ITV will televise eight races on Saturday, five from Sandown and three from Aintree. Sandown has Graded 1 action in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase and the Tingle Creek. The highlight from Aintree is the Becher Chase on the Grand National Course.
- 1:15 Sandown: Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle – Operation Manna @ 13/2
- 1:32 Aintree: BoyleSports Home Of The Early Payout Handicap Chase – Richmond Lake @ 7/2
- 1:50 Sandown: Betfair Henry VIII Novices’ Chase – L’Eau du Sud @ 10/11
- 2:07 Aintree: BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase – Arizona Cardinal @ 12/1
- 2:25 Sandown: Betfair Plays Different Handicap Hurdle – Willmount @ 7/2
- 3:00 Sandown: Betfair Tingle Creek Chase – Jonbon @ 4/7
- 3:17 Aintree: BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle – Country Park @ 10/1
- 3:35 Sandown: Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase – Montgomery @ 9/2
It is Tingle Creek Chase Day at Sandown on Saturday and the Esher track will have five races shown live on ITV Racing. The Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase is one of the top two-mile chases of the entire season and is the two-day meeting’s feature race.
Flagship Uberalles, Moscow Flyer, Kauto Star, Twist Magic, Master Minded, Sire De Grugy and Politologue have all been multiple winners of the race since the turn of the century and Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon will be looking to join that stellar list after victory in last year’s race.
The second Grade 1 at Sandown on Saturday is the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase over the same distance as the Tingle Creek. Jonbon, Edwardstone and Altior have all won this race in recent years and gone on to win the Tingle Creek later in their chasing careers. Dan Skelton’s L’Eau Du Sud was an impressive winner of the Arkle Trial at the November Meeting last month and heads the betting.
On Merseyside, the big race of the day is the Becher Chase at Aintree, run over the same fences as the Grand National. Although a mile shorter the National, this still presents a tough challenge for both horses and riders.
The top weight of 12 stone will be saddled by Kim Bailey’s Chianti Classico after winning the Sodexo Live! Gold Cup at Ascot last month. The pre-race favourite is Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero’s Gaboriot who was third in the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase on the same course in early November though at the shorter trip of 2m5f.