Horse Racing tips: Matt Chapman’s 6 slick picks for Saturday’s ITV races

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

13:55 Sandown – Royaume Uni

ITV coverage Saturday starts with a novices’ handicap hurdle over 2m and wow, this is hard! I like Gary Moore at this track and will have a few quid each-way on ROYAUME UNI. My selection ran a cracker behind the re-opposing Herbiers last time at Ascot and after just nine starts he might be able to do better still.

Jamie Moore takes the ride, and he has a great racing weight of just 10st 2lb. He’s a youngster against older horses, but he might be up to this.

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14:10 Leicester – Pogo

On the Flat ITV show this Listed event over 7 furlongs. POGO was much improved last season and I see no reason why he won’t run well here for Charlie Hills and Kieran Shoemark. My selection has the pace for this trip even though he stays a bit further – as he did when third to the talented Persian King in Group 1 company in France – and on ratings has strong claims. He’s hard to beat for me.

14:30 Sandown – Frodon

Now it’s the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase over an extended 2m 6f and there’s not much to say here. King George hero FRODON should be far too good for this lot and while he was never going to stay the Gold Cup distance, he actually ran well for a very long way. He really should master Mister Fisher, who will love the ground and doesn’t have that much to find on figures, for Paul Nicholls and Bryony Frost.

14:50 Haydock – Cold Stare

ITV also show this handicap over 7 furlongs and this is wide open. I’ll risk a few quid each-way on COLD STARE here for David O’Meara and Martin Harley. There is no doubt the trip is no issue for my selection and his handicap mark is workable. He goes off 90 here and had a few good runs off a few pounds higher in 2020. It’s not going to be easy, but the odds will be generous. This is an each-way chance.

15:05 Sandown – Sceau Royal

Now the Grade 1 Celebration Chase over nearly 2m and this is decent enough renewal. I’d love Altior to win and I’ll scream him home even if it’s at the expense of my selection. That will be SCEAU ROYAL, who is not top class but will love conditions.

He’s been in pretty good form all season for Daryl Jacob and Alan King, and was less than 4 lengths behind the reopposing Put the Kettle On in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. The ground was good to soft then, and with sun beating down at Sandown I’m hoping the quicker surface will make the difference.

15:40 Sandown – Crosspark

Now the feature betting race, the former Whitbread Grade 3 handicap chase over 3m 5f. Usually, I would be looking at an up-and-coming stayer in this, but loads of these have real stamina question marks at the trip. CROSSPARK is hardly a genius selection, as he’s not well handicapped and aged 11 for Caroline Bailey and Sean Bowen.

However, he does stay strong, really strong, which might help and he goes on decent ground, as when second in the 2019 Scottish Grand National. His last win came when he was rated 135, and he’s finished second in five of his last six races and is now rated 150. So from a handicapping point of view, it’s nigh on impossible. However, I’ll have a few quid on each-way.

So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy.

Matt Chapman tips summary:

13:55 Sandown – Royaume Uni
14:10 Leicester – Pogo
14:30 Sandown – Frodon
14:50 Haydock – Cold Stare
15:05 Sandown – Sceau Royal
15:40 Sandown – Crosspark