ITV Racing Tips on Saturday, March 12th
The cards at Wolverhampton and Sandown make up the live ITV4 action, we have scoured through these to provide our ITV tips for all seven scheduled races. Check these out below, with our top tips providing extra selections on what promises to be an unmissable day of racing.
Asadjumeirah (1.31 Wolverhampton, Betway Handicap) 15/2
Zarzyni should be happier back over 6f and has a top pilot aboard in Jamie Spencer. At the prices, however, it is ASADJUMEIRAH who gets the verdict.
A well-bred half-brother to the Flying Childers winner Heartache, this colt didn’t really hit the heights expected of him in nine starts for Owen Burrows and the Shadwell operation, going through the sales ring for just 10,000 guineas back in October.
He has already proven that to be a shrewd purchase, however, producing eye-catching form figures of 24115 since switched to the all-weather this winter for current connections.
Asadjumeirah blew the start at Lingfield last time and caught the eye staying on strongly once the race was over in earnest. Getting back on Tapeta and on a less sharp track will suit Asadjumeirah and there’s every chance that he will prove better than a mark of 86.
Our Jet (1.50 Sandown, European Breeders’ Fund Paddy Power “National Hunt” Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final) 13/2
A competitive field attracted for this Grade 3 with the vote going to Dan Skelton’s OUR JET.
This son of Jet Away came close to claiming the scalp of the classy Hillcrest on hurdles debut at Aintree in November, only being run out of things in the shadows of the post.
A subsequent Warwick disappointment can be forgiven as Our Jet was found to have lost a shoe post-race, and in any case there may have been an underlying issue that day as he was given a wind operation immediately afterwards.
That appears to have worked the oracle since, with Our Jet winning both starts, backing up a 2/5F victory when running down Rafferty’s Return at Wetherby last time. The time posted that day was over 6 seconds quicker than the course and distance handicap run later on the card won by the now 130-rated No Risk Des Flos.
That Wetherby form has been franked by Rafferty’s Return since, who is now rated 129, and that makes Our Jet look potentially well-treated sent handicapping off a mark of just 122.
ITV Racing Tips. The Skeltons can team up to victory with Our Jet in the EBF Final at Sandown on Saturday.
Notre Belle Bete (2.05 Wolverhampton, MansionBet Lincoln Trial Handicap) 9/1
La Tihaty looked like a potential Group performer when scoring at Kempton last time but he needs to prove he can do it away from that venue and a 9lb rise looks a little excessive.
Preference is for NOTRE BELLE BETE, who it’s easy to forget finished a 150/1 fourth at Leopardstown on his debut last April, a race that has worked out exceptionally well since – winner Poetic Flare subsequent dual Group 1 winner, second and third both rated in the mid 100s whilst the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth home all hold triple-figure ratings.
Although proving a little tough to win with since, Notre Belle Bete appeared to improve for the switch to the Andrew Balding stable when going in at long odds-on at Lingfield last month.
This clearly represents a big step up in class for Notre Belle Bete, but a mark of 87 has the potential to seriously underestimate him (particularly on that Leopardstown form), and he has the right man aboard in all-weather champion jockey elect David Probert.
Current Mood (2.25 Sandown, Paddy Power Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle) 14/1
The Skeltons had a whole host of possibilities for this contest at the five-day stage and it’s interesting that they punt with Lucky One, albeit he wouldn’t look a winner in waiting on what he’s achieved for connections so far.
Evan Williams is no stranger to big-race success here at Sandown, and it’s his CURRENT MOOD who looks the one to be with here.
This mare was twice a hurdles winner earlier this season before being set some tough assignments in Graded/Listed company – where never looking the strongest of stayers.
She appreciated the drop back to the minimum trip and ease in grade when returning to the winner’s enclosure at Chepstow last time, making all and never looking in danger, beating a subsequent winner in Kingofthewest. This is clearly tougher for Current Mood but she’s been left on a mark of 127 for handicap debut and has the assistance of 3lb claimer Isabel Williams in the saddle.
Grisbi De Berce looks exactly the sort to improve for a strong pace in a big field and it would be no shock to see him outrun his odds, whilst Lively Citizen is a consistent sort who should run his race once again.
ITV Racing Tips. Evan Williams can land the Sandown feature with the mare Current Mood.
Tinker Toy (2.40 Wolverhampton, MansionBet Lady Wulfruna Stakes) 16/1
Misty Grey steps up from handicap company here and is interesting, whilst Happy Power has the backform to prove a class above these (albeit this is his all-weather debut) and Highfield Princess could strip fitter for a recent Chelmsford reappearance.
None of those rivals holds an overly convincing profile, however, and with that in mind, TINKER TOY can be chanced at healthy each-way odds.
The 5yo comes into this less exposed than most having had just seven starts to date, looking a horse to follow when scoring at Newcastle last May. He struggled in both subsequent outings but they came in strong races on turf (including at Group 3 level) and he appreciated returning to the all-weather when beaten less than a length into second at Lingfield last time.
That came on Tinker Toy’s first start since being gelded, and as it was on the back of a 215-day absence he is entitled to strip fitter with the outing under his belt. Tinker Toy clearly has a bit to find on these terms but his powerful yard rarely tilt at windmills with their runners and they clearly feel that Tinker Toy is better than what he has shown up to now.
Eabha Grace (3.00 Sandown, British Stallion Studs EBF Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) 7/1
Mullenbeg has shown plenty in her two bumper starts to date and it’s interesting that she takes in this engagement ahead of a tilt at next week’s Champion Bumper. Whilst she must be respected a penalty makes life tougher here and at a bigger price, EABHA GRACE is taken to turn the favourite over.
Willie Mullins’ mare has an eye-catching pedigree being the first foal out of Listed winner Myska, herself a half-sister to the top-class Bob Olinger.
She looked a smart prospect in her own right when justifying prohibitive odds on debut at Thurles in December, and although disappointing in Grade 2 company at the Dublin Racing Festival subsequently that run was surely too bad to be true with Eabha Grace stopping quickly having travelled well up to the turn for home.
Trainer Mullins is in absolutely scintillating form at present having sent out five winners from his last six winners at the time of writing and Eabha Grace represents his sole entry on the Sandown card, which may prove a tip in itself.
ITV Racing Tips. Willie Mullins makes the journey over to Sandown on Saturday with the sole runner in Eabha Grace.
Danny Kirwan (3.35 Sandown, Paddy Power Novices’ Handicap Chase) 11/4
Paul Nicholls’s DANNY KIRWAN arguably hasn’t hit the heights once expected of him, but he has shown clear ability in his three chase starts to date, finishing a remarkable second in a strong Cheltenham novice back in October when jumping and hanging right.
Danny Kirwan bounced back from a below-par Kempton Boxing Day run when bolting up by 10l at Wincanton last time, and whilst that clearly wasn’t the strongest of races, the way that Danny Kirwan powered up the home straight that day was very impressive and the cheekpieces fitted are retained.
There looks a strong possibility that Danny Kirwan is better than a mark of 132 returned to handicaps, with this intermediate distance on good ground appearing his optimum conditions, and he rates one of the strongest bets of the day.