January 31 / 14.40 Sandown

14.40

Soft

Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £56950
  • 2m 4f 15y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
ITV
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Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00

Form: 1D19-11 C

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Acts on heavy ground; well beaten at the Cheltenham Festival in both Grade 1 attempts (bumper/hurdle) but faces a more realistic task in this field and remains unexposed over fences; easily beat two rivals at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) last time, taking chase record to 2-2 and looking better than ever; possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Sixmilebridge

11st 10lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Fergal O’Brien

Front-runner who has finished first past the post in all six attempts over 2m4f (disqualified on one occasion due to a banned substance); beat Kala Conto with plenty to spare in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown (soft), task simplified by the exit of the Mullins-trained Kitzbuhel.

5/2

1st

3

31st Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 1

14:40 Sandown

Sixmilebridge

11st 7lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Fergal O’Brien

Acts on heavy ground; well beaten at the Cheltenham Festival in both Grade 1 attempts (bumper/hurdle) but faces a more realistic task in this field and remains unexposed over fences; easily beat two rivals at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) last time, taking chase record to 2-2 and looking better than ever; possibilities.

9/2

Form: 270-11

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Versatile as regards ground; has taken very well to fences this season, recording two wins (2m5f/2m1f) by an aggregate of about 25l, latest easily in Grade 2 at Cork (soft) where she beat smart mare Kargese for the second time in her career; connections landed this prize in 2023; leading chance at the weights, in receipt of 7lb back against males.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

12:45 Aintree

Kala Conti

11st 0lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Useful hurdler and she made a smooth transition to chasing towards the end of 2025, winning two mares' races at Cork (2m5f/2m1f) and beating subsequent Arkle winner Kargese by 16l in the second of them; could not maintain her progress in Grade 1 novice at Sandown in January but nor was she disgraced; top on RPRs with her mares' allowance and should go well.

4/1

Form: 27-331 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Appears to act on soft ground, unraced on heavy; has steadily found his feet since switched to chasing and registered a 4l success at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) most recently; further improvement is possible but certainly needed; has the worst chance on bare ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Miami Magic

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Prominent-racer whose flop over hurdles at this meeting last year can be forgiven; scored on his third start over fences when beating Regent's Stroll by 4l at Cheltenham (about 2m4f, good) in January; jumping left plenty to be desired when third in Sandown Grade 1 later that month, however, and the race he won at Newbury (about 3m, good to soft) last time fell apart; he wasn't always fluent that day either but a clear round puts him on the premises.

5/1

1st

1

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Miami Magic

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Fine on good and soft ground; Grade 1 placed over hurdles and this Cheltenham chase winner did well to finish within 7l of the smart Sixmilebridge in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown (2m4f) as he can jump a lot better than he did that day on soft ground; every chance that he'll be able to give weight and a beating to these, provided he stays this longer trip.

4/6

3rd

2

31st Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 1

14:40 Sandown

Miami Magic

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Appears to act on soft ground, unraced on heavy; has steadily found his feet since switched to chasing and registered a 4l success at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) most recently; further improvement is possible but certainly needed; has the worst chance on bare ratings.

14/1

Form: 153-11

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Seems to handle any ground; beaten favourite but ran creditably at Sandown in last attempt over hurdles; 2-2 since switched to fences, jumping well and making all for ready success in Grade 1 at Kempton (3m, good) on latest occasion; already smart in this sphere and promises to rate higher still; should be as effective back down in distance; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

16:50 Punchestown

Kitzbuhel

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Set the early standard in the staying novice division, winning Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton (3m, good) at Christmas after a 2m3f beginners' win at this venue; blotted his record in Sandown Grade 1, jumped right before unseating at the sixth; redeemed himself with a stylish front-running victory in the Brown Advisory; now looks strongest of the Mullins quartet.

11/10

1st

5

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Kitzbuhel

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: W P Mullins

Set the early standard in this division, beating Kaid d'Authie on chase debut then winning Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton (3m, good) on Boxing Day; jumped right before unseating in Sandown Grade 1 last time and the worries today are going left-handed plus the sense that others have improved past him.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.10
Straight Forecast £17.56
Trifecta £38.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kala Conti

POSTDATA:

Kitzbuhel

The Star:

Sixmilebridge

Telegraph:

Kitzbuhel

The Sun:

Kitzbuhel

RP RATINGS:

Kala Conti

TOPSPEED:

Kala Conti

The Times:

Kala Conti

The Guardian:

Kala Conti

Daily Mail:

Kala Conti

D Express:

Kala Conti

Daily Mirror:

Kala Conti

Daily Record:

Kala Conti