TODAY’S ITV racing tips: Sandown and Haydock – Matt Chapman’s top betting preview for Saturday’s TV racing
IT'S a weekend when many will want the Lion (s) to roar, both at Sandown and in Russia! Bring it on.
Yes there's racing on ITV this Saturday from Sandown and Haydock, and the feature of course is the Group 1 Eclipse.
But then there is a certain football match as well - it's hard to know where to turn. I'll be at Sandown, so let's see if we can find a few winners.
Because of the football the action is early, and the first ITV show at Sandown is the 12.20pm, a Group 3 over 5f.
From a useful draw, I'm going with JUDICIAL, who is in tremendous form for Julie Camacho. My hope got no run behind Muthmir at Haydock two runs ago and can reverse the form.
The 12.55pm is a 1m handicap. The one I like here is CHIEFOFCHIEFS for the Charlie Fellowes stable.
IT'S COMING HOME Which racecourses can I watch the England game at this Saturday?
This horse loves Sandown and just got going too late when beaten here last time. He has a great draw to work from.
Next up is the Listed Distaff over 1m at 1.30pm. At face value PREENING has plenty to find, but she's improving fast for James Fanshawe and might well be much better than her current mark.
She stays well and likes the ground. Then it's the big one the Eclipse at 2.10pm over a mile and a quarter.
I wasn't expecting SAXON WARRIOR to be in the line up after his Irish Derby defeat last weekend, but he is and I have to keep the faith.
This could be the distance he can show his true ability as we saw in the 2000 Guineas.
ITV show three races from Haydock, including the 12.35pm, a 1m6f handicap.
AUSTRIAN SCHOOL is probably not capable of much more than his current handicap mark, but he's in good form and stays well for Mark Johnston so should give us a good run for our money.
Next up at 1.10pm is the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks over nearly 1m4f. To be honest this looks a poor renewal, and I'm hoping Aidan O'Brien's three-year-old FLATTERING will prove good enough after a confidence booster last time.
Matt Chapman's TV Tips
12.20 Sandown - Judicial: 'In good heart and can reverse the form with Muthmir'
12.35 Haydock - Austrian School: 'Stays well and should give us a good run for our money'
12.55 Sandown - Chiefofchiefs: 'Loves Sandown and has a good draw'
1.10 Haydock - Flattering: 'This looks a poor renewal and she can capitalise'
1.30 Sandown - Preening: 'Improving fast and will like conditions again'
1.45 Haydock - Across The Stars: 'Looks a good each-way bet in this'
2.10 Sandown - Saxon Warrior: 'Is seriously classy and I'm keeping the faith'
She wasn't good enough for the Oaks, but gets plenty of weight for age here.
Finally, the 1.45pm at Haydock is the Old Newton Cup, a handicap over nearly 1m4f.
ACROSS THE STARS is up 1lb for finishing behind Dash of Spice at Royal Ascot, but he's in good form at the moment and will love the conditions. Have a few quid on each-way.
So as always let's hope for some Yeeehaaas. You Betcha!