Preview Of SANDOWN 14:10 07/03/2008 By Billy121only

Is betting in amateur rider's races a good long term strategy? No, it's not. The reason being that amateur riders have widely varying abilities in the saddle! Sometimes I think one or two might be better off jumping off and leading them up the straight! However, on this occasion, this factor works in our favour. Captain Snowden has ridden in some 150+ races under rules and won 32 times giving him a strike rate that many top jockeys would be proud of. In the small world of ex-service men & women NH amateurs, he is the AP McCoy equivalent. That bodes well for his ride today on the mare BONCHESTER BRIDGE. Although not one of the stable stars, she is a capable sort and is a 4-time winner. Last time out over fences was clearly not her running and although she is only fairly handicapped, she should go close here. DANSE MACABRE is a former winner of this race and is never a bad thing. However, he has looked as though he wants a good test and this 2m will not be ideal. In addition, his jockey is very inexperienced under rules and so at 3/1 I cannot see nay value in backing this one. INVESTMENT AFFAIR has not stood much racing in recent times and was readily brushed aside in a modest novice chase last time after looking all over the winner at one point. Not impossible to see him winning but doesn't have the most appealing overall profile. QUASIMODO has a chance of sorts but has looked as though he stays forever and this 2m on good ground is likely to find him out. DYNAMIC RHYTHM showed some ability on the flat for Jeremy Noseda but has yet to finish within 10l of the winner over jumps and is due to be dropped 3lb in the handicap.