Sandown betting tips for December 7 from Horsebetting.com. Trainer Nicky Henderson is in red-hot form at present and his Turtle Wars rates the best bet on Friday’s card in the 2m 4f novices handicap chase. Fifty Shades ran a stormer when runner-up last time out, so is our next best punt to go one better and land the spoils in the 3m handicap chase. Ulysses, meanwhile, looks capable of going well at a big price in the closing 2m handicap hurdle, so appeals each-way. Find out more about these horses in our in-depth preview with Sandown betting tips for December 7 below.Turtle Wars weighted to strike on chasing debut at Sandown Trainer Nicky Henderson is on fire at present, so Turtle Wars is taken to cash-in on what looks a lenient mark and provide him with another winner in the 2m 4f Direct Commercial Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Sandown on Friday (13:55). The Seven Barrows handler is operating a a sensational strike rate of just under 42 per cent at the time of writing, and this five-year-old had some fair form over hurdles last season and looks the type to make a cracking chaser.
This son of Turtle Bowl shaped with stacks of promise on debut under rules when a staying on never nearer 3 1/2 lengths third of 12 to Whatmore at Bangor. The winner is a smart sort who has won twice since to be rated 142, so that gives the form a solid look.
Comfortable Huntingdon win
Turtle Wars was then far from disgraced when ninth of 15 to Kildistart at Ascot, before getting off the mark when comfortably landing a 15-runner maiden hurdle at Huntingdon by 1 1/4 lengths. That was a qualifier to the valuable Grade 3 EBF Novices’ Handicap hurdle at Sandown and he held every chance in it when in second place approaching the last, before weakening to finish a 17-length fifth of 17 to Sam’s Gunner off a mark of 124.
It was a solid effort from Turtle Wars as he looked far from the finished article and should have strengthened up significantly over the summer. He has the size and scope to make up into a smart chaser, and now makes his debut in that sphere off a rating of 122.
That looks very exploitable, especially on his run behind Whatmore, and the in-form Nico de Boinville now partners him for the first time. The ground is also ideal for Turtle Wars and there is simply nothing not to like about his chances in this. That’s why he rates the standout punt in our Sandown betting tips for December 7.Fifty Shades a strong fancy off bottom weightFifty Shades ran a blinder when runner-up last time out, so looks to hold leading claims of going one better and landing the spoils in the 3m Holiday Inn Shepperton Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase (15:00). That run came at Cheltenham where the Christian Williams trained five-year-old went down all guns blazing in a competitive 19-runner affair.
After racing at the rear, the grey gelding began to make stealthy headway on the inside four from home. Fifty Shades was in third place and closing approaching the last, and then stayed on strongly on the run-in to be beaten just three-quarters of a length by Sam Red in a driving finish off a mark of 102.
It was a career-best effort and the front two pulled nicely clear of the third home Presenting Julio. That gives the form a decent look in relation to this and Fifty Shades is able to race off it off just 3lb higher. The assessor could have been much harsher and, prior to that terrific run, Fifty Shades had been in fine form in the summer when winning three times.
He is clearly progressing nicely and, given his tender age, should have more improvement left in the locker. Fifty Shades also sneaks into this off bottom weight of 10st 7lb and receives over a stone from his eight rivals who are far more exposed. A repeat of his Cheltenham run should be more than good to see Fifty Shades get back to winning ways in this, so he rates the next best bet of our Sandown betting tips for December 7.Ulysses an each-way play in finale In the 2m JLT Group Novices’ Handicap Hurdle that brings proceedings to a close (15:30), Ulysses looks capable of going well at a big price. This Frank Brennan trained four-year-old has only had four starts over the obstacles and could be potentially well-treated.
After finishing runner-up in a seller at Fakenham, Ulysses ran as well as could be expected on debut for Brennan when sent off 100/1 and finishing third of six to Apple’s Shakira in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham. Although never able to land a blow, the son of Sinndar stuck to the task well to be beaten 21 lengths.
The winner is a very smart performer who went on to finish fourth in the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and third in a similar grade affair at Aintree’s Grand National meeting. Erick Le Rouge, who finished 20 lengths behind Ulysses in fifth, has won twice this season to be rated 129.
Elixir De Nutz, who trailed in last and 46 lengths behind Erick Le Rouge, has also gone on to taste success when landing a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month to be rated 138. It gives the form a solid look in relation to this class 4 affair and Ulysses is able to race in it off a mark of 109.
It makes him a fascinating contender at the weights judged on that effort, and the booking of Aidan Coleman to do the steering is a positive one. So, at the odds on offer, Ulysses looks worth and each-way wager and completes our Sandown betting tips for December 7.Your Next Bet
