Hi Reader

The European Breeders Fund Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final is a Premier Handicap hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged between four and seven. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs, and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped.

It is a handicap race for novices, and it is scheduled to take place each year in March. It is currently sponsored by Betfair. The race was first run in 1998. The race is restricted to horses which have placed in the first four in a qualifying race during the current season.

In 2022–23 there were 36 scheduled qualifiers between October and February. The race held Grade 3 status until 2022 and was reclassified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Grade 3 status was renamed by the British Horseracing Authority.

**Note - I will be in touch this afternoon with an update on the Cheltenham Festival.

Big Saturday Race Preview And Tips

All our Big Saturday Race Previews & Tips are published online at https://lp.betalchemist.com/

Following the result of the race, there are made availble to the public. Too late to back the winner or change the result at that time!

Ok, let's crack on with today's preview and tips.

Kaka’s Cousin can score at Sandown

A maximum field of 18 runners take part in this EBF novice hurdle series final. The ground is soft on the hurdles course so it is going to be a proper test of stamina for these young racehorses.

Onto the race itself where today we back two against the field.

Kaka’s Cousin won impressively over two miles at Kelso three weeks ago. It looks like the penny has dropped following a maiden win and second in a novice hurdle behind Starmount. Kaka’s Cousin races on the front end and that is a positive around Sandown on soft ground. It is difficult to make up ground up the Stiff hill finish at Sandown on soft. A handicap mark of 126 looks fair with this ex-Irish pointer sure to appreciate going out in distance to two and a half miles.

Cinquenta is a huge horse with chaser stamped all over him! His bumper form reads well with two placed runs behind Cheltenham Grade 1 runners, Sober Glory & No Drama No End. Cinquenta finished second twice over hurdles before the new year. Jamie Snowden gave him a small break, and he came back to win easily at Market Rasen last month. Jamie trained last years dramatic winner and knows what is required to win this race. Cinquenta will love the soft ground and should stay the two and a half miles fine with Gavin Sheehan a top-class jockey on top.

Scorpio Rising is a well backed favourite. He has won three hurdle races in a row and maybe the handicapper has caught up with him. Nicky Henderson's runner called Laguna Beach should go well. He made a bad mistake two out when second at Ascot over further in January.

Sandown 1:50

0.5 point each way Kaka’s Cousin 13/2 Unibet & Betway, 5 places.

0.5 point each way Cinquenta 10/1 Bet365 5 places else 11/1 William Hill, 4 places.

Best of Luck,

Nicky

Past Results

2025 showed a loss of -53.28 points. There was 1 winner & 20 placed from a total of 72 tips.

2024 showed a profit of +19.55 points won. There was 10 winners & 18 placed from a total of 80 tips.

Big Saturday Races Past Results

A full listing of all our Big Saturday Feature Race selections and results can be found by clicking the button below.

Usually, there are two selections in the big field handicaps.

Latest Big Saturday Race Winner was Saddadd at 4/1

2026 running total -12.00 or -£240 to £10 ew stakes.​

2025 total -50.28 points or -£1006 to £10 ew stakes.​

2024 total +19.55 points profit or +£391 to £10 ew stakes.​

Since the Big Saturday Race Preview column began in 2014 the service is showing profits of +107 points

or £2,140 to £10 each way stakes.