Saturday ITV4 Racing Tips: Sandown and Aintree Preview

Dave Stevos is back this weekend with Saturday ITV4 Racing tips for all live free to air races. Last Sunday at Fairyhouse was a hugely informative day of racing. As we predicted, Joseph O’Brien dominated the opener and Cerberus came out on top. He looks a pretty useful sort. Envoi Allen also impressed, quickening up well to score in the Royal Bond. The question is, what did he beat? Our selection Soviet Pimpernel was very disappointing and it looked like Cheltenham left a mark.

The biggest talking point was, surprise surprise, Samcro. He fell when still travelling well in the Drinmore, leaving the race to the slick jumping Fakir D’oudairies. Our 7/1 e/w selection Ronald Pump made a crucial error at the worst moment but he did get back up for 2nd.  Mon Lino (advised e/w at 28/1) also ran a blinder, finishing 2nd to Killer Miller. Honeysuckle looks a serious operator and it will be fascinating to see where she goes in March. The focus switches to Sandown and Aintree on Saturday, check out Dave Stevos’ free Saturday ITV4 Racing Tips below…

Saturday Tips: 1.30 Aintree – Becher Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

The action starts with a bang on ITV4 on Saturday with the Grade 3 Becher Chase. This 25f contest is run over the Grand National fences and is a trial for the main event itself. A field of 18 will line up behind the tape and it looks wide open. The 2018 (Walk In The Mill) and 2016 (Vieux Lion Rouge) winners are back again and both look to have solid claims. However, the former will have the big one as his main aim, while Vieux Lion Rouge looks handicapped to his best.

One that could go well at a monster price is Minellacelebration for Ben Poste and Katy Price. This 9yo loves it at Aintree and he has form figures of 121 at the track. The son of King’s Theatre has yet to tackle the Grand National Fences but given his course form connections are right to have a crack. His most recent winning form has come on good ground but he has won on soft and heavy too so conditions should be fine. He has a fair bit to find with Wandrin Star on their clash last time, but Minellacelebration should strip fitter now. At odds of 33/1 with 5 places available, he is our each way selection.

SATURDAY ITV4 RACING TIPS: MINELLACELEBRATION E/W @ 33/1 (5 PLACES)

ITV4 Racing Tips: 1.50 Sandown – Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

It is Tingle Creek Day at Sandown on Saturday but that isn’t the only Grade 1 on the card. The Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase is the first live ITV4 race from the track and while only 7 go to post, it is a fascinating heat. Run over the minimum trip of 16f, the ground will be on the testing side of good to soft and the head of the market is tight with four horses at single figure odds. Torpillo is the favourite for Henderson and Jacob after his easy Warwick win. He gets weight from all his main market rivals and he looks the one to beat.

Summerville Boy returns to Grade 1 company after a confidence boosting win at Uttoxeter on his return. He came up short repeatedly at this level since his Cheltenham win and he needs it to rain. Grand Sancy is a proper 16f specialist and he pushed Fusil Raffles all the way last time at Wincanton. He has course form in the book and he could give Torpillo a proper race. Nube Negra is another one to note though he has a bit to find at the figures. However, with just 7 going to post this race does not appeal as a betting heat. This is one to watch with a view to the future. No bet.

SATURDAY ITV4 RACING TIPS: NO BET

Saturday Racing Tips: 2.05 Aintree – Juvenile Hurdle (Listed)

A big field of 14 Juvenile Hurdlers will go to post for this Listed Fillies’ contest. To say this is a minefield is an understatement as there are lots of unexposed 3yos in the field. It could be worth chancing one at a decent price each way here and Galice Macalo could fit the bill. This daughter of Saddler Maker has had just the one run so far, back in July at Stratford (16f gd).

She shaped well enough for Jane Williams and Lizzie Kelly that day, finishing 4th of 13. Galice Macalo was 6L off the first two, but she pulled hard and it was a decent first effort. On pedigree she should be more at home on the easier ground at Aintree. Her sire has produced some seriously talented mud lovers and the underhoof conditions could really suit. Fleursals is another that could outrun her odds, but at 14/1 with 4 places on offer, Galice Macalo is the each way pick.

SATURDAY ITV4 RACING TIPS: GALICE MACALO E/W @ 14/1 (4 PLACES)

Racing Tips ITV4: 2.25 Sandown – December Handicap Hurdle (Listed)

13 horses will go to post in this 16f Listed Handicap Hurdle and it is another wide open affair. Malaya is the favourite for Nicholls and Cobden at 7/2 but was poor last time out. She could easily bounce back at a course she likes but at 7/2 she looks short enough. There was a fair spill of rain at Sandown on Friday so conditions could be testing. At a decent price, Man Of Plenty could go well in his bid to repeat his heroics of last year.

