There will be eight live races on ITV this Saturday, five from Sandown on Tingle Creek Chase Day with a further three races from Aintree on Beecher Chase Day.
- 1:20 Sandown: Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle – Absolutely Doyen @ 9/2
- 1:50 Sandown: Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase – Lulamba @ 4/6
- 2:05 Aintree: William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Wirral Juvenile Hurdle – Treasure Planet @ 6/4
- 2:25 Sandown: Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Hurdle – Go Dante @ 13/2
- 2:40 Aintree: William Hill Half A Mill Becher Handicap Chase – Bill Baxter @ 10/1
- 3:00 Sandown: Betfair Tingle Creek Chase – L’Eau du Sud @ 5/2
- 3:15 Aintree: New William Hill Racing Bet Builder Handicap Hurdle – Cracking Rhapsody @ 16/1
- 3:35 Sandown: Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase – Ask Brewster @ 7/2
The televised coverage begins with the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Sandown before the first of two Grade 1 races at the Esher track, the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase. Nicky Henderson’s Lulamba, who finished second to 100/1 shot Poniros in the Triumph Hurdle back in March, heads the betting after opening his account over the larger obstacles at Exeter last month in impressive fashion. Be Aware for Dan Skelton, Lump Sum for Sam Thomas and Alnilam for Olly Murphy should provide a stiff test but we can’t see past the favourite on his road to a possible tilt at the Arkle.
Aintree’s first live race of the day is the Listed Wirral Juvenile Hurdle. Paul Nicholls is this race’s leading trainer with four wins and he saddles the race favourite in Tresure Planet who got off the mark over hurdles in November in a resounding 18 length victory. Dan Skelton’s Edelak looked decent on the flat for Johnny Murtagh and could prove a useful recruit. As always with these juvenile contest, market movements can prove crucial.
The 2m handicap hurdle at Sandown which follows has plenty of interesting runners in the field. Knickerbockerglory for Dan Skelton won the race last year and is likely to go off as favourite ahead of the Twiston-Davies runner Glynn Brae who won here last month. Further down the field we have 2023 Chester Cup winner Metier and Goshen who famously unseated his rider at the last when 10 lengths clear in the 2020 Triumph Hurdle. Our pick goes to Olly Murphy’s Go Dante who has won the last two editions of the Imperial Cup at Sandown and can go well if replicating those performances.
Aintree’s Becher Chase sees runners tackle the famous Grand National fences. Mr Vango will carry top weight of 12st after a string of high-profile victories last season including Uttoxeter’s Midlands Grand National and the London Grand National at Sandown. Bill Baxter was unlucky not to hold off Irish Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs last month at Newbury after a mistake at the last in a handicap hurdle and could go one better here.
The Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase is the most valuable race of the day seeing an intriguing clash between Celebration Chase winner Il Etait Temps for Willie Mullins, Shloer Chase winner L’Eau du Sud for Dan Skelton and Nicky Henderson’s Jonbo who is aiming for a record-equalling hattrick in the race having won in 2023 and 2024. Jonbon would be the fairytale pick but he finished 15 lengths behind L’Eau du Sud as the Shloer Chase favourite and we think Dan Skelton can pick up another big win here.
Cracking Rhapsody’s best work has tended to come north of the border as a two-time winner of the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso and is the current Scottish Champion Hurdle so could prove good each way value in the New William Hill Racing Bet Builder Handicap Hurdle at Aintree. Ask Brewster followed up two wins at the end of last season with victory at the start of this campaign and could still be ahead of the handicapper in the closing live race of the day, the London National.