Saturday’s ITV Racing Tips from Sandown and Wincanton
Saturday’s ITV Racing comes from Sandown and Wincanton and the Sandown card includes the Veterans’ Handicap Chase and the Tolworth Hurdle, which is usually a decent clue towards the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
There are eight live races to go through and our tipster Henry Gibbs has picked out his best bets for the day including a 5/1 NAP and 11/4 NB, both at Sandown.
See the preview of each ITV races and tips for the eight races on Saturday 8th January below.
1:30 Wincanton
A competitive handicap hurdle over the 2m trip starts proceedings on ITV.
My selection is MIDNIGHT CALLISTO (6/1 with bet365). She ran her best race yet last time out finishing a good second here at Wincanton and there is optimism she can go one better here based on that effort. She’s still fairly unexposed and trainer Anthony Honeyball is in great form at the moment operating at a 38% strike rate in the last two weeks. She looks sure to run a good race.
1:50 Sandown
The 1:50 from Sandown is a Handicap Chase over the minimum 2m trip and good slick jumping will be key.
The one I like is NUMITOR NB (11/4). A horse who is consistent and seems to be improving all the time. He is the likely pace angle in this race and may well get a soft lead. He jumps well and can hopefully get some of these in trouble along way out. He’s won his only start on soft ground and I think he’ll prove tough to pass.
2:05 Wincanton
The 2:05 from Wincanton is next up and it is another competitive contest again over 2m but this time over the Chase course.
The one for me here is BELLE DE MONECH (4/1). A horse proven over further than this 2m trip, I expect her to go close here. She won well last time out here at Wincanton. She likes to sit up with the pace and I think she can grind out another victory here on what could turn into a stamina test.
2:25 Sandown
The 2:25 from Sandown is the feature on the day, the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle over 2 miles.
You can’t look past the favourite CONSTITUTION HILL (4/11 – No Bet) here. He looked a horse of serious potential when winning on hurdles debut here at Sandown last time. He shown a potent turn of foot and you could argue he had more to beat on debut than he does today. Should win easily. 2/5 odds are arguably fair.
2:40 Wincanton
The 2:40 from Wincanton is a handicap hurdle over just shy of 3m. Stamina will be essential on the rain-softened ground here.
The one I like is APPLE ROCK (11/2). He’s back on a winning mark here and I think he has shown enough promise of late to be worth a second glance today. He travelled well last time out at Leicester before becoming tired late on to finish 7th. That was a deep enough race and if that has brought him on a touch, I think he has to go close today. Trainer Ben Pauling is another banging in the winners of late and hopefully he can add a Saturday ITV winner here too.
3:00 Sandown
The 3:00 race from Sandown is a fan favourite. The Veterans Handicap Chase over 3m, a race full of familiar names and fan favourites.
The one for me is FINAL NUDGE NAP (5/1). A horse that is lightly raced for his age, he appears to have relished the move to the Fergal O’Brien stable. He was a good winner last time out at Warwick and I suspect similar tactics will be adopted again here from Paddy Brennan. There will be a strong gallop here and he’ll sit at the back held up. I suspect Paddy will nurse him into contention and deliver him late. He has assured stamina which is not the case for some of the market rivals and I think he’s an each way bet to nothing here. Can’t see him out the frame.
3:15 Wincanton
The final race from Wincanton on ITV comes up at 3:15 and it is another Handicap Chase, this time over the intermediate 2m4f trip.
My selection is NOTRE PARI (5/1). A horse will suited by cut in the ground and he’ll certainly get that today. I think the small field will suit as hell have more room and hopefully take some pressure off his sketchy jumping. I like the jockey booking of Adrian Heskin as he often gets the best out of strong travelling sorts. See Marie’s Rock on Boxing Day.
3:35 Sandown
The final race comes from Sandown and it is another trappy handicap hurdle over the 2m trip.
My selection here is NATURAL HISTORY (11/2). He’ll likely either win or finished well beaten but he’s a horse full of talent and things will click sooner rather than later. He’s much better than his current mark of 118 and the deep grind shouldn’t be an issue based on his performances when operating on the flat. Win only play.
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