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ITV Racing Preview Saturday
WHAT A DAY AHEAD! 9 races live on ITV Racing on Saturday afternoon with Grade 1’s a plenty. Action from Sandown, Leopardstown (Dublin Racing Festival) and Musselburgh!
Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing. These can be added direct to your bet365 bet slip.
ITV Racing Preview Saturday Schedule
1.15 Sandown Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Class 2 1m71/2f
1.35 Leopardstown Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Grade 1) 2m1/2f
1.50 Sandown Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) Class 1 2m4f
2.05 Musselburgh bet365 Scottish County Hurdle (A Handicap) Class 2 1m71/2f
2.20 Sandown Virgin Bet Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) Class 1 3m
2.55 Sandown Virgin Bet Warriors Handicap Chase (Class 3) 2m4f
3.15 Leopardstown Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m
3.30 Sandown Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (Class 2) 3m
3.45 Musselburgh bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase (Class 2) 4m1f
ITV Racing 4/1 Offer
Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a risk free bet on the next live ITV race (up to £50) at bet365. Offer applies to first single bet placed.
Applies to Win and Each-Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place Terms markets only. Bet restrictions and T&Cs apply. New and eligible customers only.
Sandown 1.15 Virgin Bet Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Class 2 1m71/2f
Brilliant days racing ahead on ITV and we kick off over at Sandown where PADDY’S POEM looks good value to land the opener. He is lightly raced for a 10yo and returned from a 393-day absence with a cracking effort finding just one too good over C&D 5 weeks ago. The winner Ibleo looks progressive and won his next start impressively at Doncaster so the form has been boosted. This is tougher but at the prices he appeals most and I think he’ll be in there fighting at the death.
Dolos beat First Flow in this last year, form that looks amazing now, and off just a 1lb higher mark he is the danger. The market hasn’t missed him though and at 5/2 I’d rather be against. Caribean Boy looked really good at Newbury but jumped slow at Ascot last time and he has a bit to prove after that.
Leopardstown 1.35 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Grade 1) 2m11/2f
This race has only been run 3 times and Willie Mullins has won all 3. We have both of the last 3 winners lining-up with CHACUN POUR SOI winning it last year after Min won it the two years prior. Chacun Pour Soi beat Min by just shy of 4 lengths last year and could be even better this year. Since then he has won two races comfortably and I think he will win this before going on to the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.
The selection and Min have beaten most of these recently and I think it will be the same 1-2 as last year with the Mullins duo dominating. He could even have the 1-2-3 with Tornado Flyer who is back down in trip.
Sandown 1.50 Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) Class 1 2m4f
What a race this could be! Itchy Feet won it last year and it’s been won by some smart types down the years including Bristol De Mai and Defi Du Seuil. I think it’ll produce another good one this year and I’ll be hoping that horse is SHAN BLUE for Dan and Harry Skelton. He is a perfect 3-3 over fences and put in his best run to date winning the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. He lowered the colours of The Big Breakaway on that occasion and is clearly an extremely talented horse. The step back in trip in testing ground holds no fears and with further improvement to come I think he’ll brush this field aside.
Messire Des Obeaux has returned better than ever winning head in chest on chase debut at Wincanton before following up and lowering the colours of the favourites stablemate Protektorat last time. Strictly on the figures he needs more again but the manner of those two wins have been very impressive so he should give the selection a race. Hitman was just given too much to do when second to Allmankind last time and also cannot be ignored.
Musselburgh 2.05 bet365 Scottish County Hurdle (A Handicap) Class 2 1m71/2f
This race is wide-open as usual and with 5 and 6 year olds having a great record in the race I think ASHINGTON has a great chance on his first run for Brian Ellison. He was 2nd here last year and even though he is 3 pounds higher this year the 7 pound claim of Oakley Brown means he is better off at the weights. He only has half a length to find on last years running and his form looks solid enough to see him go close. The ground doesn’t look too bad either Soft-good to soft in places which is another positive.
There are plenty of dangers but Christopher Wood is the main danger for me with Angus Cheleda taking off 7 pounds and he should run a big race over 2 miles which I think is his best trip. Torigni has been nibbled at in the market and is another one you could make a case for in a fiercely competitive handicap.
Sandown 2.20 Virgin Bet Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) Class 1 3m
Another cracker and I’m going to side with last years winner SANTINI for Nicky Henderson. This horse is hard to get fit and while he’ll need to do better than what we’ve seen so far this season we know this sort of test suits given the way he saw off Bristol De Mai in this last year before going on to finish a neck-second in the Gold Cup. He still has tons of potential and he can get back on track here before a tilt at the big one again next month. I’m actually quite surprised to see 11/4 on offer as I think that’s a very good price. Surely he’ll be backed before post time?
