07-03-2025
ITV Racing tips – Saturday March 8: Sandown, Hereford and Wolverhampton
ITV Racing presents action from Sandown, Hereford and Wolverhampton on Saturday. Seven races, covering both codes, will whet the appetite nicely for next week's Cheltenham Festival and the start of the spring Flat season later this month.
Our betting expert has selections from the first four of the televised races, including a 25/1 shot in the big one – the Imperial Cup at Sandown (2.25). Catch all the action on ITV4 from 1.30 to 4pm.
Today's best bets
1.50 Sandown – George's Lad @ 11/2 with Betfair
2.05 Hereford – Western General @ 6/4 with Betfair
2.25 Sandown – Ooh Betty each-way @ 9/1 with Betfair / King William Rufus each-way @ 25/1 with Betfair
2.45 Wolverhampton – Farasi Lane each-way @ 14/1 with Betfair
Odds provided by Betfair and correct at the time of writing.
If you already have a Betfair account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use for this week's racing, check out our list of Cheltenham free bets that can be used throughout next week's racing.
1.50 Sandown – Betfair EBF Novices' Handicap Hurdle (2m 4f)
GEORGE'S LAD has produced some impressive collateral form in every race this season, most recently over 2m 3½f at Doncaster in January, when he beat a very well-bred Nicky Henderson horse, Calimystic, who won impressively next time out.
That effort is also the reason why Ben Pauling's Meetmebythesea was last to be scratched off the shortlist. He steps up in trip after three wins over two miles, but the previous 12 winners of this race had all had at least one run over 2m 3f or further under rules, with seven of them having won.
Liam Harrison takes over the reins for today's selection, with Harry Cobden obliged to ride the well-fancied Paul Nicholls-trained Belliano, but that is no cause for concern and 11/2 is a fair price.
2.05 Hereford – Dragonbet Handicap Chase (2m)
WESTERN GENERAL has a clear form claim over the rest of the field as the only horse to win one his previous two races, whereas none of his competitors have even managed a place in that time.
That win, achieved despite a mistake at the last, has resulted in a 10lb rise in the weights, but it was done in such impressive style you wouldn't want to bet against him following up here.
Trainer Joe Tizzard's horses have been in fair form this season, including last Saturday, when Rivers Corner captured a three-mile handicap chase at Newbury.
2.25 Sandown – Betfair Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (2m)
This valuable handicap usually attracts a varied field because of its proximity to the Cheltenham Festival. Promising handicappers often turn up here with theoretically weaker opposition than the Festival handicaps, along with others who have no hope of qualifying off their current marks.
OOH BETTY is our first selection, having finished third last time out at Ascot behind the high-class Kagrese and Take No Chances, who have solid chances in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham. The form of that race has also been boosted with the fourth winning since, albeit on their chasing debut.
The second selection is KING WILLIAM RUFUS who, if you had enough extra places, would have returned a healthy profit when tipped at 40/1 four weeks ago at Newbury, where he led the field for a long way. His Chepstow run in December has provided multiple winners since and this Chris Gordon runner can add to that, having been dropped 1lb for a valiant effort behind some graded horses.
Last off the list was Knickerbockerglory who could conceivably give Harry and Dan Skelton another big weekend handicap winner. However, the stats suggest he is up against it, despite beating the talented Nemean Lion here in December, since only two of the previous 11 winners had run at Sandown before, none of them having won.
2.45 Wolverhampton – BetMGM Lincoln Trial Handicap (1m)
FARASI LANE rounds off today's selections and can come out on top in this trial for the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster, the traditional first big race of the spring Flat racing season.
The gelding showed promise when running on to finish fourth last time out over 7f at Southwell under today's jockey Hollie Doyle, who struggled to get a clear run. The vet also reported bleeding from the horse's nose after the race, again suggesting you can mark up that performance.
In the last two seasons, Farasi Lane has won around this time of year, and a victory will be needed to qualify for the Lincoln as he is currently 55th on the list. With at least four places on offer, 14/1 offers good value in this field.
Expert's Saturday tipping record
