'His form's better here than anywhere' - could course specialists prove the key?

Saturday: 3.30 SandownVirgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase | 3m | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Saturday racecards|Big-race tips|Watch In The Know

A race with a rich history. Mill House, Bula, Burrough Hill Lad and Desert Orchid all won it during its guise as the Gainsborough Chase and in 1998, when it was the Agfa Diamond Chase, Cool Dawn was pulled up when 5-4 favourite before bouncing back to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on his next run.

Sadly, the glory days are long gone and the topweight here, Real Steel, is rated only 145. Just nine years ago the topweight Roberto Goldback had a mark of 157, so the decline is evident. But let’s not undersell Real Steel because he does link the race back up with the Gold Cup.

In the 2020 Gold Cup, the then Willie Mullins-trained Real Steel finished less than eight lengths behind Al Boum Photo and he travelled so well that he was backed to a low of 3.55 in running on Betfair, from a huge SP of 50-1, to win the big one before his effort flattened out.

Since then, Real Steel’s decline has been similar to that of the standard of this race and he has dropped from a peak BHA rating of 166 in five outings for Paul Nicholls. Hopefully the Nicholls stable will soon emerge from its traditional mid-season flu-jab slump.

The Philip Hobbs-trained Deise Aba is going for a hat-trick in the race and he recorded another fine effort at the track when beaten just a nose into second by Highland Hunter in the London National in December. That took his Sandown form figures to 112 and this is a race that has gone to course specialists before. Who could forget Le Reve winning it in 2015 and 2016?

The last word goes to the other hat-trick-seeker Venetia Williams. She is bidding to make it three wins in the race in nine runnings and saddles Farinet, who might just be an emerging Sandown specialist. He made it two wins from two starts at the track when scoring here last month and, while both wins were at two and a half miles, he looks like he will get three.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Real Steel and Kapcorse
Real Steel has been out of form for a while, but he’s slipped to a nice mark and we’re hoping he can find his form for the spring. The decent ground at Sandown will be a plus. Kapcorse won the race he had been trained for very nicely at Newbury. He hasn’t won over three miles, but I don’t see the trip as being a problem.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Deise Aba
We could have done with softer ground. His chase form is better at Sandown than anywhere else.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Farinet
We’re hoping for some rain. It’s his first time over this distance, but the way he runs suggests he should be okay at it. He has performed well at the course before.

Christian Williams, trainer of Five Star Getaway
I hope he still has more to give. He had a minor setback early in the season but was then quite impressive at Kempton over Christmas. The second horse that day, Fortescue, has run very well in a Grade 2 chase at Haydock since. Five Star Getaway has won at Sandown, and the ground will be safe for him. This race is a nice stepping stone for the spring. He’s in the Ultima at Cheltenham and also has options at Aintree.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Linelee King
He was an unlucky loser at Ayr and has come out of it well. We're chucking him in at the deep end but he jumps well and has an each-way chance.
Reporting by Richard Birch

Read all of Saturday's previews:

3.15 Leopardstown: Irish Gold Cup: key quotes and analysis as Frodon, Kemboy and Minella Indo clash

Asterion Forlonge: is he a maverick or simply misunderstood

1.05 Leopardstown: Hollow Games has most to fear from fast-improving stablemate Minella Crooner

1.35 Leopardstown: Fil Dor bids to cement Triumph hopes but Vauban 'the one to beat', says Elliott

2.10 Leopardstown: Blue Lord bids to fill void left by Ferny Hollow for Mullins in Irish Arkle

2.20 Sandown: L'Homme Presse and Pic D'Orhy set for Sandown showdown in Scilly Isles

2.30 Wetherby: Lucinda Russell looks for 'confidence booster' to put Ahoy Senor back on track

3.45 Musselburgh: Questions over ground and jumping - who can come up with the winning answer?

Watch live races through the Racing Post. Log in to your bookmaker account and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here