Horse Racing Tips: Ruby Walsh’s Saturday ITV Racing picks at Sandown & Aintree

Ruby has Constitution Hill winning by under eight lengths in the 13:15 at Sandown.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 12 months ago

Ruby Walsh’s ITV Racing Tips

12:55 Aintree – Zambella
13:15 Sandown – Constitution Hill, You Wear It Well, Love Envoi, Shishkin (Forecast)
13:30 Aintree – Warlord
13:50 Sandown – Unexpected Party
14:05 Aintree – Now Where or When
14:40 Aintree – Liari
15:00 Sandown – Jonbon to win by 10 lengths or more
15:35 Sandown – Beauport

*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 – Zambella

At this time of year in these conditions, it’s all about ZAMBELLA for me.

13:15 Sandown – Constitution Hill – non runner

The current state of the ground and the Sandown track all suits CONSTITUTION HILL. Goshen does add a bit of intrigue and there seems to be more pace in this re-arranged race than was in evidence last week at Newcastle. Constitution Hill should still win and I reckon You Wear It Well will chase him home in second place.

For me it’s 1. Constitution Hill (non runner) 2. You Wear It Well 3. Love Envoi 4. Shishkin (non runner) in that order.

If I was asked for a winning margin – and I have been – it will be by less than eight lengths in my opinion. With the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton only 17 days away now after this race, connections will be keen for him to win as easily as he can and not to have an overly hard race to win by a wide margin.

13:30 Aintree – War Lord

Irish challenger Now Where or When was the one I was going to go with purely because of his run at Fairyhouse in the Bobby Jo Chase last February when third to good horses. He’s diverted to the Becher Chase later on this card now, so WAR LORD get the vote.

13:50 Sandown – Unexpected Party

JPR One had a fall last time out at Cheltenham when he just caught the top of the last fence and unseated Brendan Powell a few strides after he landed. That was a very tactical affair and he got to dictate things that day.

I’d love to see connections let UNEXPECTED PARTY buck out from the front and get the others on the stretch. He has a lot of experience, won well at Ascot and ran well in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. He’s a second season novice and if he jumps out and rocks along, he could take a bit of passing.

14:05 Aintree – Now Where or When – non runner

Connections of Irish challenger NOW WHERE OR WHEN have opted for this 3m 2f Becher Chase and he could run a big race. He handles testing ground really well and had a pipe-opener at Navan a few weeks ago so I’m going to side with him.

14:40 Aintree – Liari

There has to be a good reason why UK Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is going all the way up to Aintree with Liari and Harry Cobden is going up to ride as well. I‘m hoping it’s because LIARI has a winning chance in this 2m 1f Juvenile Hurdle. Max Of Stars is a consistent type but got well beaten by  Wodhooh at Newbury and looks opposable. 

15:00 Sandown – Jonbon (by 10 lengths or more)

JONBON should win this as there’s not much opposition. He was impressive in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham but the 2m Chase division is weak enough in the UK and he won’t face a real contender until he gets to the Cheltenham Festival and faces off against the Irish challengers.

I don’t think trainer Nicky Henderson will be worried about how far he wins by here either. There were about nine and a half lengths between Jonbon and Edwardstone at Cheltenham. I’d have Jonbon to beat Edwardstone by more than that margin now.

15:35 Sandown – Beauport

BEAUPORT was vying for favouritism with City Chief all week and with the latter not declared, he has an easier task now. He was very good this time last year. He had a nice pipe opener at Ascot last time and should stay this 3m 4f trip.

Ruby Walsh’s Horse Racing Tips

12:55 Aintree – Zambella
13:15 Sandown – Constitution Hill, You Wear It Well, Love Envoi, Shishkin (Forecast)
13:30 Aintree – Warlord
13:50 Sandown – Unexpected Party
14:05 Aintree – Now Where or When
14:40 Aintree – Liari
15:00 Sandown – Jonbon to win by 10 lengths or more
15:35 Sandown – Beauport

*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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