The top TV pundit finds Two Tempting (14:42 Wolverhampton) too hard to resist in the Lincoln Trial.
Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips
13:50 Sandown – Laguna Beach (each-way)
14:05 Wolverhampton – Silky Wilkie
14:27 Sandown – No Ordinary Joe
14:42 Wolverhampton – Two Tempting
15:00 Sandown – Burds Of A Feather
15:15 Wolverhampton – Witch Hunter
15:35 Sandown – Invincible Nao (each-way)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
ITV Racing is back Saturday with action from Sandown and Wolverhampton, starting here with a novices’ handicap hurdle over 2m4f. A big field to sort out and a lot might improve upped in trip. A mistake two out just knocked the stuffing out of LAGUNA BEACH at Ascot last time and he was worn down in the closing stages. He’s up 4lb for the defeat, but he stays well and was giving away 6lb to a useful prospect that day. I suspect he has much more to give. Has at least an each-way chance for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.
ITV go Flat racing at Wolverhampton, starting with this handicap over 6f. SILKY WILKIE is well handicapped on his best form and is good enough here to be bang in the mix. The old boy went up 4lb for winning here two runs ago but remained in good form off this mark of 86 when fourth at Southwell. Has a good draw to work from here and Jack Nicholls takes off a useful 5lb.
14:27 Sandown – No Ordinary Joe
The big betting race of the day is the Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle over 2m. I can’t have Mondo Man, so if he wins, I’m in trouble! NO ORDINARY JOE is a crazy price on the back of a much better run at Ascot last time, where he came to win and then weakened close home. He was well backed that day and is down another 1lb here over a shorter trip.
Now rated 123, he’s been up to 143 in his time. Has only run once at Sandown before, when winning a bumper here, and of course, in his time, has been third in a Greatwood and second at the Festival in a Martin Pipe. He could be chucked in if moving forward for that Ascot effort. Benjamin Macey rides again and takes off 5lb for Faye Bramley.
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The Lincoln Trial Handicap over an extended 1m. TWO TEMPTING looks overpriced for Jonny Portman and Rob Hornby. My hope is very consistent, which is not ideal as he’s probably at the hilt of his handicap mark off 100. However, he beat the re-opposing First Principle at Kempton in November when giving that rival 10lb (13lb including the jockey claim on the Haggas runner) and is now 5lb better off with that horse! Ran well in a Listed contest he couldn’t win last time and has a good draw.
A mares’ bumper over 2m. A bit of guessing here. BURDS OF A FEATHER might have a few quirks, but fell and unseated in point-to-points. That all said, the mare showed plenty of dash when scoring at Warwick on February 20 and if she can be a little bit more controlled here, she could take some catching on drying ground. David Bass will be aggressive as ever for Max Comley.
The Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes over 7f. WITCH HUNTER is still a potent threat in races like this, even though it seems like he has been around forever. At the age of seven, he’s probably not getting any better, but he won at Newcastle two runs ago off 101 and then was up against it off this mark of 105 in Listed company when last seen. He can finish off well if they go a strong pace for Joe Leavy and Richard Hannon. Was second in this race last year.
Now a handicap chase over 3m. Another open contest. INVINCIBLE NAO has been dropped 4lb for a defeat at Ascot last time, which seems an overreaction by the handicapper. Prior to that effort, he was a good third at Lingfield off today’s rating of 124. He has good course form in the past and should have an each-way chance at the very least for Josh & Gary Moore and jockey Caoilin Quinn.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips
13:50 Sandown – Laguna Beach (each-way)
14:05 Wolverhampton – Silky Wilkie
14:27 Sandown – No Ordinary Joe
14:42 Wolverhampton – Two Tempting
15:00 Sandown – Burds Of A Feather
15:15 Wolverhampton – Witch Hunter
15:35 Sandown – Invincible Nao (each-way)
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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