This preview has expired.

See all our latest betting tips or suggested betting sites

ITV Racing Tips on March 8th - Saturday's tips at Sandown, Hereford and Wolverhampton

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: 07 Mar 2025

Jon Vine 07 Mar 2025

Share this article

Tips for the ITV races on Saturday 8th March
Sandown, Hereford and Wolverhampton feature on the ITV Racing schedule
Peso, Whip Cracker and Dreaming Blue feature in our selections

Expired

Rex Dingle riding Dreaming lue clear the last to win The Corrie Cup Handicap Chase at Ludlow. (Getty)

With the 2025 Cheltenham Festival looming large on the horizon, ITV Racing will be showing seven live races on Saturday afternoon. The bulk of the action comes from Sandown, where the Imperial Cup headlines a quality card. Hereford and Wolverhampton also chip in with three races between them.

Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV races at Sandown, Hereford and Wolverhampton.

ITV Racing Schedule

Time	Track	Title
1:50pm	Sandown	'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final (Premier Handicap) 2m4f
2:05pm	Hereford	DragonBet Backing Our Opinion At Cheltenham Handicap Chase (Class 3) 2m
2:25pm	Sandown	Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 2m
2:45pm	Wolverhampton	BetMGM Lincoln Trial Handicap (Class 2) 1m½f
3:00pm	Sandown	Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed Race) 2m
3:20pm	Wolverhampton	BetMGM Lady Wulfruna Stakes (Listed Race) 7f
3:35pm	Sandown	Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Class 3) 3m

ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 8th March

1:50pm Sandown - Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final Tips

As usual, this series final looks incredibly competitive. One who seems overpriced to me is PESO (16/1), after he gave Willie Mullins' Chart Topper a proper race at Wetherby in January.

Jonjo & AJ O'Neill's six-year-old went into that match-up with Mullins' raider on the back of an impressive maiden hurdle win at Newbury. Peso travelled every bit as well as Chart Topper into the race, but Patrick Mullins' mount came away from the final flight a little quicker and soon opened up a four-length gap, which he maintained on the run to the line.

Chart Topper boosted that form significantly with a runner-up finish in the Morebattle Hurdle last weekend, making Peso looks well-handicapped as a result. Jonjo Jnr's mount is yet to race over further than two miles, but he ran well for a long way when third in his point-to-point and there is stamina in his pedigree.

2:05pm Hereford - Handicap Chase Tips

It could be hard for Western General to follow-up after receiving a ten-pound rating hike for his recent win at Wincanton. I'm not in any rush to back any of his four opponents though, so I'll give this race a pass.

2:25pm Sandown - Imperial Cup Tips

Read our full guide to the 2025 Imperial Cup to get the latest odds, key trends and our best betting tips.

Visit our Imperial Cup Live Stream page if you plan on watching any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet.

2:45pm Wolverhampton - Lincoln Trial Tips

My first flat bet of the year comes in this handicap, where I fancy WHIP CRACKER (7/1) could prove too classy for the field. Richard Hughes' four-year-old bolted up in a maiden at Chelmsford on his only all-weather start to date, before running a screamer behind the ill-fated Jayarebe on his reappearance last year in the Feilden Stakes.

Whip Cracker struggled on his next couple of starts and his two most recent runs came on heavy ground, so I'm happy to put a line through those. Finley Marsh will have to navigate a low draw in stall two, but I'd rather be drawn low than high, especially with a horse who likes to be up with the pace. Off a mark of 97, Whip Cracker could go really close.

3:00pm Sandown - Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race Tips

I rarely bet in bumpers and nothing stands out to me here. I'll leave this one alone.

3:20pm Wolverhampton - Lady Wulfruna Stakes Tips

No bet for me here either.

3:35pm Sandown - Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase Tips

With Anthony Honeyball's horses going so well, DREAMING BLUE (9/4) holds most appeal in this handicap chase. Honeyball has given his eight-year-old a month to recover from a valiant effort in the Masters Handicap over this course-and-distance, where Rex Dingle's mount was still in the lead jumping the last, only to get run down by the progressive O'Connell.

I was worried that the ground might be too heavy for Dreaming Blue that day. While he has won on heavy before, his most convincing wins have all come when the word good has featured in the going description.

I was hugely impressed with the way Dreaming Blue dealt with the tricky chasing track at Sandown, on what was his first start at the venue. Conditions on Saturday should be ideal and he still looks well-treated off a mark of 127.

Verdict

ITV Racing Tips at Sandown, Hereford and Wolverhampton

Saturday's Top ITV Racing Tips:

Dreaming Blue

3:35pm Sandown

@9/4 - 5 Units

£30 Free Bet

Use promo code NEWBONUS

Claim £30 free bet & 20 Free Spins. Use the promo code NEWBONUS. New Hollywoodbets account holders. 18 years or older. United Kingdom residents only. T&Cs apply.

Bet at Hollywood bets

Whip Cracker

2:45pm Wolverhampton

@7/1 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Bet at bet365

Peso E/W

1:50pm Sandown

@16/1 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £20

In free bets

New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply. **18+. Online Only. Get paid out as a winner if your team is winning by 2 goals, even if you draw or lose. 90 mins only. Applies to Singles & Multiples. T&Cs apply.

Bet at BoyleSports