Horse Racing Tips: Paul Jacobs’ Saturday bets for ITV Racing

PJ is here to give you a steer on Saturday's best bets.

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Paul Jacobs’ ITV picks:

1:10 Sandown – I SHUT THAT D’OR
1:28 Musselburgh – HALO DES OBEAUX
1:45 Sandown – FRERO BANBOU
2:03 Musselburgh – THE FERRY MASTER (each- way)
2:20 Sandown – BALCO COASTAL
2:40 Wetherby – BALLYGRIFINCOTTAGE
2:55 Sandown – WILDE ABOUT OSCAR (each-way)
3:05 Leopardstown – FRANCO DE PORT (each-way)
3:16 Musselburgh – GRIVETANA
3:30 Sandown – MOVETHECHAINS (each-way)

*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

1:10 Sandown – I SHUT THAT D’OR 

I thought that Heaven Smart should have opened his account at Lingfield last time out and should be winning off a mark of 114. Slight preference though is for Joe Tizzard’s charge. He may be dropping back in trip from his Wincanton win, but this stiffer track should make up for that. I also think top weight Twinjets will confirm Plumpton form with Twin Power.

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1:28 Musselburgh – HALO DES OBEAUX

Despite just the six runners, I thought this was one of the more difficult races to evaluate. Many will want to give the smart Bear Ghylls another chance following two uninspiring displays. He could yet make up into a fair novice but doesn’t look natural, so preference is for the selection and Notlongtillmay. The last name is thriving, but may have been slightly flattered from setting a steady pace from the front here last time out. The Paul Nicholls’ charge bumped into a really smart chaser last time out and this drop in trip looks the right move for him.

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1:45 Sandown – FRERO BANBOU

Dolos has made this race his own over the past few seasons and is rightly feared, but I want to give the selection another chance having dropped to a mark of 138. To my eyes he didn’t fence with any fluency when a one paced third to Xcitations over the C&D last time; he is much better than that. I may well have a saver on Kiltealy Briggs who is interesting dropped in trip, while the more the ground dries out the better for Third Time Lucki.

2:03 Musselburgh – THE FERRY MASTER (each- way)

They always seem to go quicker than in other Nationals here because of the sharp nature of the track so it turns into an even deeper test of stamina which means this feature can change dramatically down the home stretch. Last year’s winner Captain Cattisrock is 7lbs higher, but is still respected and the progressive Slipaway will relish this test, but at a double figure price I think Sandy Thomson’s charge will outrun his price.

The dry weather is hugely in his favour and there was plenty more to like about his run here last time out. I think he offers better e/w value than either the 2022 runner-up The Wolf or Just Don’t Know.

2:20 Sandown – BALCO COASTAL

It wouldn’t surprise me if Gerri Colombe is taken out if the ground dries out too much. That would be a shame as he would be a site to behold over these fences as his jumping looked assured and efficient at both Fairyhouse and Limerick. If he does run, he will make the market for the Henderson charge who took a big step forward from his mistake ridden chasing debut at Newbury when impressing at Kempton last time out.

2:40 Wetherby – BALLYGRIFINCOTTAGE

City Chief stepped up big style when winning at Hereford despite making a couple of niggly errors early on, but he could need another significant step forward here to deal with the Skelton charge. Prominent in the ante-post betting for the Brown Advisory, the eight-year-old was hugely impressive at Haydock and has been given plenty of time to get over that run and looks a serious novice chaser.

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2:55 Sandown – WILDE ABOUT OSCAR (each-way)

Finishing fifth of course qualifies for a place at the final next month, but this is a cracking prize in its own right so I have no problems about a tactical ride here. To that effect, I think that the selection is worth forgiving a moderate run at Cheltenham when he lost a shoe. The handicapper has now dropped him to his lowest handicap mark. That could be good enough for him to hit the frame at the very least and he gets the nod over the strong staying Stellar Magic and in form Coquelicot.

3:05 Leopardstown – FRANCO DE PORT (each-way)

This is not the race which will define the staying prowess or not of Galopin des Champs as the Cheltenham Gold Cup will truly test his stamina, but I thought that the Willie Mullins outsider  ran way better than his finishing position suggests in the Savills Chase. He jumped well, but was outpaced until staying on late and at massive odds. The ley to his chance is that Danny Mullins makes more use of him and turns the screw before the end of the back stretch.

3:16 Musselburgh – GRIVETANA

The drying ground is against last time out C&D winner Nayati, but he still remains fairly treated, but 5lbs lower in the weights than last time out the smart mare should go close. Her stand out piece of form, second to Fleet Street in the Gerry Feilden, makes her a leading player here ahead of the Don McCain veteran and Wetherby winner Lebowski.

3:30 Sandown – MOVETHECHAINS(each-way)

This looks a really good renewal of this staying handicap chase and with plenty set to be at the sharp end here I thought that the make-up of this contest would suit the bottom weight. Sent off at 16/1 for the Welsh Grand National, he made several early mistakes, eventually finishing a well beaten fifth. This better ground and drop in trip with plenty of pace on should suit him and he is preferred to Larry and Eva’s Oskar.

Paul Jacobs’ Saturday Picks

1:10 Sandown – I SHUT THAT D’OR
1:28 Musselburgh – HALO DES OBEAUX
1:45 Sandown – FRERO BANBOU
2:03 Musselburgh – THE FERRY MASTER(each- way)
2:20 Sandown – BALCO COASTAL
2:40 Wetherby – BALLYGRIFINCOTTAGE
2:55 Sandown – WILDE ABOUT OSCAR (each-way)
3:05 Leopardstown – FRANCO DE PORT (each-way)
3:16 Musselburgh – GRIVETANA
3:30 Sandown – MOVETHECHAINS(each-way)

*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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