Quality National Hunt action continues in front of the ITV Racing cameras on Saturday 3 January with Wincanton and Sandown offering some competitive action on terrestrial television.
Our top tipster Matty Sutcliffe is back with his best bets across the two cards, and we take a look at his selections below.
Wincanton Racing Tips (Saturday 3 January 2026)
A seven-race card kicks off at Wincanton at 12.27pm with three chases and four hurdle races. Matty has a brace of selection for the action over the sticks.
1:30 Wincanton – Bet £10 Get £40 With BetMGM Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5yo+ 0-130) – Transmission 7/2 1pt WIN
Transmission isn’t the most easiest of rides but given he was noted to jump right on multiple occasions last season at Cheltenham, a first trip to Wincanton could belatedly see him return to the winner’s enclosure particularly after an encouraging run in the G3 Howden Silver Cup.
He was only beaten ten lengths in that valuable contest at Ascot which was an improved performance from his first two starts this season, and he drops into significantly weaker company here around a track that doesn’t require as much of a jumping test then Ascot and Cheltenham. He’s dropped back down to his last winning mark, and he’s 3lbs below his two length second to subsequent Welsh Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs last December.
Connections field two here which has to be noted, but Kelce generally tends to be handy and I’d imagine he’ll make it a fair test for his stablemate, who likes to rally home late from rear.
2:40 Wincanton – Play Golden Goals At BetMGM Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-120) – Maldini Milano 4/1 1pt WIN
Having jumped badly right and unseating on his sole blip at Fontwell this season, course bumper second Maldini Milano should enjoy the return to this right handed track over hurdles and can back up his Plumpton maiden hurdle success now going handicapping.
He was a two length second to 11/10F A Pai De Nom on hurdles debut who’s since franked that form with subsequent figures of 211 now rated 124, and he swiftly recovered from Fontwell to comfortably win at Plumpton in first time cheekpieces, beating the 11/10F who’s franked that form to win on handicap debut on Boxing Day. The third won by seven lengths next time out, with that pair pulling just shy of fifty lengths clear of the third and an opening mark of 114 looks workable.
Sandown Racing Tips (Saturday 3 January 2026)
It’s veterans final day at Sandown on Saturday afternoon with the old-stagers ready to take centre stage. Matty has another two tips for the action at the Esher track.
1:50 Sandown – Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Qualifier) (Class 3) (10yo+ 0-135) – Triple Trade 4/1 1pt WIN
Stepping into veterans company could prove an effective move for Triple Trade, who ran admirably in class two company at Cheltenham last time out when weakening late on behind one thrown in off bottom weight, and the classy 153-rated JPR One. He pulled nine lengths clear of the fourth there in a race which paid to be prominent (others to be ridden in rear beaten 29L and 41L).
Triple Trade failed to return to the winner’s enclosure last season with a number of poor efforts, but prior to that solid third last time out he was a winner on seasonal debut from 5lbs lower when getting up late on the rail to fend off the rallying Torneo by a neck. That form’s worked out nicely with the third taking a Navan handicap next time out and the fourth subsequently winning the December Gold Cup.
He’s still well handicapped on older form having peaked at 10lbs higher, and this step back up in trip over a C&D he’s won at under Brendan Powell can see him gain another success providing he’s in a similar vain of form as his latest two efforts.
3:05 Sandown – Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2025 Stayers’ Veterans’ Chase Final) (Class 2) (10yo+) – Credo 6/1 1pt WIN
Harry Cobden has a 25% all time strike rate with Anthony Honeyball and is two from four when riding the mare Credo, with each of those efforts coming in a visor which returns for the first time this season.
She made a respectable reappearance behind stablemate Gustavian in the Badger Beers Handicap at Wincanton who stole that race from the front, and she now has a 10lbs swing in the weights. She lost little in defeat next time out when third to the well backed Rock My Way who pulled eleven lengths clear of the second, and she mightn’t have seen out the 3m5f trip there.
This looks a slightly easier task than Ascot, and the returning visor can sharpen her up back at a course she’s won at for a yard who are excellent at targeting these big pots.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
1:30 Wincanton – Bet £10 Get £40 With BetMGM Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5yo+ 0-130) – Transmission 7/2 1pt WIN
1:50 Sandown – Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Qualifier) (Class 3) (10yo+ 0-135) – Triple Trade 4/1 1pt WIN
2:40 Wincanton – Play Golden Goals At BetMGM Handicap Hurdle (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-120) – Maldini Milano 4/1 1pt WIN
3:05 Sandown – Unibet Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2025 Stayers’ Veterans’ Chase Final) (Class 2) (10yo+) – Credo 6/1 1pt WIN
Triple TradeMatty Sutcliffe’s Racing Tips – Thursday 1 January
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets at Wincanton and Sandown across Saturday 3 January’s cards.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Wincanton & Sandown tips were published at 10.40am on Friday 2 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.