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Missed Approach had the third shortest odds at some books - 7/1 - to win Saturday's Sandown Saturday 15:35. Blaklion was the odds-on favorite at 6/1 and Step Back at 7/1 or 8/1 depending on the book.
Sporting Life Preview
Henllan Harri carries 9lb more than when successful last year. Theatre Guide, Benbens, Rock The Kasbah, Sugar Baron and The Young Master also make a return visit. The latter won this in 2016 and was well backed in last week’s Scottish Grand National but got rid of Sam Waley-Cohen at the first fence. He’s on a very lenient mark nowadays and Conor Shoemark takes over the reins. Blaklion was also a first-fence casualty last time, in the Aintree National, but will have to shoulder a big weight again. Regal Encore was withdrawn at Aintree on account of the going but beat Minella Daddy at Ascot in February, though is worse off at the weights. Missed Approach is a thorough stayer and won the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir at Cheltenham last month, though has been raised 8lb. Bigbadjohn departed at the third in the Topham at Aintree and never seems to run two races alike. RATHLIN ROSE was taken off his feet in the Topham and beaten when falling four out but he has a terrific record here and ran well over an even longer trip in the Welsh National in December. He is racing from out of the handicap in this but that has been no barrier to success in the past. Step Back is the unknown quantity and Mark Bradstock is not one to tilt at windmills so the novice demands respect carrying the minimum weight.
