ITV Racing Tips: Race by Race Selections from ITV’s Coverage of Sandown & Perth

Saturday marks the end of the 2020/21 National Hunt season but, on Friday, ITV Racing viewers can enjoy four races on the Flat from Sandown, including the Group Two bet365 Mile, and the William Hill Highland National Handicap Chase from Perth.

Unfortunately, Palace Pier appears to have frightened away much of the opposition in the bet365 Mile, but the other races all look competitive enough.

 

Sandown

1:50 bet365 Esher Cup Handicap

A typically trappy 3-year-old handicap in which few can be discounted with any degree of confidence. Dingle is 2lb ‘well in’ compared with future engagements after a solid effort on his reappearance last week, in a well-contested 7-furlong handicap at Newbury, and could be ready to strike at the second time of asking this season. His half-length defeat of Recovery Run – who runs in the bet365 Classic Trial at 3.35 – in a Kempton nursery last September makes decent reading in the context of this race.

Selection: Dingle (5/1 with Betfred)

 

2:25 bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes

Another tight contest, with all bar rank outsider Winter Reprise officially rated within 5lb of each other. Waldkonig was the comfortable winner of a Pontefract handicap on his return to action earlier this month, but both Hukum and Extra Elusive are proven at this level. Preference, on this occasion, is for the latter, who should appreciate this easier opporunity after finishing out with the washing in the Saudi Cup, on dirt, on the his most recent start at Riyadh in February.

Selection: Extra Elusive (11/2 with Bet365)

 

3:00 bet365 Mile

Khuzaam has evidently come a long way since beaten in a Yarmouth handicap, off a mark of 89, when last seen on turf in September, 2019. However, whether he’s ready to take on dual Group One winner Palace Pier, at level weights, is highly debatable. Palace Pier won on his racecourse debut and on his seasonal debut in 2019/20 so, with fitness unlikely to be an issue and 9lb and upwards in hand of his rivals, he cannot sensibly be opposed.

Selection: Palace Pier (4/7 with Betfred)

 

3:35 bet365 Classic Trial

Probably a ‘Classic Trial’ in name only, if recent results are anything to go by, but plenty of promising, unexposed types on show, all the same. Impressive Pontefract maiden winner Trawlerman holds a fitness advantage over his rivals and merits respect on that score alone. However, he has 17lb to find with Lonely Eagle on official ratings and Martyn Meade’s colt looks a safer proposition on this occasion. The son of Galileo is entitled to beat Recovery Run on their running in the Group Three Zetland Stakes at Newmarket last October and appears versatile ground-wise.

Selection: Lonely Eagle (11/2 with Bet365)

 

Perth

2:40 William Hill Highland National Handicap Chase

On a flat track, on drying ground, even 3 miles 6½ furlongs may not become the out-and-out slog that might otherwise be the case. With that in mind, it may be worth taking a chance on Bafana Blue, who emerged from a lengthy spell in the doldrums when winning at Wetherby earlier this month and remains well handicapped on his previous form. Maurice Barnes’ 10-year-old has yet to win beyond 3 miles 2 furlongs, but was by no means disgraced on his sole attempt at a marathon trip, in the Scottish Borders National at Kelso, off an 11lb higher mark, and has plenty of winning form on good to soft or faster going.

Selection: Bafana Blue (12/1 with Bet365)

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