Steve Ryder provides his Saturday free racing tips.
13:50 Sandown
BE AWARE – 1pt win
Best odds of 13/2 available at time of publishing.
The Dan Skelton stable have had a fantastic season so far targeting the big Saturday races and I am hoping BE AWARE (best priced at 13/2) can emulate stablemate L’Eau Du Sud who won this last year having won the same Stratford handicap and run in the Arkle trial at the Cheltenham November meeting.
Be Aware jump brilliantly that day and that could give him the advantage over Lulamba who jumped slowly despite winning at Exeter on his chasing debut. Alnilam has run well making all at both Uttoxeter and Cheltenham and if he adopts similar tactics then that will put the favourites jumping under pressure. Be Aware has proven form over further if it becomes testing and he can hopefully achieve another Grade 1 glory for the Skelton yard.
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14:25 Sandown
KNICKERBOCKERGLORY – 2pt win
Best odds of 11/4 available at time of publishing.
KNICKERBOCKERGLORY (best priced at 11/4) won this race last season beating Nemean Lion by eight lengths and he should relish these conditions off only a 6lb higher mark. The Dan Skelton trained nine-year-old has won on his previous three reappearance runs and connections have targeted this race with the ground for the Greatwood Hurdle drying up on the day.
Knickerbockerfglory was only beaten 1 ¾ lengths by the re-opposing Go Dante in the Imperial Cup here in March on good to soft ground off a 1lb higher mark and he should make yet another winning reappearance at the track.
14:40 Aintree
GABORIOT – 0.5pt each-way
Best odds of 7/1 available at time of publishing.
Mr Vango will no doubt come on for his first run for 266 days and preference goes to GABORIOT (best priced at 7/1) who once again caught the eye when placing in the Grand Sefton last time. The Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerreiro trained nine-year-old has won over 3m, 3m, 3m1f, 4m½f and 3m1½f in the UK so this step up in trip from the 2m5f trip in the Grand Sefton will no doubt suit well.
Gaboriot finished 3rd in the Grand Sefton Chase last season off a mark of 127 before finishing 2nd in it this season off a mark of 124. He runs here from 1lb “out of the weights” here which means he runs off a mark of 126 but he will handle the ground and this test looks ideal for him.
