It is a fantastic day of racing across the cards on Saturday, with Aintree and Sandown both live on ITV. GG tipster Joe Napier gives his four best bets for all of the live action.
1.15 Sandown – Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle
Given the strength of his finishing efforts over 2m4f in the recent past it is a surprise that HENRI THE SECOND is only being tried over a trip close to 3m for the first time here, closing in on his eighth birthday. Paul Nicholls won the final of the Pertemps series at Cheltenham last season, and he could have a live contender for that race in the selection.
He was a Grade 2 winner as a novice hurdler at this venue two seasons ago, but has only raced five times since, including an aborted novice chase campaign last term. Off a mark of 127, and after 364 days off the track, he returned over 2m4f here in November, looking as if he would finish tamely, but staying on strongly for fourth.
For a horse who had raced just once in the previous 600 days, he demonstrated his wellbeing and stamina, so off a declining mark, he could well be the one for today, with a victory probably needed to give his rating enough juice for Cheltenham.
2.07 Aintree – BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase
He may officially be 3lb out the handicap here, but GABORIOT ran really well on his second start over the Grand National fences in the Grand Sefton last month. That 2m5f trip on good-to-soft ground should have been on the sharp side for this hunter chaser, but he acquitted himself well by staying on for third behind the reopposing King Turgeon.
Effectively up 4lb, his experience over this course should negate a fair bit of that, as should the step back up to 3m2f on softer ground; he was a winner of a Cheltenham hunter chase in May over 4m½f, so he is all about stamina.
Though the weights are inflated due to Chianti Classico’s presence at the head of them, Gaboriot is racing off the same 10st 2lb burden he did when last here. Connections were fairly bullish about his chances for this contest off the back of his Grand Sefton third and it would be a surprise were he not involved in the finish should he get round.
3.17 Aintree – BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle
In a competitive but open heat, it is a surprise that PYRAMID PLACE is available at substantial each-way odds. He has jumped around a number of stables since this time last year, but it is to his credit that he has maintained, and even improved his form during that time.
He was a 66/1 winner over course and distance in May, and I believe bookmakers may be pigeonholing him as a horse for good ground given he also won at Kempton last month on a quicker surface. That was his second start for Olly Murphy, and he is up 6lb for winning that four-runner event, but he now has plenty of race fitness on his side.
Moreover, his previous two wins prior to his recent successes were both achieved on heavy going when with Milton Harris. However, Murphy might be about to get even more out of him, with his surprise victory over course and distance coming in a good race, so he should acquit himself well once again here.
3.35 Sandown – Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase
Mr Vango is feared with the rain coming at a good time for him, but he ended last season on a low note. It might instead be worth backing one of the three veterans in the field given four of the last seven winners of this race have been aged ten or upwards.
The vote therefore goes to the in-form CERTAINLY RED for Lydia Richards. The ten-year-old’s record at Sandown reads 173241, with his worst finishes coming in the bet365 Gold Cup, one of the most competitive handicaps of the season. Yet, his seventh was off a career high mark, and he was beaten just 3½ lengths into fourth in that race back in April.
His two runs this season have seen him finish second under 12st at Chepstow, then reverse the form with the winner Copperhead at Sandown in November. He is back to that career high mark of 142, but is in the form of his life, loves it here and stays on any ground.
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