ITV Racing Tips – Saturday’s Preview from Sandown and Ayr (02/01/21)

 

Cheltenham and Exeter fell four to the weather on New Year’s Day but hopefully this Saturday we get seven live races to form our ITV Racing tips at Sandown and Ayr.

You can see Henry’s selections for each race below and a bet £10 get £35 sign-up bonus, giving you SEVEN free £5 bets for today’s racing!

 

 

1:50 Sandown

The 1:50 contest is an intriguing 2m handicap chase to start proceedings with a few unexposed types over fences near the front of the market and some well established horses closely in behind.

The one I like is IBLEO. Ibleo is very consistent with plenty of 1st and 2nds to his name when looking at his recent form. He has finished second on both starts this season and the form of them races looks strong. I don’t think he’ll have an issues on the heavy Sandown ground as Venetia Williams horses all tend to relish it.

 

2:05 Ayr

It’s up to Scotland for the next and we have a 2m4f handicap chase up there to kick us off. Only 6 runners go to post and there isn’t much between them all in the market.

The one I will play here is GUITAR PETE. He was top class back in the day and although he’s just turned 11 he shown he’s still capable of winning races when fourth on his seasonal debut. That run is likely to bring him on and he’s well handicapped if putting his best foot forward.

 

2:25 Sandown

The Tolworth Hurdle is up next and it’s a Grade 1 contest over 2m for the novices. It is not the strongest of renewals given the class we’ve seen in recent years but it’s still one of the better races on the card.

I think METIER NB is the best of this lot and I think he will win this well. He is unbeaten over hurdles winning both his starts and he looked very good on his last win at Ascot. He’s proven on the deep ground and I expect him to continue his progressing and win this.

 

2:40 Ayr

The 2:40 from Ayr is next and that is a handicap hurdle over 3m. It will be an absolute slog on the deep Scottish ground.

The one I like is ILLEGAL MODEL. Brian Hughes, fresh off a treble yesterday at Musselburgh can get one on the board here. Illegal Model has won on heavy ground and looked impressive in doing so down at Lingfield so conditions won’t pose a problem. He has ran well in two handicaps this season including last time out where he finished 4th behind Portrush Ted. He was only 6l behind that day and Portrush Ted was pitched in a Grade 1 on his next start so with further improvement to come from Illegal Model, I think he’s well handicapped still and can take this.

 

3:00 Sandown

My favourite race of the day, the Veterans Handicap Chase over 3m and it’s another fantastic renewal featuring many of our favourite horses.

I do like VALTOR here for the Nicky Henderson team. He is certainly very classy on his day and when he gets his ideal conditions he’s a force to be reckoned with. He gets that here with heavy ground on a right handed track. He’s blew away the cobwebs with two mediocre runs this term and I think he’ll be in tip top shape for this.

 

3.15 Ayr

The final race from Ayr on ITV is another small field handicap chase ran over 3m.

I’m happy to chance the rank outsider here in SUTTON MANOR. He looked as though he was going to go very close at Haydock last time out before coming down at the 5th last. He runs here off 9’9 effectively given the 3lb claim of jockey Stephen Mulqueen and I think he is the value play here in ideal conditions.

 

3:35 Sandown

The finale from Sandown is a competitive handicap hurdle over 2m and it’s a wide open betting heat for punters to enjoy.

The one for me is MONSIEUR LECOQ NAP. Jane Williams’ horses have started to hit form lately and this previous course and distance winner looks set to go close here. He won this race by a wide margin two years ago and continued to progress well at the start of last season. He’s gone off the boil lately but I expect a return to form given the stable form and the fact he’s returning to a course and distance we know he relishes.

 

Saturday’s ITV Racing Tips

Time	Selection	Odds
1.15 Sandown	SHISHKIN (no bet)	1/5
1.35 Leopardstown	MARIES ROCK	2/1
1.50 Sandown	POWER OVER ME (NB)	10/11
2.05 Mussleburgh	PATS FANCY	5/1
2.20 Sandown	RENARDEAU	6/1
2.30 Weatherby	ONE FOR THE TEAM (NAP)	5/1
2.55 Sandown	ATHEEB	4/1
3.15 Leopardstown	ATHEEB	4/1
3.30 Sandown	ATHEEB	4/1
3.45 Mussleburgh	ATHEEB	4/1

 

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• £5 free bet 2.25
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