Horse Racing tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s slick picks for Saturday’s ITV races

Mick has served up his picks for a big day of action on the box.

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

** UPDATE: TODAY’S RACING AT AYR HAS BEEN ABANDONED DUE TO A FROZEN TRACK **

ITV will be carrying 3 races from Cork (14.13, 14.28 and 15.23) to replace those lost at Ayr. Click here for our best bets for today’s meeting at Cork.

13:50 Sandown – Ibleo

IBLEO has been unlucky he has bumped into two improvers, firstly when second after being chinned at Ascot back in October and secondly, when again finishing second at Cheltenham to Sky Pirate last month. The expected ground at Sandown will not be a problem, he is a good jumper and should gain compensation here for Venetia Williams.

Moonlighter is the danger. He fell at Newbury, but prior to that was unlucky not to win the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter back in early November.

14:05 Ayr – Guitar Pete – *RACING ABANDONED*

Jonniesofa won nicely for trainer Rose Dobbin at Carlisle a few weeks ago and has some good form to his name. He will be competitive in this, as he has won over this trip at the track previously and has to be competitive off his handicap mark. GUITAR PETE has won some nice races in his career and I thought he had a good comeback run at Wetherby in mid-November. I’ll take him to beat Johnniesofa.

14:25 Sandown – Metier

METIER was impressive at Ascot a couple of months ago and at Newton Abbot before that. His jumping was safe at Ascot and he sets a good standard in here. He stays really well and picked up really nicely in the straight at Ascot.

Galice Macalo is dangerous in here, as she does not have anything to find on the ratings and is proven at the track, it would be folly to dismiss her. Shakem Uparry has claims too and ran nicely last time. He handles the ground, but was beaten in a handicap over further. I would be more concerned about his chances as he showed a tendency to jump left at Leicester when going right-handed.

14:40 Ayr – Illegal Model – *RACING ABANDONED*

Charlie Longsdon sends ILLEGAL MODEL on the long trip to Ayr and this relatively lightly raced son of Stowaway can take this. The gelding has a really good run at Sandown last time and a reproduction of that should see him past the winning post ahead here.

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Read: Horse Racing tips: Matt Chapman’s super selections for Saturday’s ITV races

15:00 Sandown – Fingerontheswitch

Crosspark has run some fine races this season, finishing second on three occasions. He is higher than ever in the ratings now, but will still run a good race. The one I like is at an outside price and that is FINGERONTHESWITCH.

They will go a real gallop here and this horse loved that when winning at Kempton in January last year. He was then a little keen when beaten at Doncaster by Ok Corral, but he gets the nod each-way here.

15:15 Ayr – Takingrisks – *RACING ABANDONED*

TAKINGRISKS has won a Scottish National and has won an impressive three times at the Ayr course. He had a good comeback for this back at the end of October and I will take this lad to win.

15:35 Sandown – Monsieur Lecoq

Highway One O Two is a keen going sort and I hope he does not get involved in a battle with Totterdown for the lead. If that happens they will go too fast and set it up for one of the horses dropping in. The Pinkn could be that horse to take advantage and he is a safe each-way bet in this. But, MONSIEUR LECOQ will handle the ground and has been placed off higher marks than this, so I’m siding with him.

Mick Fitzgerald’s tips summary:

13:50 Sandown – Ibleo
14:25 Sandown – Metier
15:00 Sandown – Fingerontheswitch
15:35 Sandown – Monsieur Lecoq

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