If ever there was a horse plotted up to win a big handicap then it's Jonjo O’Neill’s Aberdale in the opener at Sandown (2.00).
The six-year-old was a decent bumper winner last season, and has shaped with bags of promise in three runs over hurdles without troubling the judge.
The Trevor Hemmings owned gelding qualified for handicaps when finishing fourth to Cool Mission at Doncaster last time out, and his ultra shrewd connections have managed to get him in a £70,000 added contest off a lenient looking mark of 114.
I am convinced that Aberdale is far, far better than what he has shown so far, and with the highly talented Richie McLernon taking a further 3lb off his back he could be thrown in at the foot of the weights.
Recommended bet: 3pts each-way Aberdale (10-1 bet365, Sky Bet, Betfred)
