Aintree and Sandown Saturday Preview and Tips – DS
Aintree and Sandown Saturday Tips
This Saturday’s live ITV action comes from Aintree and Sandown. At Aintree we have the Becher and the Many Clouds Chase, Dave Stevos has already posted a 20/1 ante-post bet for the former, check it out here. At Sandown, we have the Tingle Creek and the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase. It should be a very interesting afternoon of racing, check out our Aintree and Sandown Saturday tips below.
1.30 Aintree – Many Clouds Chase (Grade 2)
Straight into the good stuff with this Grade 2 contest. There may only be six runners in this heat but it is an intriguing affair. Ahoy Senor was one of last season’s top novices but he ran an absolute stinker on his return at Wetherby. It looked like he was far too fresh and it was no surprise to see him fading badly late on given how freely he raced. Connections will be hoping that run knocked the edge off him and that he produces a more controlled display on Saturday. He’s defending an unbeaten record at Aintree, both in G1s, and if he’s at his best he’ll be hard to beat.
If Chantry House is to continue his recent sequence of form, he’s due a win. He has won, pulled up, won and pulled up on his last four starts. At his best he is a serious operator and he’d be more than capable of giving 3lbs and a beating to the fav if he is on his A-Game. He too brings an undefeated record at Aintree into the race (1/1) and he’s also unbeaten on his seasonal reappearances, so someone’s 0 has got to go.
Progressive
Sounds Russian has progressed relentlessly through the handicap ranks. A son of top NH sire Sholokhov, he won his first handicap chase just under a year ago off 111 at Sedgefield. Further wins followed off 121 and 132 before he went down by 0.5L off 145 to Dusart at Ayr. On his return he hacked up of 150 at Kelso and now, the only logical step is to move into this higher grade. He is from the family of Racing Demon and Merry Gale, so he has class in his pedigree and it will be fascinating to see how he fares.
Noble Yeats won the Grand National here last season and he is now rated 160. The son of Yeats took a Listed contest on bottomless at Wexford last time after he had pulled up on his return to action at Auteuil. He has 5.5L to find with Ahoy Senor on their meeting at Wetherby last February and this 25f may not be enough of a stamina test.
Sam Brown ran a cracker behind Bravemansgame last time and he likes this track. He could outrun his odds. The ground looks a touch too lively for Dashel Drasher but if he takes Ahoy Senor on for the lead, it could have a major bearing on the race. If those two go too quick it could play into Chantry House’s or maybe even Noble Yeats hands, but neither are big enough to warrant a bet. Not a betting race for me but one that is most definitely worth watching.
Aintree and Sandown Saturday Tips: No Bet
1.45 Sandown – Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
Jonbon is odds on for this race and he is very hard to oppose. A G1 winner here over timber, he made an extremely taking chasing debut at Warwick two weeks ago. The only horse that has managed to beat him under rules to date is Constitution Hill and there is no shame in that.
Boothill looks his biggest danger on paper. Harry Fry’s son of Presenting won a handicap last time off 140 but he’ll need to improve another chunk to trouble Jonbon if he runs to form. The other two look to be playing for prize money only and with no e/w betting available, this is another race to just watch.
Aintree and Sandown Saturday Tips: No Bet
2.05 Aintree – Becher Handicap Chase (Premier)
I’ve already put Percussion up for this race ante-post (read why here). I’m very happy to be on him but in such a big field you never know what misfortune might happen so against my better judgement (and because of the dreaded fear of missing out) I’m also going to back Domaine De L’Isle at odds of 40/1. Regular readers will be very familiar with this lad. I put him up ante-post for the Grand National at 100s and he was running an absolutely huge race when unseating at the Chair.
It was seriously frustrating given how well he was travelling. In three outings since he hasn’t raised a gallop but I’m hoping and praying that these National fences spark a revival. He ran on well for 4th in this last season at huge odds on what was unsuitably bottomless ground. That was off 147, he was off 144 when coming down in the National and he is now rated just 132.
