The Punt Acca: Harry Wilson with three tips from Sandown on Saturday

Bad (1.50 Sandown)

Bad ended a somewhat frustrating spell when fitted with blinkers, producing back-to-back career-best Racing Post Ratings with wins at Kempton, the last of which came when beating the well-handicapped course specialist Flegmatik, with the pair clear of the third, last month. It's easy to forgive his last run in the Topham over the National fences, as he's arguably better going right-handed, and his RPR of 146 the start before suggests his mark of 138 is workable now going the right way round.

Lucky Place (3.00 Sandown)

Lucky Place caught the eye in fourth in last season's Coral Cup when Nicky Henderson's yard was under a cloud and has bettered that with two wins this term, beating Champion Hurdle winner Golden Ace on both occasions, including when proving too strong on the run-in for subsequent Cleeve Hurdle winner Gowel Road in January. He was too keen to do himself justice in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the festival when last seen in March, but this is far less competitive and this trip on this stiff circuit should be perfect for him to bounce back.

Minella Cocooner (4.10 Sandown)

The presence of Grangeclare West means Minella Cocooner gets a racing weight of just 11st 1lb, compared to the 11st 9lb he carried in 2024, despite officially being rated 4lb higher. He ran a fantastic race in the Grand National last time, jumping the last right behind the one-two but just being outstayed and eventually finishing seventh, despite having had his saddle slip early on. He gets to run off 2lb lower than that day, and given he’s proven over the course and distance, likes quicker ground and is reunited with Danny Mullins, he could prove hard to stop.

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