Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman’s slick Saturday ITV Racing Picks

There was a 28/1 winner for MCYeeehaaa last weekend and he's gone for a few nice-price fancies across the cards on Saturday.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 12 months ago

Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing Tips

12:55 Aintree – Pink Legend
13:15 Sandown – Constitution Hill (Fighting Fifth & Champion Hurdle special)
13:30 Aintree – Brave Seasca
13:50 Sandown – Unexpected Party
14:05 Aintree – The Big Breakaway (each-way)
14:25 Sandown – Mr Freedom (each-way)
14:40 Aintree – Midnight Lion
15:00 Sandown – Jonbon
15:15 Aintree – Holmes St Georges
15:35 Sandown – Truckers Lodge (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.

12:55 Aintree – Pink Legend

ITV go to Sandown and Aintree on Saturday and Zambella and PINK LEGEND should dominate the opener in Liverpool. I’ll side with the latter trainer by Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch. The nine-year-old was in terrific form at the end of last season and goes in any ground. There might be more to come.

13:15 Sandown – Constitution Hill – non runner

The re-arranged Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle over 2m. Some decent, fit horses take on CONSTITUTION HILL here, but of course the best jumps horse in training should win this easily. Paddy has lots of Specials up for grabs on the winning distance.

I’d suggest Shishkin might surprise a few for the second place in a forecast bet, but of course that will depend on his mood. At the end of the day, this is all about Nico de Boinville and Nicky Henderson star’s road to the Champion Hurdle, rather than the latter’s King George hope.

If you fancy Paddy’s special of Constitution Hill to win this Fighting Fifth and Champion Hurlde by five lengths or more I would not put you off. Ground conditions at the Esher track should encourage big winning distances.

13:30 Aintree – Brave Seasca

BRAVE SEASCA is a well handicapped horse against some improvers who have gone up the ratings. My Venetia Williams-trained selection has been out of form for some time, but won this race back in 2022 off a mark of 146 and is now on 145. Clearly he’s well in if anywhere near back to his best and I’ll take the chance for the topweight under Charlie Deutsch.

13:50 Sandown – Unexpected Party

Another Grade 1 in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase over nearly 2m. JPR ONE was unlucky at Cheltenham but takes in a decent horse with loads of experience in UNEXPECTED PARTY for Dan Skelton and Ciaran Gethings. My hope didn’t jump as well as he can when fifth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup but had fenced fluently when defeating Knappers Hill at Chepstow and he might enjoy this second go at the race having been third to Jonbon last year.

14:05 Aintree – The Big Breakaway (each-way)

A handicap chase over the National fences at a trip of 3m2f. We have now learnt these fences are easy to jump so it’s all about mixing speed and stamina rather than being able to fence high obstacles. This might be the chance for THE BIG BREAKAWAY to show us what he can do.

The eight-year-old has always had the ability to run a big race in class events, but he’s not always delivered. He actually fell – quite hard to do now! – in the Grand National in April but has had a recent run at Wincanton in the Badger Beer to shake off the cobwebs. He has the ability to get involved and reach a place.

14:25 Sandown – Mr Freedom (each-way)

Now a handicap hurdle over 2m. Impose Toi might hack up here but I’ll have a few quid on MR FREEDOM each-way for Sheena West and Marc Goldstein. This horse is a little legend and has run really well on the Flat in 2023. He stays well and while he’s not thrown in after two defeats this term won’t be disgraced for Marc Goldstein and Sheena West.

14:40 Aintree – Midnight Lion

Here’s a Listed event for juvenile hurdlers over 2m1f. I’m guessing here, but MIDNIGHT LION was a decent stayer on the Flat and if he can jump he could easily make a splash here for Iain Jardine and Danny McMenamin. His win at Goodwood in June was decent enough and I don’t think some juice in the ground is going to be a problem.

15:00 Sandown – Jonbon

One of the great two mile races of the season in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek over nearly 2m. Barring an accident JONBON, the Henry VIII hero last year beating Boothill who goes here, looks a class apart from this lot after his recent Cheltenham romp.

15:15 Aintree – Holmes St Georges

A handicap hurdle over 2m4f. HOLMES ST GEORGES is up 6lb from a run at Down Royal last time and 2lb for a defeat at Newcastle two runs ago with his differing handicap marks for the UK and Ireland. He’s not chucked in at all, but he stays this trip will and is in good form so gets another chance for Daryl Jacob and the Crawford stable.

15:35 Sandown – Truckers Lodge (each-way)

A handicap chase over an extended 3m4f. What a slog this will be. I tipped up the old boy TRUCKERS LODGE at Cheltenham on his comeback and he was looking like a happy old boy when brought down early on. He’s one in here who stays forever and loves mud so has to have an each-way chance at decent odds. Freddie Gingell takes off 5lb for the champion Paul Nicholls.

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

Matt Chapman’s Horse Racing Tips

12:55 Aintree – Pink Legend
13:15 Sandown – Constitution Hill (Fighting Fifth & Champion Hurdle special)
13:30 Aintree – Brave Seasca
13:50 Sandown – Unexpected Party
14:05 Aintree – The Big Breakaway (each-way)
14:25 Sandown – Mr Freedom (each-way)
14:40 Aintree – Midnight Lion
15:00 Sandown – Jonbon
15:15 Aintree – Holmes St Georges
15:35 Sandown – Truckers Lodge (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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