Horse Racing Tip – 4.10 Sandown 23-04-16

The 2015/2016 National Hunt season draws to a close at Sandown Park on Saturday afternoon where the trainers’ championship which has developed into an intriguing battle between Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins will be decided. A victory for either handler in the featured bet365 Gold Cup will almost certainly clinch the title although the 20-runner 3m 6f handicap chase looks as open a renewal as there has been in recent years.

Our 20-1 ante-post selection Le Reve is strongly fancied to run a big race at a venue Harry Skelton’s mount obviously relishes. In such an open contest it may be wise to have a second string to our bow and the horse who appeals most is the Colin Tizzard runner Theatre Guide from a stable that has been in great form this season, mainly due to the exploits of Cue Card and Thistlecrack.

Despite running off an 11lb higher mark than when easily landing the Betbright Chase at Kempton in February the nine-year-old still looks capable of defying a revised rating of 150, 5lb more than when finishing a creditable third behind Triolo D’Alene in the 2013 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

Still in with every chance when falling at the 13th fence in the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival the mount of Paddy Brennan is normally a safe jumper and looks too big at the 16-1 available with the sponsor.