The ITV cameras bring us seven races today with four coming from the feature meeting at Sandown which has to pass an 8am inspection with a chilly night forecast, and with the ground very much on the soft side we have three from Wolverhampton where it’s Lincoln trial day. So, let’s dive in as I provide my top horse racing tips for Saturday, 11th of March.
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Wolverhampton 1.30
The day’s action kicks off with a ten-runner 6F class handicap. Silkie Wilkie arrives in decent form having made all to win at Kempton last time and although 6lb higher will surely have his followers. Anything Billy ‘The Kid’ Loughnane rides has to be given respect and he’s on board Baldomero for Mick Appleby and The Horse Watchers and also has claims.
The one I like however is bottom weight Ingra Tor trained by rookie handler Jack Channon who took over the reigns from his father Mick earlier this year and has already had 3 winners from 20 runners. He’s been gelded since last seen some 197 days ago but was a useful turf sprinter last summer who has already won on the all weather. If he’s ready to go he looks worthy of a bet.
INGRA TOR 2 points win @ 6/1 Bet Victor
Sandown 1.50
A decent-sized field of seventeen turn up for the EBF Betfair NH Novices’ Handicap Hurdle. The race as one would expect has a very open look about it with several holding chances. On my shortlist is Gary Moore’s Inneston who was last seen winning over course and distance 23 days ago from Twin Powers, one of three Paul Nicholls runners in the race. Dan Skelton’s Etalon is another possibility having won well at Wetherby last time and sporting a first-time tongue tie here.
I’m going to take a chance however on Milton Harris’ Twinjets who is better off at the weights for being beaten by Twin Powers over course and distance in February and has already won twice in soft ground so will certainly enjoy the wet terrain. There are additional places available here so make sure you search them out.
TWINJETS 1 point each way @ 10/1 Bet365 1/5th 12345
Wolverhampton 2.05
The Spreadex Sports Lincoln Trial Handicap is up next. Run over 1M 142 yards it is, as the name suggests, a trial for the big one at Doncaster next month. A field of thirteen have declared with the favourite the one I like best. Trained at Newmarket by John & Thady Gosden Unforgotten runs in the royal blue Godolphin silks and will be ridden today by one of their jockeys in James Doyle. He returned from a 659 day absence to win two handicaps at Lingfield over a mile a tad cosily, coming late and fast to mow down his opponents. The handicapper has had his say by pushing him up 8lb but that may not be enough to stop this lightly raced Exceed And Excel roan from winning again. Last year’s winner Notre Belle Bete is back to defend his title but is now 8lb higher whilst a bigger threat may well be the Mick Appleby trained War In Heaven who’s chasing a course and distance five timer.
UNFORGOTTEN 2 points win @ 4/1 bet365
Sandown 2.25
A bumper field of 18 face the starter for the feature race of the day – the Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle run over the minimum trip of two miles. Like the EBF Final the contest has a wide-open look about it. Gary Moore’s Givega is a decent novice who bounced back to form when winning a novice hurdle over course and distance last time and in his first handicap is high on my shortlist.
Ireland send two over having plundered the race last year with last year’s winning trainer Peter Fahey saddling Zoffany Bay who was a massive drifter last time at Ascot when running really well to finish runner-up to the improver Irish Hill. Dan Skelton’s Playful Saint should also be considered having bolted up last time at Leicester whilst cases can be made for top-weight Metier who will love the heavy ground and even Venetia William’s charge Djelo.
Stakes kept small but it’s Givega for me each way with additional places.
GIVEGA 1 point each way @ 8/1 Betfair Sportsbook 1/5th 12345
Wolverhampton 2.40
Eight go to post for the Spreadex Sports Lady Wulfruna Stakes, a listed contest run over 7F. A strong fancy here is the Ralph Beckett-trained Angel Bleu, a smart soft-ground turf performer who’s making his all-weather debut for a trainer who won with 3 of his last 4 runners. Angel Bleu has kept the best company on turf running in group one company on 4 of his last 5 starts winning two of them.
With no penalties for those victories, he may simply outclass his seven opponents headed by last year’s winner Tinker Toy, who’s very in and out and Andrew Balding’s Berkshire Shadow who’s been gelded since last seen 212 days ago. From a yard in, red hot form Angel Bleu will be very hard to beat if anywhere near fit enough.
ANGEL BLEU 3 points win @ 3/1 William Hill
Sandown 3.00
Only nine turn up for this listed mares only bumper. At the head of the market, we have the easy Hereford winner Casa No Mento trained in the Cotswolds by Nigel Twiston Davies whilst there shouldn’t be much between Harry Fry’s Goodtimecrew and Paul Nicholls’ Larchmont Lass who wears a first-time hood here. That may be enough to turn the tables and in a tricky contest is worth a small interest.
LARCHMONT LASS 1 point win @ 11/2 bet365
Sandown 3.35
A small field of six face the starter for this 2m 4F 10 yard class 1 handicap chase and features the best bet of the day in the favourite Easy As That trained by Venetia Williams. Soft ground is a must for the improving eight-year-old who’s won two of his three starts over fences in splendid style rising 16lb for wins at Haydock and Newcastle.
Olly Murphy saddles his dual winner this season in No Risk Des Flos and he may be the biggest threat although Brian Ellison’s Baron De Middleton shouldn’t be overlooked as he appeared to improve last time for a wind op. He may not appreciate the soft conditions, however.
EASY AS THAT 3 points win @ 6/4 BetVictor
All odds are accurate at the time of writing.
