4th-Jan-2020

I think that Mercy Mercy Me is interesting here, with cheekpieces back on and back at Sandown and racing for just the third time for Paul Nicholls.

He ran three times at Sandown when he was with Fergal O’Brien.  He won his bumper there, he finished third in a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle there and, while he finished last of five in the Tolworth Hurdle on this day last year, he was a big outsider that day, and he wasn’t beaten far by Rathhill for fourth.

Second in a maiden hurdle at Stratford in October on his first run for Paul Nicholls, he shaped well on his chase debut last time at Plumpton.  He wasn’t beaten far into third place behind a talented pair in Champagne Court and Diable De Sivola.

The handicapper left him on his chase mark of 125 after that, which was fair.  He was rated 130 at one point last season over hurdles, and he has the potential to go beyond a mark of 125 over fences.  There is plenty of pace on here, and Harry Cobden should be able to get a nice lead just in behind the leaders.

MERCY MERCY ME WON (ADV 4/1, SP 9/2)