Mick Fitzgerald’s ITV Racing Tips:
13:05 – Sergeant Wilson (each-way)
13:40 – Jonbon
14:15 – Certainly Red (each-way)
14:50 – Hewick
15:25 – Quinta Do Mar
*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.
13:05 – Sergeant Wilson (each-way)
Nicky Henderson’s Under Control is a four-year-old who gets an 8lb weight allowance from the older horses and has won a couple of races nicely before and after being outclassed in the mares novice hurdle at Cheltenham. SERGEANT WILSON is another who is worthy of close inspection. He ran a really good race at Doncaster, only losing out by a head to Wizz Kidd who has franked the form since. Sergeant Wilson each-way is the play to me.
13:40 Sandown – Jonbon
When JONBON won at Sandown earlier this season, Greaneteen was second in the Tingle Creek on the same day. Time comparisons show Jonbon can mix it with the best over two miles. We didn’t see the best of him at Cheltenham with his jumping not being as good as it should be. He jumped much better at Aintree but was fully entitled to as it was a weaker contest than the Cheltenham race. It’s important for him to get into a good rhythm and if he does, he will be very hard to beat.
He does not need to force it with so much pace up the front and while Greaneteen loves Sandown and has to be respected, I fancy Jonbon to be too good for him.
- WELCOME TO PP NEWS: NEW TO US? CLICK HERE FOR OUR £/€20 SIGN-UP OFFER
14:15 – Certainly Red (each-way)
Lydia Richards has done brilliantly with CERTAINLY RED who has won at Sandown over 2m 4f but is stepping into the unknown over this marathon trip. The rain that has arrived will help and the only concern is a tendency to jump left-handed.
He has good winning form regularly on right-handed tracks and I feel like Sandown will be a massive plus to him. His young rider Caoilin Quinn is very good value for his 5lb claim which helps the rise in the weights.
Kitty’s Light did us a good turn last weekend in the Scottish National, but I fear the rain will not help his chances. If it dries out though he is a major player now and he could defy a seven-day turnaround, it will be another emotional day for connections.
The drier the ground the better his chance. The top-weight Frodon should not be underestimated either and I can still see him being up there with the leaders at the end of the contest. He is such an economic jumper that if he is able to get a freebie in front you cannot write him off.
14:50 – Hewick
It was a real shame that last year’s big-race winner on this card came down late on in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when running a hell of a race. His trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon is a character and Hewick won the US Grand National also (over hurdles) after winning the Galway Plate last August and is a real rags-to-riches story.
He has a little bit in hand on official ratings over Solo, who has been in great form and beat recent Ayr winner Datsalrightgino at Kempton.
15:25 – Quinta Do Mar
This has been Ben Pauling‘s best season and another win would really cap it off for him. Quinta Do Mar has raced over hurdles and fences and was really efficient when winning at Fontwell over the larger obstacles. Some of his form over hurdles is really strong, including when giving lots of weight away and a beating to the smart Irish Hill at the same venue. His rider Luca Morgan is about to be crowned champion conditional this season also.
Mick Fitzgerald’s ITV Racing Tips:
13:05 – Sergeant Wilson (each-way)
13:40 – Jonbon
14:15 – Certainly Red (each-way)
14:50 – Hewick
15:25 – Quinta Do Mar
*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.
READ MORE
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for the best Horse Racing Tips & News
- Punchestown Festival Tips: Ruby Walsh’s Best Horse Racing Tips for Saturday at Punchestown
- Horse Racing Tips: Rory Delargy’s Best Horse Racing Picks for Sandown on Saturday
- Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing Horse Racing Tips for Saturday
- Paddy’s Pick 5: Your FREE chance to win £/€25k this Saturday
- When is the 1000 Guineas? Newmarket date, start time, runners & betting odds
- When is the Derby? Epsom date, start time, runners & betting odds
- When is the 2000 Guineas? Newmarket date, start time, runners & betting odds