Horse Racing tips: Matt Chapman’s 8 super selections for Saturday’s ITV races

Matt has your picks sorted for a huge day at Aintree and Sandown.

Matt Chapman Cheltenham

By / Horse Racing Tips / 3 years ago

* 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.

13:30 Aintree – White Pepper

ITV Racing Saturday gets under way here with a Listed fillies’ juvenile hurdle over 2m 1f. WHITE PEPPER will be hard to beat at a track that will play to her strengths. A decent enough Flat performer with a rating up to 84, White Pepper scored well at Galway last time staying on strongly for Gavin Cromwell and Conor McNamara who keeps the ride. She looks promising and Aintree is the reverse way to Galway, but equally as tight.

WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS!

13:50 Sandown – Third Time Lucki

ITV begins its Sandown coverage with the Grade 1 Henry VII Novices’ Chase over nearly 2m. THIRD TIME LUCKI is a super exciting horse and I can’t wait to see him bounding over the Railway fences for Dan and Harry Skelton. The one-time Cheltenham bumper fourth and County Hurdle sixth has looked exceptional in two chase wins at Prestbury Park recently, so I won’t be opposing him until he does something wrong.

14:05 Aintree – Protektorat

We have a classy event now with the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase over 3m 1f. There should be a strong gallop on here and Native River is unlikely to get it easy up front. That should set up victory for PROTEKTORAT, who should get home over this tight track even with some juice in the ground. Dan Skelton’s runner – ridden by Bridget Andrews – flew home to finish second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup (which was an excellent race) and will be hard to stop.

STUDY THE FORM IN STYLE

  • CHECK OUT OUR SNAZZY RACECARDS FOR EVERY RACE, EVERY DAY

14:25 Sandown – Chacun Pour Soi

Now it’s time for the feature Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase over nearly 2m. I have long been in no doubt CHACUN POUR SOI is an exceptional horse and I fully expect him to take this prize for Ireland’s champion Willie Mullins and his son Patrick.

Chacun Pour Soi finished last season with a third behind Put the Kettle On in the Champion Chase, which was a shocking effort to be quite honest and I don’t believe he was right. He went on to Punchestown though, and slammed Allaho in the Grade 1 there. At his best he’s a monster.

14:40 Aintree – Vieux Lion Rouge

Over the big Aintree fences here for the Grade 3 Becher over 3m 2f. VIEUX LION ROUGE might be 12, but there is no reason why he won’t run another big one at his favourite track. Trained by David Pipe and ridden by Tom Scudamore, my hope won this off a mark of 140 last year and he’s 5lb higher here. That said, he’s still on a mark that gives him every chance at each-way odds.

15:00 Sandown – Salty Boy

Stamina will be key in the London National Handicap Chase over 3m 5f. SALTY BOY is only 2lbs higher than when third in the Eider Chase at Newcastle three runs ago and since then he’s finished a decent third and scored at Fontwell. Trained by David Bridgwater, Salty Boy is a really good stayer and he’s got strong claims with Mitchell Bastyan taking off 3lbs. The racing weight of 10st 7lbs is perfect.

GET FAST RESULTS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE

15:15 Aintree – Storm Nelson

Here’s a handicap hurdle over 2m 4f. STORM NELSON might need a bit further and he’s up the handicap for three wins when last seen. That said, he was improving fast last term and if Sandy Thomson has him ready. He could run a big race each-way for Henry Brooke.

15:35 Sandown – Natural History

Finally, a handicap hurdle over 2m and it’s very tricky stuff! NATURAL HISTORY should be a very well handicapped horse for Gary Moore, but he flopped badly at Fontwell when last seen. I’ll give him one more go here under Niall Houlihan though. The once 97-rated Flat performer has no weight on his back and his rider takes off another 5lbs. Have a few quid on each-way at long odds.

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

Matt Chapman’s tips summary:

13:30 Aintree – White Pepper
13:50 Sandown – Third Time Lucki
14:05 Aintree – Protektorat
14:25 Sandown – Chacun Pour Soi
14:40 Aintree – Vieux Lion Rouge
15:00 Sandown – Salty Boy
15:15 Aintree – Storm Nelson
15:35 Sandown – Natural History

    READ

    The latest racing odds are on PaddyPower.com now

    The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know

    What do you think?