Saturday Sandown Racing Tips by Dave Stevos
Sandown Saturday Racing Tips for Live ITV4 Races
We got off to a super start on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham with Midnight Shadow. Champ paid the price for a couple of erratic leaps and Midnight Shadow took full advantage, advised win at 9/2. Lalor almost made it 2/2 with a brilliant effort, just missing out in a 3-way photo. Who’s My Jockey ran a cracker before blowing up and he will go close next time. Emitom looked badly in need of the run and jumped poorly. This weekend’s action comes from Sandown and Dave Stevos has previewed all live ITV4 races. Check out his free Saturday Sandown racing tips below…
Sandown Saturday Racing Tips: 1.50pm Handicap Chase (Class 2)
First up at Sandown this Saturday is a tricky looking handicap chase. Only 6 will go to post for this 15.5f contest and the ground is soft (gd/sft in places) on the chase course. Johnbb heads the market for Tom Lacey and Robbie Power after his easy win here last time. He is 6lb higher now and the former 20f maiden hurdle winner will need a strong pace to bring his stamina into play. That looks likely with a number of confirmed pace setters in the field but even so, at 7/4 I am taking him on with Delire D’Estruval.
Ben Pauling’s string is in better form now and this 7yo retains potential. It looked like he badly needed his comeback run at Ascot and he will strip fitter now. He has also won over 20f but by far his best form has come at around 16f. His form figures at between 15f to 17f read 2342111 and his 20f win came at Sandown. He caries top weight here but useful claimer Luca Morgan takes off 7lb. That leaves him effectively 5lb lower than for his last handicap win so he is weighted to be competitive too. At odds of 9/2 Delire D’Estruval is the pick.
SANDOWN SATURDAY RACING TIPS: DELIRE D’ESTRUVAL WIN @ 9/2
Sandown Saturday Racing Preview: 2.25pm – Tolworth Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
The feature at Sandown on Saturday is the 16f Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle for Novices. Fiddlerontheroof is the jolly for Tizzard and Power. He hosed up on heavy ground here last time and his form behind Thyme Hill looks rock solid now. However, while he did win as he liked last time it definitely was not the strongest of races. He got an easy lead and made all and it is unlikely he will be let loose on the front on Saturday. Tizzard’s charge will likely face competition for the lead from Hang In There, a very impressive Grade 2 winner last time.
Trained by Emma Lavelle, this son of Yeats led from pillar to post at Cheltenham (16f sft) and won by 3L. He previously scored by 10L at Exeter (16f gd) so he clearly handles all sorts of ground. Lord Getaway franked his Exeter victory by winning next time. However, Adam Wedge who was on board for both those previous wins, abandons ship and gets aboard Silver Hallmark, another intriguing contender.
Trained by Fergal O’Brien, it was hard not to be impressed by the manner of this fella’s win at Chepstow on hurdles debut. He beat a 3/10 shot with consummate ease, jumping accurately and quickening up in the manner of a decent horse. His point to point form is strong too with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th home all winning under rules since. Silver Hallmark should be suited by a strong pace and at odds of 8/1 he could give the top two plenty to think about.
SANDOWN SATURDAY RACING TIPS: SILVER HALLMARK E/W @ 8/1 Nb
Sandown Saturday Racing Tips: 3.00pm – Veteran’s Handicap Chase (Class 2)
This 3 mile handicap chase is for 10yos or older and 14 will go to post. It will be run in the honour of Houblon Des Obeaux, last season’s winner who died tragically here last month. He was an absolute gem of a horse for Venetia Williams and she will be keen to win it for him with Burtons Well. A very lightly raced 11yo son of Well Chosen, this horse scored in good style at Aintree back in October (25 sft). He was never travelling last time at Haydock but the return to softer ground could help in that department. Off a mark of 138 he holds solid claims at 9/1.
However, one that looks overpriced at much bigger odds is Regal Flow. This former Midlands National winner will relish the testing conditions at Sandown and he has a right chance on his 3rd to King’s Odyssey at Warwick three runs back. He is 5lb better off with that rival for a 2L defeat so odds of 25/1 look huge if you consider King’s Odyssey is the 13/2 2nd favourite. Regal Flow was a decent 4th on his only previous start over C&D and at 25/1, he is the each way NAP of day.
SANDOWN SATURDAY RACING TIPS: REGAL FLOW E/W @ 25/1 4 PLACES nap
Sandown Preview: 3.35pm – Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
A very tricky looking 16f handicap hurdles closes the show at Sandown on Saturday. 11 will line up at the start and a case can be made for a few of them. The one I like at a big price is the highly tried Distingo. Gary Moore’s 7yo son of Smart Strike was not disgraced in a Listed handicap on his seasonal return over C&D (hvy). It was a very promising effort considering how poor his form was during the backend of last season.
He is of big interest on his early season form in 2018 when placed twice off 135. Those two runs came on good ground but he won his maiden on soft so conditions are not a worry. He is now racing off a mark of 130 and his trainer is in decent form. 8 of his last 9 runners have finished in the first 4 and hopefully Distingo can hit the frame for him too at odds of 20/1.