This 10yo son of Manduro shaped better than the distance he was beat suggests the last twice. On both occasions he was given far too much to do but he stayed on nicely in behind. The stiff 16f at Sandown really suits this fella and he ran a blinder in the Imperial Cup in March 2018 off 126. He is in off 123 today, the same mark off which he won this by 7L last year. Ciaran Gethings has 2 wins and 12 top 4 finishes from just 21 rides for this owner (67% frame hitting strike rate) and at odds of 14/1 he should be staying on late for each way backers.

SATURDAY ITV4 RACING TIPS: MAN OF PLENTY E/W @ 14/1 (4 PLACES) NB

Saturday Tips: 2.40 Aintree – Many Clouds Chase (Grade 2)

A bitterly disappointing turn out for this 25f Grade 2 with just 4 lining up at the start. For all intents and purposes it looks a three horse race, though a massive leap of faith is required to fancy Might Bite. The son of Scorpion is only 5/2 here and it would take a brave person to back him at those odds. Black Corton flopped on his only previous run over this course and distance on soft ground.

That leaves Native River and it is no surprise that he is odds on given his opposition. The 2018 Gold Cup winner goes well fresh and is a previous C&D winner. He was a creditable 4th in the Gold Cup in 2019, finishing well despite racing lazily. It will be interesting to see how he goes in first time blinkers and if he takes well to them, he should win this easily. However, he is even money and at those odds I would prefer to just watch. No bet.

SATURDAY ITV4 RACING TIPS: NO BET

Racing Tips ITV4: 3.00 Sandown – Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1)

The second Grade 1 heat of the afternoon at Sandown is the 15.5f Tingle Creek. A field of 8 chasers will go to post and it is an intriguing race. Last year’s leading Novice, Defi Du Seuil, returned with a solid win at Cheltenham. He had Politologue over 1L behind (getting 3lb) and they are off level weights now. The 11yo Un De Sceaux is the top rated in the field with an official mark of 171. He found only Altior too good in this last season and he won it in 2016. He goes well fresh and if he is fully fit he could make them all go.

Sceau Royal is another one that will be happy that there is no Altior in the race. However, he would probably prefer better ground than he will encounter on Saturday. He handles soft, but his very best form has come on good to soft or better. If they go quick up front, which looks likely with Ornua in the field, the well named Waiting Patiently could come into the reckoning. He has won first time up on two previous occasions and he has form figures of 211 over 16f. This could be the day he gets his career back on track and at 14/1 he is worth backing each way.

SATURDAY ITV4 RACING TIPS: WAITING PATIENTLY E/W @ 14/1

ITV4 Racing Tips: 3.15 Aintree – Grand Sefton Chase (Class 2)

Another race over the Grand National fences closes the show at Aintree. This 21f contest has attracted a field of 14 and some bookies will pay 4 places each way. Long time followers of my tips will know how fond I am of Killaro Boy. I fancied him big time for the Irish National a couple of years back but he was brought down early. His confidence went after that mishap but a change of scenery has restored it. Now in the care of Henry Oliver, this bold jumper is 122 on his last 3 starts, including a 2nd at Aintree (25f sft). The drop back in trip is a slight concern but he is capable of producing a big run off 137.

However, the bookies have not missed him and instead I will be chancing one at a bigger price. Federici has run well enough in the Becher (25f) for the past two seasons, including when 5th last term. That effort came off 134 and he races off an 8lb lower mark here in an easier race over a trip that should be more suitable. He was 6th in this off 136 back in 2016 and he has completed on all 3 previous attempts over these fences. That experience could stand to him and from 2lb out of the weights carrying a measly 10 stone, Federici should give each way players a decent run for their money.

SATURDAY ITV4 RACING TIPS: FEDERICI E/W @ 18/1 4 PLACES

Racing Tips: 3.35 Sandown – London National (Class 2)

The final live race of the day on is the 29f London National handicap chase. On soft ground this trip will take a fair bit of getting and stamina will be at a premium. The one I like here upped markedly in trip is Dark Flame for Richard Rowe and James Davies. This lightly raced son of Gold Well returned from a mammoth absence with a superb run here behind Houblon Des Obeaux a month ago. He has 3L to find with that rival but over this extra distance he is capable of turning that form around.

Dark Flame has often shaped as though he wanted an extreme trip and he likes it at Sandown. He has finished 2nd and 1st on his last two visits and his trainer thinks he has a good chance of staying the trip. He races off a mark of just 126, just a pound higher than when winning a Novice Handicap here by 8L. James Davies rode a nice winner for this yard at Lingfield during the week and he could be in for another good ride here. At odds of 12/1, Dark Flame is the each way NAP of the day.

SATURDAY ITV4 RACING TIPS: DARK FLAME E/W @ 12/1 (4 PLACES) nap