Free horse racing tips for today: ITV Racing tips – The Wizard of Odds’ betting preview for Saturday, January 5
The Wizard of Odds guides you through Saturday's racing where the action at Sandown takes centre stage
REVE up for a big win in Sandown’s 3.00.
LE REVE absolutely loves the place and came back from 19 months off to show plenty of promise at Warwick last time out.
As you might expect, he was allowed to do things pretty much in his own time and was right there until the lack of a recent run told in the closing stages.
He lost a shoe along the way too, which can’t have helped his chances that much. His last three wins have all come at Sandown and from much higher marks than today’s.
Trainer Lucy Wadham has done the right thing by giving him 45 days off since that comeback, which should stop the “bounce” factor from rearing its ugly head.
This trip is ideal, as is the decent ground we should get, and he’ll give us a good run for our money at what looks a fair price.
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Rathlin Rose is another who likes this track and he looked more than a little rusty on his first start of the season here last time.
It was still a decent enough effort to finish fourth and he has had a little help from the handicapper. With the David Pipe team in good nick, it would be no shock to see him on the podium.
Exitas is usually a good jumper so it was a surprise to see him unseat his rider at Kempton last time.
We can forgive that and he won one of these veterans’ contests earlier in the season with plenty in hand. He has no trouble seeing out this trip and is another with an each-way shout at tasty odds.
Rock Gone has been well supported since betting opened on the back of his solid second here in November. He had earlier finished second in the competitive Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot so clearly has a touch of class.
The pick of his form has come over slightly shorter though and he’ll need to be at his very best to justify favouritism.
GRAND SANCY looks overpriced in the Tolworth Hurdle (2.25 Sandown).
He was arguably held up for too long by his claiming rider in a hot handicap at Ascot latest. Despite that he picked up well before an iffy jump at the second-last stopped his momentum.
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It was a good effort to finish fourth in the big field and he had earlier been moving nicely through the grades with wins at Wincanton and Haydock.
With the Nicholls horses going so well, there’s every chance that he’ll hit the frame at least.
Rathhill warrants this hike in grade after having little more than a canter when winning on debut at Newbury last time. Nicky Henderson thinks a lot of him and, while he’s plenty short enough in the betting, he could be the one to beat.
GULSHANIGANS came back from almost two years to finish second over course and distance last time.
GRAND PLANS Your in-depth preview to Saturday's Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown
That should see him spot on for Wincanton’s competitive 2.40. The booking of Noel Fehily catches the eye and he has plenty to work with on a horse that saves his best for the west country venue.
He wasn’t asked too many questions last time and finished off really strongly to pass the post just two lengths behind the winner. The decent ground suits and hopefully he will be a little closer to the pace today.
Tight Call looks the one to beat after a win and second from his two spins over hurdles. He didn’t seem to enjoy dropping back to 2m when runner-up at Wetherby last time so should be happier with this trip.
Bradford Bridge has been given a little help by the handicapper and has another 7lb taken off by his rider. He should find this easier than his Ascot assignment last time and picked up two wins earlier this season.
SANDOWN
12.15 Paddy The Chef
12.45 Capeland
1.20 Darius Des Bois
1.50 Laurina
2.25 Grand Sancy
3.00 Le Reve
3.35 Court Royale
WINCANTON
12.30 Desiremoi Dauthie
1.05 Lizzie Langton
1.35 Kapcorse
2.05 Kupatana
2.40 Gulshanigans
3.15 Catamaran Du Seuil
3.50 Alrightjack
LINGFIELD
12.40 Bayston Hill
1.15 Matterhorn
1.45 Bamako Du Chatelet
2.15 Straight Right
2.50 Coolagh Forest
3.25 Critical Thinking
NEWCASTLE
11.55 Suggestion
12.25 Reverant Cust
12.55 Lord Of The Rock
1.30 Younoso
2.00 Petite Ganache
2.35 Grand Morning
3.10 Zakharova
KEMPTON
4.15 War No More
4.45 Rajman
5.15 Molten Lava
5.45 Yusra
6.15 Envoy
6.45 Wedding Date
7.15 Ilhabela Fact
7.45 Turn Of Luck