ITV Racing Tips for Sandown and Wincanton on Saturday 4th January

1:50 Sandown

The first race on ITV from Sandown is a handicap chase over 2m4f.

The one for me is ETALON (7/2) NB who appears to be working his way back into form this season slowly but surely.  He was a cracking novice chaser last season winning his first three starts before running very well for a long way in Grade 1 company at Aintree on his final start of the campaign. Things haven’t quite gone to plan this season but he’s dropped down the handicap as a result. He shown more at Cheltenham last time out and getting back on soft ground will do him the world of good. He’s a previous winner here at Sandown and I think we’ll see an improved performance here in a weaker contest than he’s been running in of late.

 

2:25 Sandown

The 2:25 is a tricky little mares hurdle. Six runners go to post for the 2m4f affair.

I’d be happy to give GEORGI GIRL (5/1) NAP a go here. A winner here at Sandown on soft ground last season which is always a good place to start. She has since returned to action this season in decent nick. She was a good winner at Warwick on her seasonal reappearance over 2m5f before going on to finish a good 5th at Cheltenham in a competitive handicap there not beaten far. She likes to be held up and come with a run and she should get a decent gallop to aim at here with Della Casa Lunga and Dameofthecotswolds likely to go forward. I think she has a fine chance.

 

2:40 Wincanton

The first of two live Veteran contests comes from Wincanton. This one is for the middle distance sorts over 2m4f.

The selection is STORMY FLIGHT (7/2). The 11 year-old looks to have a great chance against the Veterans here. Well suited by plenty of give in the going description, he looks sure to get that today. He comes into this race on the back of a cracking effort when finishing second beaten a neck by the unexposed Lowry’s Bar who’s since won again at Chepstow in a competitive race. That is easily the best recent form on offer and this looks to be a significant drop in class. If he can replicate that form, he’s the one they all have to beat here.

 

3:00 Sandown

It’s back to Sandown for the popular Veterans Handicap Chase, the series final over 3 miles.

It’s ELDORADO ALLEN (4/1) for me here. Off the back of wind surgery in August 2024, he’s ran two decent races since finishing second and third. He shaped well on the latter when a staying on third behind Numitor and Copperhead at Cheltenham. This step up to 3m looks the right move and I like Brendan Powell taking the ride. Eldorado Allen comes into this off a lenient mark of 149 given his back form and if he can come forward again for that last outing, he looks to hold a solid chance. A previous winner at Sandown on heavy over hurdles, I think he can add a chase win to his tally.

 

3:15 Wincanton

The 3.15 from Wincanton is a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m5f trip.

It’s AUTHENTIC LEGACY (7/2) for me in here. I think this 5 year-old is open to significant improvement having shown plenty of promise in his four hurdle starts to date. He was last seen finishing a solid third at Sandown not beaten far over 2 miles. I think this step up to 2m5f looks the right move and I like the first-time cheekpieces angle. He gets weight off his main market rivals and I think he looks sure to run a big race for the Moore stable.

 

3:35 Sandown

We end proceedings with a tricky 2m handicap hurdle.

It is HONKY TONK HIGHWAY (7/2) for me in this for the Skeltons. He made a pleasing start to his career when landing a listed bumper here at Sandown. He then went to Aintree and didn’t run his race. However, he returned to action after a wind operation with a pleasing second placed effort at Warwick behind That’s Nice. He that came back here and made all on deep ground showing a willing attitude to find off Hartington. He looks a stayer but this 2 mile trip on soft ground at Sandown can be a real test of stamina. He will likely go from the front and I think they’ll struggle to get by him. He’s 2-2 from Sandown and has every chance of making it 3-3.

 

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