His last win came in April 2021 and that was off 144 at Cheltenham (26f gd). The last time he raced off a mark anywhere near to 132 was at Newcastle back in January 2020 when he hosed up off 130. He is a funny type of horse because in the early stages he can lose interest, but if he passes one or two he usually gets into the race and finishes very strongly. Given his couple of poor recent runs, he isn’t one for maximum stakes but at odds of 40/1, maybe we can recoup some of our Grand National losses.
Aintree and Sandown Saturday Tips: Domaine De L’Isle e/w @ 40/1; Percussion e/w @ 20/1 NAP already advised
2.20 Sandown – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
The ground on the hurdle course at Sandown is softer than on the chase course. They are watering the track so it is unlikely to dry out too much. I was going to swerve this race but after watching In The Air’s last run a couple of times, he might be worth a small e/w interest at 33/1. Gary Moore’s horses are in serious form and this will be this lad’s first run back on soft ground since he won at Newbury on his debut for this yard.
He fell pretty early on his seasonal reappearance at Fontwell back in October. Last time out at Ascot (15.5f gd/sft) he was dropped out in rear by Jamie Moore and it looked like the objective was a clear round. He actually finished off his race very nicely and while he was 12L behind the easy winner Monviel, he was only 2.5L behind the 3rd home in 6th.
When he won at Newbury last March (16.5f sft) he raced a lot more forward than he did last time. However, that was a dreadful race and in a stronger heat like this, I wouldn’t mind seeing him being ridden patiently again. He was dropped 3lbs for that last Ascot run and he now races off just 120. I think this horse will stay further in time but if they go a good gallop here, hopefully he can stay on late and maybe sneak some place money. At 33/1, In The Air is the e/w selection.
Aintree and Sandown Saturday Tips: In The Air e/w @ 33/1
2.40 Aintree – Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Few trainers in the UK are in better form than Sandy Thomson right now. The Scottish handler has had 12 runners in the last fortnight and only three finished out of the first 3. Three of his last six runners have won and he sends Empire Steel on a Southern raid here with Ryan Mania in the saddle. I actually tipped this lad up on his last visit to Aintree, just after he had slammed Protektorat by a distance at Kelso.
That was in a Grade 1 and unfortunately, he struggled badly and pulled up. Last season, he ran just four times and his comeback at Haydock (25.5f gd/sft) was an excellent effort. He finished just 1.5L behind Strictlyadancer off 140 and then next time out he fell in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby when looking the most likely winner. At Kelso (21.5f hvy) he scored by 16L before finishing off his campaign with a fine effort behind Potterman off 146 over 26f on good.
Empire Steel’s record after breaks of 200+ days read 112. His trainer is in sensational form and on the evidence of his final run of last season, a mark of 145 is not beyond this son of Aizavoski. The one worry is this 20f trip but the last time he raced over 21f he won and his sole start at 20f also resulted in a handicap chase victory at Ayr. There are more than enough positives to warrant an e/w bet on Empire Steel at odds of 33/1.
Aintree and Sandown Saturday Tips: Empire Steel e/w @ 33/1 (4 Places)
2.55 Sandown – Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1)
Only six runners for the 2022 Tingle Creek but boy, is it a quality race. The headline acts are Shishkin, the 11/10 fav, and Greaneteen. Shishkin is on something of a retrieval mission after his dreadful run in the much anticipated rematch with Energumene in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham. He had previously beaten him by a length at Ascot and he also beat Greaneteen by 10L on his previous start (and seasonal return) at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Greaneteen is a seriously talented horse when he puts everything together. That is exactly what he did on his comeback at Exeter where he ran out a very easy winner. He landed this race in 2021, beating Hitman by 5.5L and Paul Nicholls will be very keen to win this valuable pot again. He has a race fitness advantage over his main market rival and if he turns up in the same form as he was in at Exeter, Shishkin will need to be near his best on his return after a long break.
