Racing expert Steve Jones has cast his eye over the first major Saturday card of 2026, highlighting a trio of value selections for viewers tuning into ITV's coverage. His analysis focuses on the valuable Unibet Stayers' Veterans' Chase Final at Sandown Park, alongside picks from the supporting cards at Sandown and Wincanton.
Credo Tipped for Veterans' Chase Glory
The feature race on Saturday is the Unibet Stayers' Veterans' Chase Final (3.05) at Sandown. Trainer Anthony Honeyball saddles three of the nine runners, and Jones believes Credo holds the key to the contest. The mare's form from last season provides compelling evidence.
She defeated stablemate Gustavian – the likely favourite for this race – in a qualifier at Exeter in February 2025. A month later, she followed up with an easy victory at Carlisle. Significantly, both those wins came when she was equipped with a visor and ridden by her jockey for today, Harry Cobden.
This season, Credo has run twice without headgear. She was third behind Gustavian at Wincanton on her comeback and then stayed on too late when fourth at Ascot in November. The visor is reapplied today, which Jones expects to spark a significant improvement. He advises a 2-point win bet at 6-1.
Nardaran Expected to Bounce Back at Sandown
Later on the Sandown card, Jones fancies Nardaran (3.35) to return to winning ways after a perplexing effort last time out. The Paul Nicholls-trained runner was pulled up early at Plumpton, a performance deemed "too bad to be true".
That run came just eight days after he had beaten Continuance over this same course and distance. Prior to that, he had won on his seasonal reappearance at Plumpton in October following a breathing operation. With decent ground in his favour, Jones believes the handicapper may not have been harsh enough to prevent a victory if he recovers his autumn form. The tip is a 1-point each-way bet at 9-1.
Fast Ground to Suit Raffles Nobu at Wincanton
Attention shifts to Wincanton for the third selection, where the ground is expected to be fast. This should suit Raffles Nobu (2.05), who was unsuited by heavy conditions at Leicester last time out.
That followed a promising effort behind the progressive Surrey Lord at Kempton, which was only his second start for rookie trainer Nick Scholfield. Jones notes the horse was hampered two hurdles from home in that Kempton race. A key change is the reapplication of blinkers, which he wore once during his career in France. Jones recommends a 1-point each-way bet at 10-1, noting that a couple of bookmakers are paying out on four places.
