STAY AWAY FAY is one of the attractions on the opening day of the Tingle Creek Festival and has to be among Sandown tips for 8 December at odds against in the 3m Grade 2 Esher Novices’ Chase (2:25). Trained by Paul Nicholls, this six-year-old Shantou gelding won his bow over fences.
The form of his chase debut at Exeter isn’t bad. Back in third that day was Grey Dawning, who won as he liked at Haydock in a graduation race where he bested the more experienced Gaillard Du Mesnil. Stay Away Fay also showed tremendous stamina and rallied when headed before prevailing.
As a best-price 8/1 on horse racing betting sites for the Broadway Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, he should be following-up. Stay Away Fay does concede 3lb to his three rivals here but, with bigger and better things expected, he can do it. The market firmly believes he will confirm form with The Changing Man from the last day.
Scottish raider Giovinco has the same 147 rating as Stay Away Fay, but barely jumped half the scheduled fences at Aintree. It’s for that reason why the Ditcheat runner heads Sandown tips at 6/5 with Betfred to follow-up under Harry Cobden.
Insurrection the Winter Novices’ Hurdle Wager
Nicholls has good claims of a big race double courtesy of INSURRECTION in the other Grade 2 on the card, the 2m 4f Winter Novices’ Hurdle (1:50). This six-year-old son of Getaway made all at Exeter on the same day as Stay Away Fay scored. Insurrection could hardly have been more impressive with his 8 1/2 lengths victory.
A £92,000 purchase at the Cheltenham January Sales after bolting up in an Irish Point, he is one of many useful types owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate. The yard trained Tahmuras to Grade 1 glory here for them in the final edition of the Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle last season.
As the second and fourth home from Insurrection’s Point success have made up into winning hurdlers too. He also beat some well-regarded types at Exeter. On that basis, Insurrection looks value on the best betting sites in the UK to follow-up on his own successful debut in that sphere.
Hat-trick @exeter for #TattsJCSale 🇬🇧 & 🇮🇪 p2p grads
🥇 Deafening Silence @DSkeltonRacing
🥇 Insurrection @PFNicholls
🥇 Stay Away Fay @PFNicholls@GandTRacing, @benharvey11, @BallycrystalSFind your winner next Friday @CheltenhamRaces
🗓️ Nov 17 (after racing), viewing… pic.twitter.com/T4dnPVCAJx— Tattersalls Jockey Club Sales (@tattsjcsales) November 10, 2023
Course winner Southoftheborder commands respect, but the eye is drawn to Nicholls’ stronger recent form. Insurrection is 9/4 with LiveScore Bet to go in again here. He can only improve for his first outing over the smaller obstacles in a decent edition of the Winter Novices’ Hurdle.
Not Sure Also One of Sandown Tips Today
In the 0-130 3m handicap chase (3:00), NOT SURE has plenty going for him. Trained by Kerry Lee, this seven-year-old Presenting gelding won nicely at Wetherby. Not Sure is 1lb well-in on future assignments here too. The form of his 4 1/4 lengths victory in West Yorkshire looks good too.
Both the third and fifth home have come out and won since. This is a step up in class, but Not Sure jumped well and kept on well. That suggests a more galloping track like Sandown should suit him. Lee’s yard perhaps isn’t firing on all cylinders, but a 6lb higher mark is something Not Sure can handle.
Regular jockey Richard Patrick again takes the ride. That’s why Not Sure completes our experts’ Sandown tips for this card at 4/1 with William Hill to follow-up. Only two other horses in the line-up come here off the back of wins, so that adds to his claims.
Sandown Tips for 8 December
- Stay Away Fay (NAP) in the Esher Novices’ Chase (2:25) @ 6/5 with Betfred
- Insurrection (NB) in the Winter Novices’ Hurdle (1:50) @ 9/4 with LiveScore Bet
- Not Sure in the 3m handicap chase (3:00) @ 4/1 with William Hill
