ITV Racing Tips for Saturday 3rd February from Sandown & Musselburgh

1:25 Sandown

The first race comes up at 1:25 and it is a novice handicap hurdle over the 2m4f trip.

The one I like here is ONETHREEFIVENOTOUT (3/1). He obviously hasn’t been the easiest to get right since a bumper victory on debut back in October 2021 but he’s managed to put three runs together this season which has to be encouraging. He pulled up on the first of those three runs at Chepstow but he was entitled to need that run. He’s come forward again on his next two starts finishing a good second on both occasions, firstly at Wincanton and then again at Kempton. They were over 2 miles and the way he stayed on to the line last time out suggests this step up in trip looks sure to suit. He has scope to improve now tackling handicap company for the first time off what could look a lenient mark.

 

1:40 Musselburgh

We head up to Scotland for the first of three races. The 1:40 is first up and it is another novice handicap chase over the extended 2m4f.

In a race named after Frodon, you’d hope MONMIRAL (5/2) NB has been laid out for this with Bryony Frost on board. He was well fancied on seasonal return in a deep renewal of the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. He was bang there two out and just weakened late on to finish mid-division. He’s entitled to improve for that and this race is significantly weaker. A smaller field seems to suit him better too and he’ll get that today.

 

2:00 Sandown

We head back to Sandown for the 2:00 contest, a 2m handicap chase.

A tricky race where they all have questions to answer. Harper’s Brook throws races away and the Sandown hill is going to be the last thing he’ll need after the last. In Excelsis Deo has scope to improve but his jumping can be an issue and over the Sandown chase circuit, that’s a concern.

Therefore it’s SAINT SEGAL (9/4) I’ve landed on. He arguably should have won his last two starts. The first of those was at Ascot where he fell at the last when in front in what looked a typically decent Ascot handicap. Last time out, he just got going too late when a never nearer second at the line behind First Flow. He’s definitely got races in him off his current mark and this race should suit him well for him. He’ll get a lovely pace to aim at and the way he finishes over 2 miles suggests the stiff finish will suit well. 

 

2:15 Musselburgh

The 2:15 from Musselburgh is the Edinburgh National, a slog over just shy of 4 miles.

It’s PEACHES AND CREAM (7/2) for me here. Anything Gavin Cromwell send to England this season has to be instantly respected and the same rule applies for the selection here. He was last seen finishing 5th in a competitive handicap at Cheltenham where he was doing all his best work late on. That was over 3m and this step back up to a marathon trip looks the right move. He looks capable of going close off a 1lb lower.

 

2:35 Sandown

The 2:35 at Sandown is the feature, the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices Chase ran over 2m4f. 

I’d expect HERMES ALLEN (11/10) to take a fair bit of stopping in this. Comfortably the best hurdler out of this lot, he’s done nothing wrong in his two chase starts this season. The first of those was at Newbury when comfortably beating the re-opposing Nickle Back by over 6 lengths. Connections had said that he’d come on for that outing as well. He then went to the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices Chase on Boxing Day and ran a cracker behind the phenomenal Il Est Francais. Given how he tried to go with him that day, he done well to finish as close as he did and beat the others comfortably. This drop down in trip will be no problem and it’s hard to see a repeat of that Boxing Day effort not being good enough in this line-up.

 

2:50 Musselburgh 

The final race on ITV from Musselburgh comes up at 2:50 and it is the Scottish County Handicap Hurdle over the 2 mile trip.

I was impressed with YOUR HONOR (7/1) as Limerick last time out and I think he can make the trip over here worth while. He made all that day over 2m and being up with the pace here at Musselburgh especially over 2m is a good spot to be in. He’s only five so he’s entitled to keep improving whilst the same can’t be said for a lot of his rivals in here. The ground is a slight concern but I’m happy to take the chance as apart from that, he has a lot going for him.

 

3:10 Sandown

Next up at Sandown is the 3:10, a handicap hurdle for the staying sorts over 3 miles.

The one I like in here is GOOD LUCK CHARM (10/1) EW. She ran a cracker when last seen, finishing a good 4th in the competitive Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton. She stayed on well that day over 2m5f so I’d be hopeful this extra 3f is no problem. She again sneaks in off a low weight effectively running off less than 10 stone with Ben Godfrey’s 3lb claim taken into consideration. She’s a really consistent sort that’s hardly ever out of the frame. That makes her a cracking each-way bet in this type of race.

 

3:45 Sandown

The final race comes up at 3:45, a trappy 3m handicap chase.

I do like CERTAINLY RED (7/1) NAP in the finale. The 10 year-old has a fine record here at Sandown and his three runs this season give the impression he’s got a race of this nature in him. He’s generously been dropped 5lb since the start of the season and he’s 3lb lower than a fine third in the London National when last here at Sandown two starts ago. He’ll appreciate the drier ground and he’ll be staying on the strongest given his proven stamina over field. If he’s anywhere close to the leaders turning for home, I’d be disappointed if he wasn’t able to pick them off. 

 

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