ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Double for Aintree and Sandown

In the BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase over at Aintree, I am sweet on the chances of WAR LORD (best price 5/1) who showed a resurgence in form when third in last month’s Haldon Gold Cup and is fancied to make his class count at this lower level.

The eight-year-old goes very well on any ground, and the last time he ran on heavy ground, he beat 144-rated and 145-rated horses with plenty to spare. Clearly, he is well-handicapped, with a mark of 144, plus the last time he ran here, he finished second in a Grade 1 race over course and distance.

Harry Cobden will take the ride this time, and the form of War Lord's latest third was boosted by the winner last weekend, who won a good-quality handicap. With conditions to suit and the return to the longer trip to suit alongside the ground, this is a great opportunity for this classy horse to resume winning ways.

There’s only six runners for the Grade 1 Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase, but conditions are set to be really testing with further rain to come, and I am optimistic about the chances of the Jamie Snowden-trained COLONEL HARRY (best price 4/1).

The six-year-old developed into a very good hurdler last season, winning at this course before placing in Grade 1 and Grade 2 events, and he’s since made a successful chase debut at Chepstow, where he jumped boldly and won with loads up his sleeve.

His assured jumping will stand him in very good stead this weekend. The likes of Iceo disappointed last time, while JPR One isn’t guaranteed to back up his latest unlucky Cheltenham effort at this course under these conditions in this much deeper contest.

Le Patron is one to note, but this is much tougher than the race he won last time, and the former represents the owner, trainer, and jockey who took the Coral Gold Cup last weekend with Datsalrightgino. With track, trip, and conditions up his street, he can land the spoils.

Extra ITV Tips 

The Becher Chase is always a great spectacle, and at a big price, MORODER (best price 16/1) should leave his reappearance run behind and outrun his odds with these fences likely to see him in full flight.
He has won five of his 11 starts over fences, and after returning a game winner of the Grimthorpe at Doncaster last season, he only found the well-treated Kitty’s Light too strong when second in the Bet365 Gold Cup.

He’s without a doubt one of the best jumpers in the field, will be up with the early pace, and will not lack stamina. This course should really suit him, and he’s very appealing, with most firms paying up to four places.

I was also close to nominating Highland Hunter, who has plenty in his favour, but UNDERSUPERVISION (best price 17/2) returned to form with an excellent third at Cheltenham recently and looks tailor-made for the task ahead over these fences under these conditions.

His trainer and jockey have enjoyed great success together in this race over the years, and this seven-year-old does tick a lot of the trends for this contest. He is a really good jumper and essentially has winning form on a heavy surface.

He’s only 2Ib higher than when he won the Grimthorpe last year, and he has no doubt been aimed at this contest. He lacks consistency, but when he’s on-song, he’s a very good horse and makes plenty of appeal at the odds with four places on offer. My main bet in the race.

CELEBRE D'ALLEN (best price 12/1) got going far too late in the Grand Sefton when a never-nearer eighth of 29, but this longer trip will suit better, and the way he jumped the fences was encouraging, to say the least.

He was really impressive over the regulation fences here last time when scoring with loads to spare, and the conditions will be absolutely perfect for this lightly-raced 11-year-old.

I know he will need plenty of luck in-running, given his hold-up style of racing, but he’s seen at his best on deep ground and will be finishing best of all if he’s within striking distance at the elbow. Four places are widely available.

RED ROOKIE (best price 11/1) could be a spot of value at fair odds. He is unbeaten in three starts on heavy ground and wasn’t discredited on his return over fences in a Listed race when last spotted.
He is back over hurdles from a much lower mark and has C&D-winning form in his locker. I think the eight-year-old has an excellent chance with that run under his belt. Four places are generally available.
 

In the final race at Aintree, the top-weight SONIGINO (best price 7/2) must have strong claims for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden back over a more favourable trip on slower ground.
He won three times last season and finished third in a high-quality handicap over C&D. That form has worked out well with the runner-up, Buddy One, subsequently winning off 147 and is now rated in the 150s.

The six-year-old caught the eye when third in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow on similar ground and backed that up when fourth in last month's Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham. From an unchanged mark dropped in class, he can go well.

The class act in the field is BEAUPORT (best price 5/2) who has built up a good record around this course over hurdles, but his chasing career has not exactly gone to plan after beating a Grade 1 winner on his chase debut in a Listed race.

However, the combination of today’s longer trip could be the making of this seven-year-old. He needs to get his act together in the jumping department, but he’s surely better than this mark of 140 and is worth the chance against mostly out-of-sorts opponents.

Sticking with the London National, I also really like the claims of TRUCKERS LODGE (best price 5/1) for Paul Nicholls, who has been a regular in big-field staying handicaps and gained an overdue success in his penultimate start at Ffos Las. He was also unfortunately brought down at Cheltenham last month.
Nevertheless, he’s a former Midlands National winner off a 4Ib higher mark on heavy ground and has placed in multiple Welsh Grand Nationals off higher marks. Freddie Gingell can offset a valuable 5Ib. With track, trip, and conditions massively beneficial for this veteran, he’s a major player against these