Saturday’s racing tips

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It’s another weekend of racing to look forward to, and I’ve run the rule over the best bets on Imperial Cup day at Sandown Park.

Betfair Racing Podcasts Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Sandown, 13.15)

Favourites have a good record in this, winning five of the last ten renewals. Other than Le Milos, who obliged at 20/1 when trained by Tim Vaughan in 2019, there hasn’t been a bigger price about the winner than 13/2 in that same period.

Gary Moore has trained three of the last seven winners, which entitles both the second favourite Galactique and also The Bellhop to scrutiny. The former has won twice at Fontwell but didn’t handle the step up in class in a Cheltenham Grade 2 last November.

He’s had time off since then and should be better suited in this company, while his stable companion’s form is not as strong but he’s not written off. The market leader on betting sites Bibe Mus has changed hands since his last run, joining Paul Nicholls from Ross O’Sullivan after being turned over when the favourite at Punchestown in January.

While he performed to a level that should make him competitive in this, the form of the race hasn’t worked out well and I’m happy to take him on with DIAMOND JIM. Oli Greenall and Josh Guerriero train this Teofilo juvenile, who won a good ground Haydock contest last December.

While that form in itself is short of what one or two of these have achieved, I was quite taken with how he came home once the penny dropped. He was marginally better in defeat last time at Warwick but, for me, he looks like one who will improve for a stiffer test like this track provides. He’s backable each-way at 6/1 on betting apps at the time of writing and looks capable of making the frame, while being a potential winner if things drop right. First-time cheekpieces may also prove a positive.

Racing tip 1: Diamond Jim – 1pt each-way @ 6/1 (Paddy Power)

European Breeders’ Fund Betfair “National Hunt” Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final (Sandown, 13.50)

This looks interesting open on paper, with Scorpio Rising a worthy favourite on horse racing betting sites after coming from last to first at Windsor last time to complete a hat-trick. He’s still improving and we know he sees out this trip well, so I wouldn’t want to put off any of you who want to back him.

Kaka’s Cousin’s Kelso win is probably the best form on offer in the field and he’s a player but the nagging concern is the form of the stable. Four Springs is another possible, should cheekpieces help raise his game and Unknown Entity looks solid.

However, at a price here, there are reasons to believe that TENNESSEE TANGO could come good. A good ground bumper winner, Joe Tizzard’s six-year-old took a few starts to get the hang of things over hurdles but he is now improving. That was evidenced with his wide margin win in a Plumpton maiden hurdle last time.

I’d be the first to admit that Plumpton form doesn’t always translate to Saturday wins at Sandown but that is factored into his double-figure price here. He proved he acts on soft with that win and the stable runners are going pretty well. He also looks a potential improver now going up in trip, which for me is key. He’s another we can back each-way.

Racing tip 2: Tennessee Tango – 1pt each-way @ 16/1 (Bet365)

Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Sandown, 14.27)

This big field handicap hasn’t produced many major shocks in the last decade but there have been a couple of 20/1 winners and perhaps there could be another in NO ORDINARY JOE.

“He’s exposed!”, I hear you cry and you’d be correct about that but at his best he’d be a huge player in this field and I’m only suggesting a small each-way play. Perhaps his premium days are in the past, but I thought he ran a cracker at Ascot last time, when he shared the lead over the last before tiring on the run-in to finish fifth in what was a competitive 2m3½f handicap hurdle.

That was easily his best effort for Faye Bramley, and perhaps the wind op that he had late last year has helped, after several lacklustre efforts that preceded it. He’s been a regular in these sort of events over the years, his preferred ground is the forecast soft and he’s been dropped a further 1lb since Ascot, which is a total drop of 14lb since he joined this stable.

I don’t think the return to a stiff two miles with the guaranteed gallop that this races provides will be detrimental and he wouldn’t have to raise the bar much on his Ascot efforts to be a big player at a big price.

Go Dante tries to win this for a third year in succession. Olly Murphy’s charge is much respected now 5lb higher than last year’s victory and he’s also returning from wind surgery, while the favourite Mondo Man absolutely sluiced up at Plumpton. He’s in the ‘could be anything’ category at the moment but his skinny price on gambling sites underlines that.

Wreckless Eric is 3lb lower than when second behind Go Dante in this last year. Cheekpieces go on but he’s unbackable on the form he’s shown in all four subsequent starts in the past year, while Brace For Landing will need significant improvement to win this.

Racing tips 3: No Ordinary Joe – 0.5pts each-way @ 20/1 (Coral)

Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Sandown, 15.35)

So far we’ve taken on the day’s market leaders, and by now we’ll know whether for better or worse, but one favourite I do like goes here in CALIMYSTIC, for trainer Nicky Henderson.

Second in both a bumper and on his hurdles debut last season, he broke his duck at Doncaster (2m3½f, good) at the third attempt. Stepped up in trip at Ayr last spring, he ran inexplicably badly and was pulled up.

Brough back fresh for his chase debut at Newbury in December, he was successful in holding off Captain Bellamy in a tussle up the run-in, showing marked improvement in the process (2m6½f, good).

Genuine soft ground is a bit of an unknown but he’s handled good to soft before.

Free bets for ITV Racing

Each Saturday, Virgin Bet run a money-back offer relating to one of the races being shown on ITV Racing that day. This week, that race is the 13.50 at Sandown.

If you decide to have a wager on that race at Newbury, for which I’ve put up Tennessee Tango, and your selection doesn’t win, you’ll receive your stake back in free bets.

There’s no need to opt in to the offer, just place a wager on the race and if your selection doesn’t win, you’ll receive a free bet refund, up to a maximum of £10.

Only the win part of any each-way bets will be credited back to Virgin Bet punters.

Gamble responsibly

If you plan to have a bet on the racing, make sure to gamble responsibly.

It’s vital that bettors take steps to remain in control of their time and budget when using gambling sites. The same applies whether you’re using the betting sites UK, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, or any other gambling medium.

Even the most knowledgeable racing punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses.

It’s particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino bonuses you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution.

You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs.

You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:

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