Matty Sutcliffe landed a 2pt winner in last week’s column and our top tipster is back with his four best bets for Sandown and Musselburgh on Saturday 31 January.
We preview the weekend action over the sticks that features on ITV Racing and Matty has four selections for the day’s racing.
Sandown Racing Tips (Saturday 31 January 2026)
Sandown host a seven race card on Saturday with the feature race being the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, but Matty looks to hit the ground running early on with two selections early in the afternoon.
12:55 Sandown – Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-125) – Tennessee Tango 7/2 1pt WIN
The progressive Bollin Thou looks the obvious favourite off bottom weight with Harry Cobden jocked up, but nine of the last ten renewals of this contest have gone to a horse in the top three of the weights and it may pay to chance Tennessee Tango, who looks suited by this step up in trip on handicap debut.
The former Wincanton bumper winner is 0-3 over hurdles, but his last two starts after a wind surgery have been full of promise when third to two smart sorts. He was a staying on third to 7/4 favourite and now 131 rated Gentleman Toboot at Exeter, with the second dotting up by ten lengths next time out now rated 127. He was then an eleven length third to the highly regarded and now 137 rated Mossy Fen Road, finishing only three lengths behind the then 128 rated Spectacularsunrise (now 3lbs lower).
He pulled twenty lengths clear of the the third there, and given his dam is a half sister to two who’s best efforts came over 2m3f he looks sure to confirm the visual suspicion that this step up in trip can bring out further improvement off what looks a more than workable mark in 116.
1:25 Sandown – Virgin Bet A Good Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5yo+ 0-125) – Rip Wheeler 11/2 1pt WIN
Despite riding Lylian the last twice, Caoilin Quinn jumps ship to stablemate Rip Wheeler despite pulling up as the 9/4F last time out, which is arguably a sign that connections believe it’s plausible to draw a line through that run and chance he can get back to winning ways.
The Walk In The Park gelding was brought along steadily over hurdles, beaten a neck by a two-time subsequent winner now rated 20lbs higher on his last start in this sphere at Huntingdon. He was then well backed into 6/4F on chase debt there in November, and duly obliged under Robbie Dunne who only had to get serious on his after the last, winning going away. It was a similar performance at Lingfield when again being delivered late by Dunne who once more only became animated after the last to beat a stablemate ridden by Quinn.
He doesn’t appear to do all that much in front so the addition of blinkers may aid in that respect, and while he encounters different ground his, his dam was a dual winner on heavy ground and he’s a half brother to a dual winner on soft so on pedigree that should suit, and if bouncing back from a poor effort last time out then a mark of 106 still looks workable for an in form yard.
Musselburgh Racing Tips (Saturday 31 January 2026)
It’s Scottish Trials day at Musselburgh on Saturday and Matty has a brace of selections for the action in front of the ITV cameras.
1:43 Musselburgh – bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-145) – Welsh Charger 9/2 1pt WIN
Last year’s winner Welsh Charger looks to have campaigned with a target in mind this season and is just a pound higher than his length success over Afadil in last year’s renewal. He’s 3lbs below his Scottish Champion Hurdle two length fifth in a race that’s worked out tremendously well, and I thought he ran a strong race on seasonal debut when fourth to Alexei in the Greatwood, faring best of the prominent racers.
He ran to a similar level when behind that rival at Ascot next time out, and those two efforts should put him spot on for a repeat here. His record on his third start of each season reads 111, his record Musselburgh is 11, he’s 111 in February and 2121411916 (5-10) when going right handed, so now looks the perfect time to catch him.
2:20 Musselburgh – bet365 Scottish Champion Chase (For The Bowes-Lyon Trophy) (A Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – JPR One 9/2 1pt WIN
Joe Tizzard makes a rare eight hour trip from his Dorset based yard up to Musselburgh for just the one entry (albeit Rock My Way entered on Sunday) on Saturday, so he will be hoping that JPR One can at least pay the fuel bill.
The Court Cave gelding was disappointing on seasonal debut when attempting to land back-to-back Haldon Gold Cups, but he was giving 17lbs to tearaway leader Thistle Ask who stole the race from the front and is now rated 24lbs higher after his Clarence House second, and the second, Saint Segal, backed backed that up in two subsequent starts since.
I was again slightly disappointed with his finishing effort at Ascot in the Hurst Park next time out when I thought he had no excuses not to on and win, but there was nothing to bemoan about his half a length second to the progressive David’s Well giving him 25lbs at Cheltenham, finishing nine lengths ahead of his stablemate Triple Trade who won next time out and ran creditably when third in G3 company at Cheltenham.
That was a career best effort against a horse I think could do some damage in the Grand Annual, and while he is back up 3lbs this step up in trip could bring out further improvement given he’s a full brother to strong stayer Deep Cave.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
12:55 Sandown – Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-125) – Tennessee Tango 7/2 1pt WIN
1:25 Sandown – Virgin Bet A Good Bet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5yo+ 0-125) – Rip Wheeler 11/2 1pt WIN
1:43 Musselburgh – bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-145) – Welsh Charger 9/2 1pt WIN
2:20 Musselburgh – bet365 Scottish Champion Chase (For The Bowes-Lyon Trophy) (A Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – JPR One 9/2 1pt WIN
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets at Sandown & Musselburgh on Saturday 31 January.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Sandown & Musselburgh tips were published at 7.41pm on Thursday 29 January.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival.
Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.