Racing enthusiasts can look forward to a thrilling Saturday with live coverage from ITV racing across Sandown and Aintree. Key races include Grade One contests such as the Tingle Creek Chase and Henry VIII Novices' Chase. Notable picks include Green Book at Sandown's Pertemps Qualifier, known for its strong course performance, and O'Connell in the London National Handicap Chase. This exhilarating line-up of races offers a mix of veteran and emerging talents vying for top honors, and has been keenly anticipated by fans.
ITV Racing fans have got a feast of racing to look forward to from across Sandown and Aintree on Saturday. Two Grade One races will be shown live from Sandown Park on Tingle Creek day, along with three competitive races from Aintree, including the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences.
Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps
Hurdle Series Qualifier) 2m7½f
1:50pm
Sandown
Henry VIII Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 1m7½f
2:05pm
Aintree
Wirral Juvenile Hurdle (Listed Race) 2m1f
2:25pm
Sandown
Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 2m
2:40pm
Aintree
Becher Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m2f
3:00pm
Sandown
Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1) 1m7½f
3:15pm
Aintree
Bet Builder Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 2m4f
3:35pm
Sandown
London National Handicap Chase (Class 2) 3m4½f
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 6th December
1:20pm Sandown - Pertemps Qualifier Tips
Saturday's action kicks off with a competitive handicap hurdle, where GREEN BOOK (18/1) looks to be the value play.
Venetia Williams' returning star loves it here at Sandown, having won the Heroes Handicap over this course-and-distance in 2022 and 2023. Charlie Deutsch's mount was last seen finishing fourth in the Pertemps Final at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, and he'll be running off a five pound lower mark this afternoon.
Williams' eight-year-old has been off the track for almost 1000 days, so it's certainly a risk backing him. However, sometimes it's best to catch a horse on their first start after a lengthy absence, and Green Book's course form has to give him a big chance.
1:50pm Sandown - Henry VIII Novices' Chase Tips
I wasn't blown away by Lulamba's chasing debut at Exeter, and I quite fancy taking the favourite on at 4/6. LUMP SUM (9/2) took to chasing brilliantly on his return to action at Uttoxeter, and Sam Thomas has had his star laid out for this assignment since.
Dylan Johnston's mount won the Dovecote as a novice hurdler, and kicked off last season with an impressive win in the Welsh Champion Hurdle. Two defeats in Grade One company followed, but Lump Sum bounced back with a runner-up effort in the Betfair Hurdle, before struggling on his final outing in the Imperial Cup.
Lump Sum ran out a hugely impressive 16-length winner on his reappearance over fences, and the runner-up, Jax Junior has boosted that form with a 12-length victory since. Thomas' seven-year-old jumped fluently at Uttoxeter, and I can't wait to see Lump Sum tackle those fearsome railway fences.
2:05pm Aintree - Wirral Juvenile Hurdle Tips
I rarely bet in juvenile hurdles, but I do fancy chancing DIAMOND JIM (25/1) at a lengthy price.
Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero's gelding is the only horse in this field who didn't race on the flat, and made his racecourse debut in a hurdles contest at Bangor last month. Craig Nichol's mount travelled well early on, but got outpaced down the back straight, before finding more late on to finish a clear second behind the winning favourite, Milou Du Chenet.
The first two pulled 16 lengths clear of their rivals at Bangor, and Milou Du Chenet followed up with another easy win at Wincanton in the week. With the benefit of that debut outing under his belt, I'm hopeful that Diamond Jim can outrun his current odds.
2:25pm Sandown - Handicap Hurdle Tips
Knickerbockerglory was hammered in the market before romping to victory in this race 12 months ago. The defending champion has a big chance again, even off a six pound higher mark, but at the prices, I'm happy to chance AFADIL (9/1).
Paul Nicholls' hurdler hasn't won for a while and hasn't produced his best in the first half of the last two seasons. Freddie Gingell held Afadil up at the rear of the field on his reappearance at Ascot, and the two made little impression, finishing seventh behind impressive winner Alexei.
Afadil did go very close in last season's Imperial Cup here at Sandown, crossing the line just half-a-length adrift of Go Dante. This will be the first time that Harry Cobden has ridden Afadil in over two years, so he must fancy his chances this weekend.
Sam Twiston-Davies riding Lump Sum (blue/white) clear the last to win The Coral Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton in 2024. (Getty)
Olly Murphy runs three in this handicap hurdle, with Rambo T and the old boy, Brewin'Upastorm bookending the betting. Lewis Saunders rides ACT OF AUTHORITY (6/1), and the two have every chance of building on a promising reappearance at Newbury.
Saunders got an excellent tune out of Act Of Authority last season. The two struck at Wetherby last November, before a narrow defeat at Warwick in February. Saunders then gave Act Of Authority a screamer of a ride in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival, finishing second behind the extremely well-handicapped Wodhooh.
Murphy's star qualifier for the Pertemps Final with a fourth-place finish at Newbury, where Act Of Authority travelled into the race well, but finished a little one-paced. Dropping back in trip seems like a sensible move and Saunders' five-pound claim should give this hardy seven-year-old a good chance.
3:35pm Sandown - London National Handicap Chase Tips
O'CONNELL (11/4) was a huge eye-catcher in a very good race on his reappearance at Carlisle, and last year's Masters Handicap winner looks to have a huge chance on his return to Sandown Park.
Sue Smith and Joel Parkinson's stayer struck at Carlisle and Market Rasen last winter, before keeping on to score in the Masters Handicap here over three miles. O'Connell was never going well at any stage in the Eider Chase up at Newcastle, but stuck to his guns gamely to finish second behind the bottom-weight Knockanore.
Gavin Sheehan's mount was last turning for home on his return at Carlisle, but plugged on gamely to finish third behind Sound And Fury. I don't expect 11/4 will last too much longer, and if either Iron Bridge, Westerninthepark or Galia Des Liteaux - who all ran against O'Connell at Carlisle - were to win the Becher at Aintree, the favourite's price is sure to shorten again.
Verdict
Saturday's Top ITV Tips:
Best Bet1: O'Connell 3:35pm Sandown @11/4 at bet365 - 5 Units
Best Bet2: Lump Sum 1:50pm Sandown @9/2 at BOYLE Sports - 5 Units
Best Bet3: Act Of Authority 3:15pm Aintree @6/1 at Betgoodwin - 5 Units
Best Bet4: Diamond Jim E/W 2:05pm Aintree @25/1 at Hollywood bets - 5 Units
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