Exciting Prospect
It is going to be extremely interesting to see how Edwardstone gets on here. He landed the Henry VIII on this card last year and he then rattled off four wins on the bounce, including the Arkle at Cheltenham. It looked like it might have been one run too many last time at Aintree and he now tackles the big boys for the first time on his seasonal comeback. There is no doubt that he’s an exciting prospect but the sensible thing to do on this occasion is just to watch and see how he fares.
Gentleman De Mee lowered Edwardstone’s colours at Aintree last season. However, he was well beaten when unseating at Naas on his return and he is unlikely to be gifted an easy lead here. Willie Mullins’s charge is prone to throwing in the odd jumping error and in a race of this calibre, mistakes are not an option.
A Dinger
Funambule Sivola is a dinger of a horse on his day and the fact he is 25s illustrates how hot a race this is. The 7yo is having his first run of the season (and first run after a wind op) so perhaps he is another best watched today. Dunvegan is no donkey either and his odds of 66/1 look massive. He had a run on the flat to sharpen him up and he had Greaneteen well behind on his last chase start at Leopardstown.
Pat Fahy’s horse is rated 160 so while he has it to do to beat the top two, he has very little to find with the other three. Shishkin pulled up last time out and Greaneteen has a habit of throwing in the occasional stinker so if either one of those misfires, Dunvegan might just be able to finish 2nd. At odds of 66/1, a small e/w interest is advised.
Aintree and Sandown Saturday Tips: Dunvegan e/w @ 66/1
3.15 Aintree – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
The one that could be a shade overpriced in this handicap hurdle is Romeo Brown. Trained by Sue Smith, this son of Yeats ran a shocker last time out at Carlisle. However, the ground was bottomless and this horse is by far at his best on a sounder surface. He only managed to win two races for his former trainer Phil Kirby but since moving yards he has progressed really well.
His first win for Smith came on his seasonal bow off 100 at Hexham last November (16f gd/sft). He then finished a close 4th off 114 at Wetherby before a couple of poor efforts at Doncaster and Market Rasen. He then bounced back with a string of excellent runs.
Career Best
A 2nd at Carlisle off 111 was followed by a career best at Kelso (won off 114). Next up, he ran a huge race behind Bold Plan off 121 at Cheltenham and he finished off his campaign with an easy win in a valuable handicap hurdle at Haydock off 121.
Romeo proved he could be competitive off his current mark of 125 on his first run back at Wetherby. He was only beat 0.5L into 3rd and you can forgive him his last run at Carlisle on account of the ground. He’s 1lb better off with Bold Plan compared to their Cheltenham meeting and now that he is back on decent ground, hopefully he can make a bold bid from the front at odds of 33/1.
Aintree and Sandown Saturday Tips: Romeo Brown e/w @ 33/1 (4 places) NB
3.30 Sandown – London National Handicap Chase (Class 2)
It is hard to make a case for any of the bigger priced horses in the London National. Revels Hill shaped very well over 21f on his comeback at Ascot and this marathon trip is much more up his street. Deise Aba was narrowly beat off 140 in this race last year and he has obvious claims if back on song after an ordinary return at Aintree last month.
Quick Wave would probably want rain but if Eclair De Guye is fit for his seasonal bow, he is another that could run big. In Rem was dropped a pound for his 5L 4th at Uttoxeter last time out but this is a far hotter race than he usually contests. If I had to back one it would be Gwencily Berbas.
We were on him in the Eider last season when he ran a pretty decent race to finish 5th. He has struggled on soft on two runs since but this nicer ground will suit better. He’s had a pipe opener so he should be fit and the handicapper has given him a real chance. The son of Nickname is now an 11yo so maybe his best days are behind him. However, off a 7lbs lower mark than he was in the Eider, hopefully he can stay on late for place money at odds of 16/1.
