A Grand Annual shout and the race Kabral Du Mathan should run in - six things we learned from last week's racing

More pointers for Cheltenham - and things are looking up for this training partnership

Vanderpoel and Ben Jones on their way to victory in the 1m7½f handicap chase at SandownCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

We might have lost some meetings over the last week, but our race-reading experts still have plenty of lessons to take from the action.

Vanderpoel can keep on rolling all the way to Cheltenham

By Richard Russell

Starter for ten: which horse won the 1m7½f handicap chase on Sandown’s card and blew the field apart, by 19 lengths, in the Queen Mother Champion Chase two starts later?

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Racing Post staff

Published on 5 January 2026inWhat We Learned

Last updated 13:33, 5 January 2026

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A Grand Annual shout and the race Kabral Du Mathan should run in - six things our analysts learned last week

More pointers for Cheltenham - and things are looking up for this training partnership

Vanderpoel can keep on rolling all the way to Cheltenham

Read the full story

Subscribe to unlock