The Timeform Jury team pick out the best bets for the ITV racing on Saturday.
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Sandown
1.15 1 pt – 4 Operation Manna
The interesting horses have made their way towards the top of the betting in this Pertemps Qualifier and there’s a straightforward case to make for last year’s winner Operation Manna. Sandown is one of the most punishing hurdling tests around, so the fact Operation Manna has won two of his three starts at the track – both under testing conditions - is a major positive. It’s notable that the other of those course wins came on his return last season, which was the third time in as many campaigns that he recorded a first-time-back win. That offers plenty of hope he’ll be ready to go this time back from eight months off, with Cameron Iles retaining the ride claiming a more-than-handy 7 lb. Operation Manna is 5 lb higher here than when successful last year, so will probably need to be better than ever, but he’s quite lightly raced for an eight-year-old and, given how much is in his favour, a career-best effort is hardly out of the question.
1.50 1 pt – 1 Down Memory Lane
L’Eau du Sud has looked a fine prospect when winning both his chases so far, but the Henry VIII is a more competitive race than the early betting suggests and Timeform top-rated Down Memory Lane is a straightforward alternative at the prices. He was something of an unknown quantity prior to his chasing debut at Navan last month, having had just two outings over hurdles, but he looked one of the best seen in the division so far in dominating from start to finish. Admittedly, the time that day was ordinary, but the form still looks strong, considering the profiles of those that chased him home, and he’s surely got stacks of potential to build on it after just four lifetime outings under Rules.
2.25 0.5 pt – 2 Spirit d’Aunou
Willmount could just be far better treated than anything else and is a predictable favourite, but an absence of nearly a year and doubts as to his effectiveness on very testing ground are both reasons to look elsewhere, and Spirit d’Aunou appeals more than most. Crucially, he’s two from three at Sandown, including this race from 4 lb lower last season, and as a five-year-old just embarking on his third season over hurdles, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that there’s still improvement in him. Admittedly, an early fall at Ascot last month is hardly the ideal preparation, but this looks more suitable anyway and a probable good pace - Knickerbockerglory, Stream of Stars and maybe even stable-companion Royal Way are all among those likely to be forcing things – should be ideal for his style of racing.
3.00 No bet advised
This isn’t a weak Tingle Creek by any means, with more runners than usual, but that’s not to say there’s any great urge to take on Jonbon. Opposing him has paid off just three times from 18 career outings, and there isn’t obviously anything in this field that can trouble him if he produces one of the top-class performances he churns out with such regularity, especially back at Sandown where he’s unbeaten in four outings and has arguably produced his very best efforts.
3.35 1 pt – 9 Montgomery
Venetia Williams has snared valuable handicap chases on each of the last two weekends and there must be a good chance she can bag another courtesy of the unexposed Montgomery. He easily landed a quickfire hat-trick once his attentions were turned to chasing last season, and it’s easy to overlook a defeat at Ayr on his final outing considering conditions were far less testing than seem to suit him best and the stable was also struggling for winners. This is far more suitable all around – he looks sure to benefit from this marathon test – and, as the youngster of the party, looks open to much more improvement than anything else, with lack of fitness unlikely to be an issue considering his stable’s record recently.
You can access the TV Focus selections and rationale at 5pm the evening before racing for £7.50 on the Timeform website.
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