Racing trainer, Kim Bailey shares his delight with Vinndication ahead of the 888Sport Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) at Sandown Park which takes place this Saturday, 2 February.
Vinndication recently won the Grade 2 Noel Novices Chase at Ascot and Bailey is hoping the six-year-old can extend his six race unbeaten record this weekend.
Kim Bailey said:
“I am very happy with Vinndication since his last run at Ascot, he has had plenty of time to recover from it and it has always been the plan from when he went past the post, to run at Sandown Park.
“Unbeaten records are difficult things to try and keep going. He has done everything we have asked him to go and do and hopefully he will carry on doing that.”
Bailey continues to talk about how difficult it is to compare Vinndication’s work at home to what he does on the racecourse:
“Comparing him at home to the racecourse is a tricky one as he is a very laid back individual. He wouldn’t give you a huge amount of encouragement at home by what he does - he does it in his own way.
He is never going to be flashy and he is never going to be flashy on a racecourse either but he is just an interesting character. He would be an interesting person to have a drink with actually!”
Bailey added:
“Any horse that can do what he has done is very important to any yard. It doesn’t matter who you are, they are hugely exciting horses to get hold of, very hard to find and they are treasured creatures.”
Vinndication didn’t end up running at Cheltenham last year, talking about this Bailey said:
“He was a very immature horse last year, and when he came back from his race at Huntingdon he had a touch of sore shins and you certainly can’t go to go to Cheltenham with sore shins or even attempt to. You have to gallop down hill which puts more pressure on him and I just felt he wasn’t ready for it.”
Racing trainer, Kim Bailey discusses with us that all of Vinndication’s wins over jumps have been on Soft ground. He then comments on the track and ground conditions for Saturday’s race at Sandown Park:
“The ground is going to be the hundred thousand dollar question and we will find that out this weekend. If they are putting frost covers down it will obviously make it softer or tackier.
“I have always said he is a horse that goes on Soft ground but if you watch his action at home he has got very good ground action, so I don’t know. I think it’s most probably a case of his previous opposition being slowed down by Soft ground where as he has been able to handle it. So we will find out an awful lot on Saturday!
“He has never been to Sandown before and we have got this ridiculous thing at the moment where by every time he has run he has run right handed and that has been pure coincidence more than anything else.
“I don’t see why Sandown should interfere with his ability to go. I think Sandown will suit him and I sincerely hope so anyway.”
Andrew Cooper, Head of Racing and Clerk of the Course, Sandown Park Racecourse said:
"The going on the Chase Course at Sandown Park currently remains Good to Soft, Good in places. On the Hurdles Course it is Good to Soft, Soft in places. We already have frost covers down on the shaded area in front of the stands, and will review further deployment on Wednesday. The issue is complicated by potential snow on both Tuesday and Thursday nights, which could fall as rain or sleet."
On the 11 entries in the 888Sport Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase
Lostintranslation is one of ten that could line up against Vinndication in Saturday’s feature race. The Colin Tizzard trained seven-year-old will be stepping up into Grade 1 company for the first time after success in the Grade 2 Dipper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Philip Hobbs trained Defi Du Seuil who finished second behind Lostintranslation in the Dipper at Cheltenham is another tough contender.
Another to run in the feature race is La Bague Au Roi, who was last seen winning the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. Other contenders include Gary Moore's, Dell Oro and Nicky Henderson’s, Ok Corrall who could come back in trip after winning a Listed prize over three miles at Warwick.
888Sport sponsorship returns to The Jockey Club racecourses
Saturday 2 February marks the return of 888Sport sponsorship at The Jockey Club racecourse, having last sponsored in the London region at the 2014 Tingle Creek.
Yuval Benyamini, VP of 888Sport, said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to be supporting 888sport Contenders Day at Sandown Park, which is highlighted by the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase.
“With some of the most exciting young horses in training set to be on show, it’s going to be a superb afternoon of action as the National Hunt season builds to a crescendo.”
But tickets for the 888Sport Contenders Day at Sandown Park on 2 February here or call 0344 579 3012.
