fences last year when landing three wins in a row from December to February. Having been brought down on his seasonal return at Lingfield in November, he scored well at Wincanton stepped up to 3m1f. He followed up dropped back down to 2m4f at Sandown and scored again back up in trip at Wincanton in February.

He disappointed at Ascot at the start of the month, but that was again back down in trip and he promises to be even better stepped up to the 3m4f of the Gold Cup back at Sandown. He is still open to improvement, is a sound jumper and has won on various going so appears versatile. This is his biggest test to date but Certainly Red gets in off a decent weight of 10st10lb and should prove better than that handicap mark. He can land another victory and continue his progression up the chasing ranks.

There are several dangers to the selection, including last week’s Scottish Grand National winner Kitty’s Light; the Evan Williams-trained Annsam; Chris Gordon’s Coolvalla; and Enrilo and Broken Halo – both from the stable of champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

At Haydock Marco Botti’s RAINBOW FIRE can build on his recent second on his seasonal return at Kempton earlier this month to win the six-furlong Join Racing TV Now Handicap (3.45pm).

The five-year-old has only had six career starts but has won twice and finished placed on three other occasions, including that latest runner-up spot on the all-weather. He can continue his progress and land another victory on Merseyside.

Charlie Johnston's KNOCKBREX – a winner over 1m2f at Pontefract earlier this month – can go in again stepped up to 1m4f in the Darley Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (2.40pm).

Sir Michael Stoute’s STORMY SEA has had wind surgery since her only career start when second at Kempton in November. The three-year-old daughter of Territories can open her account in the Visit racingtv.com EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (3.15pm) on her return to action.

Clive Cox’s CONSERVATIONIST won over course and distance among three starts as a juvenile and she can score again on her return to action in the Lathom Handicap (4.20pm).

The Karl Burke-trained TELE RED won twice last season at Pontefract and Beverley and can score again in the Giants Hall Handicap (1.30pm) following his winter break.

Others who can win at Haydock are Bryan Smart’s REDZONE – who can come on for his recent fourth on his seasonal return at Kempton – in the Watch On Racing TV Handicap (2.05pm); and the David Loughnane-trained SERENITY ROSE – who scored at Wolverhampton on her most start in January – in the Every Race Live On Racing TV Handicap (4.55pm).

Back at Sandown JONBON can land another quickfire success following his recent Aintree victory in the Grade One bet365 Celebration Chase (GBB Race) (1.40pm).

Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old steps out of novice company for the first time following his fourth victory from five chase starts in the Grade One EFT Systems Maghull Novices’ Chase at the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse two weeks ago. His only defeat over the bigger obstacles was by the talented El Fabiolo in the Arkle Chase at last month’s Cheltenham Festival. He bounced back on Merseyside with a wide-margin win and he must be over those exertions otherwise he wouldn’t be lining up so soon. He remains open to more improvement and can land another valuable prize against his more experienced rivals.

It could be a good day for Ditcheat handler Nicholls at Sandown as he picks up the trophy for 14th title as champion Jumps trainer. SOLO can provide him with another victory in the Grade Two bet365 Oaksey Chase (For The Menorah Challenge Trophy) (GBB Race) (2.50pm). The seven-year-old course winner steps up in trip from 2m4f from 2m6f but he can take it in his stride to beat chiefly last year’s bet365 Gold Cup hero Hewick.

Nicholls’ KNAPPERS HILL – another course winner – may land the Grade Two bet365 Select Hurdle (GBB Race) (4pm). Stable-mate CAP DU MATHAN, who has only been out of the first three once in seven chase starts, can go one better than at Kempton last month and win the bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.25pm).

Another Nicholls-trained course winner – ICEO – may land the finale, the bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (4.35pm); while Ben Pauling’s Joe Dandancer may take the opener on the final day of the jumps season, the bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.05pm).

At Ripon Tim Easterby’s veteran COPPER KNIGHT can land another sprint success in the Ripon Silver Sprint Trophy Handicap (4.10pm).