Best bets for the day from Steve Ryder and Oddschecker+ Premium tipsters, as well as key races to follow.
13:50 Sandown
There is jumps racing at Sandown, Hereford, Ayr and Gowran Park on Saturday 8th March while Wolverhampton and Chelmsford stage all-weather meetings.
Today’s Best Bets from Steve Ryder
A typically competitive EBF Final but I do think MEETMEBYTHESEA (best priced at 3/1) is worthy favourite. The Ben Pauling trained five-year-old finished second He Can’t Dance in a PTP in March but is unbeaten in his three starts under rules. A 2 ¼ length winner on his hurdling debut, he beat the reopposing The Kemble Brewery by two lengths at Ludlow on his next start under Callum Pritchard.
The winning distance of a neck doesn’t tell the dominance of Meetmebythesea last time at Doncaster but as a result he now makes his handicap debut off a mark of 128. His trainer has talked about him in glowing terms since and he can complete the four-timer in this race for a trainer who supplied the 1-2 in it last year.
14:25 Sandown
The good to soft ground this year works against a few in this race but one horse who should relish those conditions in KING WILLIAM RUFUS (best priced at 22/1). The Chris Gordon trained eight-year-old was an impressive six length winner at Ascot on this ground in December off a mark of 112 before finishing 6th at both Chepstow and Newbury on soft ground off higher marks.
King William Rufus helped force too stronger pace last time in the William Hill Hurdle but there doesn’t appear to be the same number of front runners in this race and this could suit him much better tactically. He can outrun his odds off a mark of 121 with up to six places available.
16:00 Ayr
The Nick Alexander trained ARTIC ROW (best priced at 9/2) bumped into Walk On Quest last time over this course and distance when that rival was completing a hat-trick and he has subsequently won again and is now rated 14lbs higher. Artic Row has form figures of 1111F2 over obstacles at the track and still looked a big danger to the winner until the final fence.
The handicapper has left him unchanged on a mark of 115 which is very generous based on the form of the winner since and he can capitalise despite going up in class.
