Today’s racing
Colin Tizzard’s exciting prospect Fiddlerontheroof takes on six rivals in today’s Grade 1 Unibet Novices’ Hurdle (2m) at Sandown.
The six-year-old was an impressive seven-length winner at the Esher track last month having been second on his previous two starts. He chased home Thyme Hill in the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow and his conqueror that day has since gone on to win the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle.
Fiddlerontheroof’s opponents include Grade 2 winner Hang In There, Calva D’Auge, Logan Rocks, Silver Hallmark, Son Of Camas and Jeremys Flame.
Sandown’s meeting will also pay tribute to the late Houblon Des Obeaux, with the veterans’ handicap chase, the final of the 2019 veterans’ series, run in the memory of Venetia Williams’ popular performer.
Houblon Des Obeaux, who won last year’s veterans’ final, suffered a fatal heart attack in the void race run at Sandown last month.
There are also jumps meetings from Newcastle, Wincanton and Cork (Ireland) while Kempton and Lingfield stage all-weather fixtures.
Envoi Allen declared for Sunday
Cheveley Park Stud’s rising jumps star Envoi Allen will bid to extend his unbeaten run to seven races when he lines up in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (2m4f) on Sunday.
He will face his Gordon Elliott stablemate Conflated, the Joseph O’Brien-trained duo Midnight Run and Anything Will Do and the Willie Mullins-trained Elixir D’Ainay. The field is completed by Longhouse Poet and French Dynamite.
