Horse racing enthusiasts have another exciting weekend of action to anticipate, with Imperial Cup day at Sandown Park offering a compelling card of competitive contests. Racing correspondent Jonathan Doidge has meticulously evaluated the form to deliver his expert selections and best bets for Saturday's featured events.
Betfair Racing Podcasts Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Sandown, 13:15)
Favourites have demonstrated a strong record in this race, securing victory in five of the last ten renewals. During that period, only Le Milos at 20/1 in 2019 has triumphed at a price exceeding 13/2. Trainer Gary Moore has saddled three of the last seven winners, bringing both Galactique and The Bellhop into consideration.
Galactique has two Fontwell wins but struggled in a Cheltenham Grade 2 last November. After a break, he may find this company more suitable. The Bellhop's form is less convincing but he remains in contention. Market leader Bibe Mus has joined Paul Nicholls from Ross O'Sullivan after a disappointing run as favourite at Punchestown in January.
Racing tip 1: Diamond Jim – 1pt each-way @ 6/1 (Paddy Power)
Despite Bibe Mus's competitive level, the form of his last race hasn't proven strong. Diamond Jim, trained by Oli Greenall and Josh Guerriero, presents an appealing alternative. This Teofilo juvenile won on good ground at Haydock last December. While that form may appear modest compared to some rivals, his finishing effort was particularly impressive. He performed slightly better in defeat at Warwick last time and should benefit from Sandown's stiffer test. First-time cheekpieces could provide additional improvement, making him a viable each-way option at 6/1.
European Breeders' Fund Betfair 'National Hunt' Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final (Sandown, 13:50)
This appears to be an open contest on paper, with Scorpio Rising emerging as a worthy favourite after completing a hat-trick with a remarkable come-from-behind victory at Windsor. He continues to improve and handles the distance well, making him a legitimate contender for supporters.
Kaka's Cousin brings strong form from his Kelso win, though concerns persist about his stable's current form. Four Springs could benefit from cheekpieces, while Unknown Entity represents a solid option. However, at more attractive odds, Tennessee Tango offers compelling value.
Racing tip 2: Tennessee Tango – 1pt each-way @ 16/1 (Bet365)
Joe Tizzard's six-year-old won a bumper on good ground and has shown progressive form over hurdles, culminating in a wide-margin maiden hurdle victory at Plumpton last time. While Plumpton form doesn't always translate to Saturday success at Sandown, this is reflected in his double-figure price. He demonstrated ability on soft ground with that win, and the stable's runners are performing well. The step up in trip could trigger further improvement, making him another attractive each-way proposition.
Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (Sandown, 14:27)
This competitive handicap has produced few major surprises in recent years, though there have been occasional 20/1 winners. No Ordinary Joe could potentially emulate those outsiders at a generous price.
Racing tip 3: No Ordinary Joe – 0.5pts each-way @ 20/1 (Coral)
While some may consider him exposed, at his best he would be highly competitive in this field. His recent fifth-place finish at Ascot in a competitive handicap hurdle represented his best performance for trainer Faye Bramley, suggesting a wind operation late last year may have helped after several disappointing efforts. He has extensive experience in similar events, prefers soft ground, and has been dropped 14lb since joining his current stable. The return to a stiff two miles with a strong gallop should suit him well, and he wouldn't need to improve significantly on his Ascot run to challenge at a substantial price.
Go Dante attempts to win this race for the third consecutive year but carries 5lb more than last year's victory and returns from wind surgery. Favourite Mondo Man impressed at Plumpton but faces a much tougher assignment here. Wreckless Eric is 3lb lower than when second in this race last year but has shown poor form in four subsequent starts. Brace For Landing would need to improve dramatically to contend.
Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Sandown, 15:35)
After opposing several market leaders earlier in the card, one favourite who merits support is Calimystic, trained by Nicky Henderson.
Racing tip 4: Calimystic – 2pts win @ 4/1 (Bet365)
After finishing second in both a bumper and on his hurdles debut last season, he broke his maiden at Doncaster at the third attempt. He performed poorly when stepped up in trip at Ayr last spring but returned fresh for his chase debut at Newbury in December, showing marked improvement to defeat Captain Bellamy in a tight finish. While genuine soft ground remains somewhat unknown, he has previously handled good to soft conditions successfully.
Virgin Bet Money-Back Offer
Each Saturday, Virgin Bet provides a money-back promotion for one ITV Racing feature. This week, the offer applies to the 13:50 race at Sandown. If your selection doesn't win, you'll receive your stake back as free bets up to £10 maximum. No opt-in is required—simply place a wager on the race. For each-way bets, only the win portion qualifies for the refund.
Responsible Gambling Guidance
When engaging in betting activities, it is crucial to gamble responsibly. Maintain control of both time and budget, whether using betting sites, casinos, or other gambling platforms. Even experienced punters can experience losses, so establish a strict budget and avoid chasing losses.
Exercise caution with free bets and casino bonuses, which are widely available but should be approached prudently. Utilize responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion, and time-outs to stay in control.
If you encounter gambling-related issues, several organizations provide free support and advice, including the NHS, GamCare, and Gamblers Anonymous. Always remember that gambling should be entertaining rather than financially burdensome—only wager what you can afford to lose.
All odds and offers are accurate at publication time but subject to change. Terms and conditions apply to all promotions.
