ITV Racing Tips for Sandown and Aintree on Saturday 9th December

1:15 Sandown

The opener on ITV is the re-routed Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle where we see the return of the best horse in racing, Constitution Hill. (If he shows up)

I like YOU WEAR IT WELL (betting without fav) to either chase him home or betting without the fav. She won the Mares Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in gutsy fashion from the front before winning on her seasonal return in similar gutsy fashion. She’s the likely pace angle and Sandown can be a tricky track to go past runners on the hurdles course when the ground is heavy. She’ll handle it and I think she has the most things in his favour excluding Constitution Hill. 

 

1:30 Aintree

The first of four live races from Aintree comes up at 1:30 and it is a handicap chase over the 2m4f distance.

It’s BRAVE SEASCA (13/2) I’ve landed on. He bolted up in this race last season off a mark of 146 and he returns this time around off a 1lb lower mark. If he’s anywhere near that form, he’ll be winning this. Obviously, things haven’t gone to plan since but this will have been the weakest race he’ll have ran in and I’m happy to take the chance he returns to a decent level of form back here.

 

1:50 Sandown

It’s back to Sandown for the 1:50 and it is the Henry VII Novices Chase, a Grade 1 over the 2 mile trip.

It is ICEO (11/2) NB for me here. A decent winner here in the competitive Imperial Cup hurdle last season, he always looked like he’d improve for a fence. A winner on Chase debut, he was underwhelming on his next start when beaten by the re-opposing JPR One. That definitely wasn’t his true running and I’d expect him to bounce back for master trainer Paul Nicholls. He’ll enjoy this ground more than most and I think this may turn into a stamina test over the 2m trip which will suit him well. 

 

2:05 Aintree

The 2:05 from Aintree comes next and it is the 2023 renewal of the Becher Chase, a 3m2f handicap over the National course.

It’s UNDERSUPERVISION (9/1) EW that is the selection . The yard has a fantastic record in this contest for starters and now what it takes to land the race. He is a previous winner of the Grimthorpe Chase on soft ground so the trip holds no fears. He ran a cracker when we last seen him at Cheltenham staying on well to grab 3rd in a competitive amateur handicap over 3m1f. Sam Twiston-Davies is back on and is riding as well as anyone at the moment. I think he can put up a bold bid up 2lb to 134. 

 

2:25 Sandown

The 2:25 from Sandown is a wide-open 2 mile handicap hurdle.

I’d go for ARQOOB (7/1) EW here for the Lucy Wadham team. A good winner over course and distance when we last seen him staying on strongly to win going away by over 3 lengths. Up 5lb for that effort but he’s one that we know will hand conditions in his favour and has race fitness on his side. Sean Bowen takes over from Bryony Frost which has to be considered a small positive giving Bowen is one of the best around. 

 

2:40 Aintree 

The 2:40 at Aintree is a listed juvenile hurdle over 3m1f.

It’s MAX OF STARS (9/2) here for me. A very weak renewal and if Max Of Stars runs to a similar level to what he did when second behind a promising Irish sort last week, he’ll prove a tough nut to crack. He’s a solid consistent sort who gets on with it out in front. There is no Irish challenger this time around and the rivals don’t look anything to fear. I think he’s a fair price based on what we’ve seen.

 

3:00 Sandown

The feature comes up at 3:00 and it is of course the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase over 2m. 

Jonbon should be winning but I’ll take HADDON DES OBEAUX (betting without). A really promising novice chaser last season when getting his ground, it was disappointing an injury ruled him out of a run in the Arkle. He returned to action on a competitive Cheltenham handicap where he held a narrow lead when falling at the last. That race has worked out well and he is normally a good fluent jumper. This track should suit and he gets the ground he relishes today. Trainer Gary Moore has a good record in this race and here at Sandown and I can see him giving the favourite plenty to think about.

 

3:15 Aintree 

The last race at Aintree is a trappy handicap hurdle over 2m4f.

It’s VICKI VALE (6/1) NAP I like in the finale at Aintree. A promising novice last season, she made an encouraging return this season when second at Wincanton last month. The Skelton yard’s horses have been improving for their first racecourse appearance of the season and with this being her second start of the season and her second start after a wind operation, she should be primed for a bold bid.

 

3:35 Sandown

The finale is the stamina sapping London National Chase over the extended 3m4f trip.

It’s FONTAINE COLLONGES (3/1) I like here. A winner on her seasonal return at Haydock last season in a similar deep handicap on soft ground. She is effectively 4lb lower this time around taken into consideration Ned Fox’s 5lb claim. She comes here off the back of wind surgery over the summer with his stable in fine form. She’ll stay all day and this ground is right up her street. She will sit prominently which is a good place to be here at Sandown. Solid selection.

 

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