With the ground deep Bristol De Mai would have to be the main danger again. He looked better than ever beating Clan Des Obeaux and Lostintranslation in the Betfair Chase and will be giving his all in the closing stages. Native River should come on for his Aintree run and is not ruled out either on his first look at this track. Saint Calvados pulled too hard in the King George and still has to prove his stamina over 3 miles.
Sandown 2.55 Virgin Bet Warriors Handicap Chase (Class 3) 2m4f
A fiercely competitive handicap chase at Sandown now and any of 4 or 5 of these could win. I’ve decided to keep the faith with EVANDER despite getting beat at Wincanton. This horse looked to be going places winning by 14 lengths at Doncaster but failed to cope with a 9lb rise at Wincanton. He did have excuses though as he stumbled badly and lost crucial momentum before getting outpaced. He stayed on well to finish second to Capeland but couldn’t fully recover. He has a tongue-strap on now and I think he could still be well handicapped off a mark of 133. He has only actually run four times over fences so he should still be improving.
Alnadam seemed suited by this C&D when winning on penultimate start but things didn’t exactly go to plan at Kempton last time and he has a bit to prove off the back of that. I’m not surprised he’s market leader here but I am surprised at just how short he is around 7/2. I’d have this more 9/2 bar with the selection looking better value at around 11/2 at the time of writing. Of the rest Benatar is tricky but capable and could run well. Doitforthevillage rolled back the years to strike over track and trip last time and it would be good to see him run well again for Paul Henderson and the gang.
Leopardstown 3.15 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m
I love the Irish Champion Hurdle and the wonder mare HONEYSUCKLE lines up again going for back-to-back wins in the race. She is currently 9 wins in 9 races in her career and it is hard to see her getting beat even in this very good field. She gets the mares allowance which is huge in a race at this level to get weight from all her rivals makes the case for her winning even stronger. If she is fitter for her comeback win she will take this before a possible crack at the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.
Sharjah won his usual Matheson Hurdle in December and had a few of these behind. He is likely to be the danger but it is hard to see why he would overturn last years result. Saint Roi failed to build on that luckless second to Abacadabras but it’s still early days so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him run well.
Sandown 3.30 Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Class 2 3m
I was really impressed with ASK ME EARLY at Chepstow again last time and he can bring up the hat-trick here. He is a staying chaser going places and given he jumps so well he should continue to defy the handicapper. He coped readily with a 6lb rise to win again last time and up a further 7lb he still looks to have plenty up his sleeve. There was an element of inevitability about the way he galloped them into submission last time and if he builds on that again he should make it a perfect 3-3 over fences. He won a point to point over 3 miles so this was always going to be his game having shown promise in a couple of starts over hurdles. With the promise of more to come he looks one to keep firmly on side.
Coo Star Sivola won the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival in 2018 and is down another 2lb after finishing fifth at Kempton last time. He might run a bit better here but still needs to show more for me to get involved. Danny Whizzbang was pulled up last time so is also hard to recommend. Kiltealy Briggs might be the danger back up in trip now sent handicapping.
Musselburgh 3.45 bet365 Edinburgh National Handicap Chase (Class 2) 4m1f
An interesting renewal of this race with last years winner Bob Mahler only a few pounds higher than 12 months ago but he has really struggled this season pulling-up on all 3 runs. The unexposed DINO BOY looks the one to be on. He had a great chance going to the last at Kelso over his first try at this extreme test when his rival fell and left him clear, he won by 15 lengths. He has been put up 8 pounds for that win but looks to have plenty to come in a race where the form is a bit all over the place and I think he will go very close at a decent each way price.
Le Breuil has been running really well and is definitely a threat but he has to give weight away all round which will be a tough ask and he lacks a gear change which even over a marathon trip like this can be called upon. He’s been expensive to follow so wouldn’t be for me. The Ferry Master has won 3 of his last 4 and has shown progressive form so might be the bigger danger.
ITV Racing Daily Double
Both the NAP (best bet) and NB (next best) run live on ITV Racing on Saturday afternoon. These are our two best bets of the day and are not to be missed!
ITV Racing Daily Double
Leopardstown 3.15 Honeysuckle NAP
Sandown 3.30 Ask Me Early NEXT BEST
Pays 7/1!
ITV Racing Win Trixie
With a whopping 9 races live on ITV on Saturday afternoon we’ve picked three horses to make a Win Trixie. If at least 2 win we should make some nice profit.
ITV Racing Win Trixie
Sandown 1.50 Shan Blue EYE CATCHER
Musselburgh 2.05 Ashington
Sandown 2.20 Santini ONE TO WATCH
Pays 70/1!
ITV Racing Each Way Double
With some competitive races live on ITV Racing on Saturday we’ve included an Each Way Double. Two horses at big prices we fancy to run well. If both place we should make some profit.
