The racing has been pretty poor in the UK this week with Cheltenham looming on the horizon. The action perks up a little this weekend at Sandown with the Grand Military Gold Cup and Imperial Cup.
The Grand Military used to be a matter of picking the best jockey but the standard has definitely improved over the years. Paul Nicholls looks to have a strong hand this year with Howlongisafoot and Merrion Square and the market suggests that they will finish in that order.
Howlongisafoot ran well in a couple of handicap hurdles at the start of the season, finishing fifth at Cheltenham behind Unique De Cotte. The winner is a leading fancy for the Martin Pipe Hurdle next week at the festival. He ran here over fences in December and was beaten only a length and a quarter by Generous Ransom, another horse that is festival-bound.
He was well backed last time in a minor race at Taunton and beat Freckle Face by five lengths. He is only up 5lbs for that victory and should give Jody Sole a second winner in the race. He rode Merrion Square to victory here in 2013 but that horse may be in need of the outing this time. He was well beaten at odds-on at Worcester in August on his last start.
For the double I am going for Nicky Henderson’s Lessons In Milan in the handicap hurdle. It has not been the best season so far for the Lambourn trainer but his last four runners have won including 12-1 shot Hurricane Higgins on the flat. That augurs well for his runners next week including Peace And Co and L’Ami Serge.
Lessons In Milan is a lightly-raced seven-year-old by St Leger winner Milan out of a mare by Doyoun. He won a point-to-point in Ireland and was pitched in at Ascot on his debut against odds-on stable companion Out Sam. He was not disgraced in third and then romped to a 37-length victory at Lingfield. Admittedly it was a very poor contest but the handicapper has taken a chance by giving him a mark of 126 here.
His main danger will probably be Ustica for the Jonjo O’Neill – Tony McCoy combination. He has a similar profile but was far less impressive when scrambling home at Uttoxeter from Jalingo. The handicapper has rated him on the same figure as Lessons In Milan.
Howlongisafoot 3.25 @13-8 Paddy Power
Lessons In Milan 4.00 @3-1 Ladbrokes
