Tips for the nine ITV races on Saturday 9th December
Sandown and Aintree feature in the ITV Racing schedule
Iceo, Le Fauve and Fontaine Collonges feature in our ITV tips
Expired
Harry Cobden riding Iceo (pink) clear the last to win The Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle at Sandown. (Getty)
Sandown Racecourse stages an excellent card on Saturday, featuring three Grade One contests, including the Tingle Creek and the rearranged Fighting Fifth Hurdle. Along with five races from Sandown, ITV Racing viewers will also enjoy four live races from Aintree, including the historic Becher Handicap Chase.
Boylesports Extra Place Races Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 2m4f
3:35pm
Sandown
Betfair Exchange London National Handicap Chase (Class 2) 3m4½f
ITV Racing Tips Tips - Saturday 9th December
1:15pm Sandown - Fighting Fifth Hurdle Tips
Saturday's ITV action kicks off with the rescheduled Fighting Fifth Hurdle. If Constitution Hill runs, he wins. However, I'm keen to back YOU WEAR IT WELL (14/1), who has the benefit of a recent run at Wetherby.
Jamie Snowden's mare won the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season and made all to defeat Luccia and Kateira in a Listed race on her reappearance. You Wear It Well bolted up in the Jane Seymour on her only previous start around Sandown back in February. I'll be having some sort of bet on Gavin Sheehan's mount, regardless of whether Constitution Hill takes part or not.
1:30pm Aintree - Boylesports Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase Tips
Brave Seasca carried 12-1 to victory in hugely impressive fashion 12 months ago and Venetia Williams eight-year-old returns to Aintree rated one pound below his last winning mark. Heltenham looks sure to run well for the Skeltons, while neither Richmond Lake nor War Lord can be ruled out.
At a much longer price, I'm going to side with GUSTAVIAN (16/1), in the hope that the ground at Aintree is really attritional. Anthony Honeyball's eight-year-old won three times on heavy ground over hurdles and I'm not sure we've seen the best of him over fences yet. Dropping back down in trip should suit too. He's a lively outsider on favourably heavy ground.
1:50pm Sandown - Henry VIII Novices' Chase Tips
I doubt whether we'll see anyone announce themselves as a genuine Arkle contender in this Grade One. It's a fairly weak race for the grade. I'm going to put my trust in Paul Nicholls and plump for ICEO (4/1), who was beaten 13 lengths by favourite JPR One when the two met at Newton Abbot in October.
Iceo had to give Joe Tizzard's star over a stone that day and that extra weight proved costly on heavy ground. Lorcan Williams' mount had jumped well on his first chase start at that venue and did his best work over hurdles here at Sandown, thrashing future winner Knickerbockerglory to win the Imperial Cup here in March.
Another extremely open handicap, where chances can be given to plenty. JUPITER DU GITE (18/1) is clearly a stark, raving lunatic, but at the prices, I've talked myself into a risky punt.
Gary Moore's star shot to the top end of the Triumph Hurdle betting after a runaway debut success at Newbury last December. Jupiter Du Gite then flopped in the Triumph Trial in January, was pulled up in the Triumph itself, was far too free on his next start at Stratford in April and ran no sort of race on his return to action in November.
Yet, we saw at Newbury last season that Moore's charismatic four-year-old is capable of a monster performance on his day. With last month's reappearance under his belt, I'm hopeful of a much better showing.
Niall Houlihan riding Jupiter Du Gite clear the last to win The Coral Racing Club Join For Free 'Introductory' Hurdle at Newbury. (Getty)
2:40pm Aintree - Listed Juvenile Hurdle Tips
Willie Mullins and the Donnelly's moved quickly to purchase Anzadam following an emphatic victory on his second hurdles start in France, after which Anzadam was cut into 16/1 for the Triumph Hurdle. On his hurdles debut in September, LE FAUVE (7/2) pushed Anzadam all the way to the line and Dan Skelton's recruit is very interesting on his British debut.
Le Fauve jumped neatly and responded to pressure well at Bordeaux, where a photo was needed to split himself and Anzadam. This leggy, athletic son of Masterstroke will be comfortable on soft ground at Aintree and could be worth backing against the favourite, Max Of Stars.
If you plan on watching any of Saturday's races via a mobile device, then check out our Tingle Creek Chase Live Stream page.
3:15pm Aintree - Boylesports Handicap Hurdle Tips
Having spent two years on the sidelines, CHANCE A TUNE (14/1) has returned to action in excellent form. Nigel Twiston-Davies' eight-year-old finished a close third on his comeback run at Market Rasen, and there were no signs of the dreaded bounce as Chance A Tune bolted up on heavy ground at Chepstow two weeks later.
James Turner's mount got outpaced over two miles at Ascot last time out, but made eye-catching late progress to finish fourth behind Knickerbockerglory, Altobelli and Bad. Stepping up in trip should suit Sam Twiston-Davies' mount, who's already proven himself on very soft ground this autumn.
3:35pm Sandown - London National Handicap Chase Tips
Saturday's finale looks tailormade for FONTAINE COLLONGES (3/1), who'll carry just 11-2, thanks to Ned Fox's claimer. On her reappearance last season, Venetia Williams' mare held off The Big Breakaway to win the 25-and-a-half-furlong handicap chase held on Betfair Chase day at Haydock.
Fontaine Collonges couldn't maintain that form through the rest of the season, finishing fourth at Kempton over Christmas before poor performances in the Grand National Trial and the Kim Muir. Those defeats see Williams' eight-year-old return to action running off just a one pound higher mark than when she won at Haydock last November and Fontaine Collonges does her best work on very soft ground.
Verdict
Saturday's Top ITV Tips:
Best Bet1: Fontaine Collonge 3:35pm Sandown @3/1 at bet365 - 15 Units
Best Bet2: Le Fauve Listed Juvenile Hurdle Tips @7/2 at BoyleSports - 10 Units
Best Bet3: Iceo 1:50pm Sandown @4/1 at bet365 - 10 Units
Best Bet4: Gustavian E/W 1:30pm Aintree @16/1 at BoyleSports - 5 Units
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