Horse Racing tips: Ruby Walsh’s top picks for Saturday’s racing at Sandown and Navan

* 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.

13:40 Navan – Coqolino

A quiet Saturday for Willie Mullins, El Barra the only runner here. When he won his bumper at Thurles, we thought he could be a really exciting horse. Races too keenly at Leopardstown and at Naas last time out. He’ll have earplugs in tomorrow.

Coqolino looks strong opposition here. Was going to well beaten when it fell at Punchestown but ran really well last time out at Navan under Jody McGarvey when staying on. Mark Walsh takes over this time around. Coqolino might just be too good for El Barra here.

13:50 Sandown – Martinhal

Karl Philippe is your likely favourite here for Paddy Brennan and Fergal O’ Brien. The will have many good chances at Cheltenham next week. I like Martinhal here for Tom Scudamore and David Pipe.

He’s had the four runs over hurdles. He’s won his last two. He beat Karl Philippe at Exeter and then won again at the same venue next time out. I reckon he will stay, and jump, and although he has the burden of top weight here, he will do for me.

14:25 Sandown – Natural History

Leoncavallo represents a family in the Pipe’s who have been synonymous with having runners in this race and then having them go for the bonus the following week at Cheltenham. Paul Nicholls is also well represented here. Natural History will be your favourite here, and rightly so.

He trounced Mystic Dreamer in Plumpton last time out. Had been showing decent form prior to that success also. He’s stepping into his first open handicap here, is fairly weighted with 10 stone 12 on his back. A yard that had the runner up in the Betfair hurdle recently, the yard seem to be in good form, and I’ll be on board the favourite here.

15:00 Sandown – Finest View

Rainyday Woman would have a squeak here for Paul and Megan Nicholls. She is a six-year-old which might actually help her. There are yards in here that are synonymous with these bumpers however.

One of those yards would be Alan Kings. He trains the filly Finest View. Only had the one run which came at Lingfield. Yes, it was on the all weather. But she did it well on that occasion. I remember Choc Thornton used to win plenty of these races for Alan King when I was still in the saddle and riding in the UK. Alan King can win another here with Finest View.

15:35 Sandown – Strategem

When you look at the form of High Up in the Air for Joshua and Gary Moore, it’s won it’s last five races all told. An incredible run. I think that run will come to an end tomorrow however.

I’m going to roll with Strategem here. Won its last start at Doncaster off a mark of 140. Only up the five pounds for that success. Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls teeming up here in the Bob and Co silks, which will be seen out in the Foxhunters Chase next week at Cheltenham.

13:40 Navan – Coqolino
13:50 Sandown – Martinhal
14:25 Sandown – Natural History
15:00 Sandown – Finest View
15:35 Sandown – Strategem
15:55 Navan – Any Second Now

*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.

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