We preview all the live ITV Racing on Saturday which will cover the meetings at Wincanton and Sandown, including the Tolworth Hurdle at 2.25pm. Racing expert Dave Lowe makes his picks for every live race:
Sandown
1:50: Handicap Chase (GBB)
Gunsight Ridge was well fancied last time out at Exeter, but they did not know what they were coming up against as L’Homme Presse bolted up and has also gone on to win a Grade 2 at Cheltenham. The form is strong, and Gunsight Ridge has got to have a great chance. Numitor is the one I like in the race, he was well beaten last time out by Paul Nicholls 4-year-old Il Ridoto, but I like how he jumped and travelled that day, and he has a decent chance of winning this.
Selection – Numitor – 3/1
2:25: Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle
The Tolworth is all about Constitution Hill, and if he can win this impressively, he will give Jonbon a lot to think about in the Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival. We all like to see good horses win and take on the best, so I am hoping he does win this well and we look forward to a cracking race in March.
Selection – Constitution Hill – 4/11
3:00: Veterans’ Handicap Chase
The Veterans’ Handicap Chase is up next and Aso heads the market for the bang in form Venetia Williams. Aso was a very classy individual back in the day and even got close to winning the Ryanair at the festival. He is a solid jumper, which you need to be to win round Sandown and I think his class will shine through against his other rivals. Rolling Dylan is an interesting runner, he has finished second on both starts this season and has run very well in both races. He stays and jumps extremely well and with a big pull at the weights he could give Aso quite a bit to think about.
Selection – Aso – 11/4
3:35: Handicap Hurdle
We finish the day with a handicap hurdle, and I like the look of Mack The Man for Adam Wedge. He had to really battle win last time out Exeter and he managed to beat a well fancied Paul Nicholls horse. He has already won round here beating the talented Protekorat in a listed race. Natural History gets in off a light weight and is one to keep an eye on. The lightly raced Hermes Boy heads the market and he could be well treated on handicap debut.
Selection –Mack The Man – 7/2
Wincanton
1:30: Celebration Handicap Hurdle
Pittsburg had shown absolutely nothing in any of his races, then last time out at Catterick he wins after travelling really well turning for home. I am not sure you can trust him to back that run up again, so I will be looking elsewhere, and I am going to side with the Neil Mullholland trained Planned Paradise. He won as you like last time for James Best who is again in the saddle, and he could just be improving and on a nice mark.
Selection – Planned Paradise – 4/1
2:05: Handicap Chase
Grey Diamond is a horse I have tipped up a couple of times this season, but he has disappointed on both starts. His jumping let him down at Ascot when he looked like he was coming to tackle the eventual winner and last time he led for most of the race and then weakened from 2 out. The horse at the bottom of the weights Majestic Merlin is who I am going to side with. He has been in the money on both starts this season and could be one that still has quite a bit of improvement left in him.
Selection – Majestic Merlin – 10/1
2:40: Handicap Hurdle
Crossing The Bar was well backed last time out on his second run for Phillip Hobbs. He has joined from Sir Michael Stoute’s yard, and he was an 83 rated flat horse. He is one to take note of if the money comes again for him just before the off. Blairgowrie for Nicky Henderson weakened tamely at Uttoxeter last time out, he was travelling well and looked like making a serious challenge down the home straight before fading away. He would have come on for that run through and I am going to take a chance on him here getting his first win on the board.
Selection – Blairgowie – 5/1
3:15: Art Of Outdoor With Ocean Handicap Chase
Stolen Silver looks to have found a decent chance of getting his head in front again. He is down in class today and will not face anything like he has faced in last two starts. Sam Thomas is a trainer massively on the up and it was great to see him train a Welsh National winner over the Christmas period. Mont Des Avaloirs fell at the final fence last time when struggling, and it did look like a tired fall more than anything, so he will need to improve to challenge Stolen Silver. Slate House has been out of form for near on 2 years now and it is hard to make a case for him, but if he does find his old form, he could be on a dangerous looking mark.
Selection – Stolen Silver – 9/4