Former Talksport man Charlie McCann marks your card with five to follow on Saturday at Aintree and Sandown. View selections below
The Tingle Creek Chase remains one of the most eagerly awaited events on the racing calendar as the best two mile chasers in Britain and Ireland battle it out over the minimum trip at one of the most iconic racecourses in the world. This year’s renewal may lack previous Tingle Creek winners and Champion Chasers Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy through injury but it is a very competitive betting heat and BetVictor have a Grade 1 offer to mark this Grade 1 race. Place a bet on the Tingle Creek and if your selection finishes second BetVictor will refund your losing win stake as a free bet up to a maximum of £20.
Tom George’s Haldon Gold Cup winner God’s Own will relish the forecast better ground however Balder Success (3.00) can reverse the form after his defeat last time out at Exeter. Alan King’s 6-y-o was conceding 7lb that day and should come on for the run, with man of the moment Richard Johnson an excellent jockey booking, in the plate for the very first time. The Harry Fry stable remain in good nick and his Vukovar was backed ante post (10s from 20s) and he could prove a big danger to the main protagonists, should he take to the minimum trip.
Vaniteux won last year’s corresponding novice’s hurdle that opens the card and trainer Nicky Henderson looks to have another smart prospect with JP McManus’s Clean Sheet (12.20) and AP McCoy in the plate. The selection was touted as one of Seven Barrows’ brightest novices last term and despite not running since winning an Irish PTP in March 2013, warrants maximum respect on his debut under rules.
There’s a 42,000 sell-out crowd for Aintree’ Becher Chase meeting and 25-runners heading to post for the feature race over the National fences. Last year’s winner Chance Du Roy heads the market as the 10/1 favourite with BetVictor for Phiilipp Hobbs and Tom O’Brien and boasts a terrific record but from a 6lb higher mark appears vulnerable. Our Father (1.30) is another who gives his best running first time out and gets the nod to land the Pipes a first success in the race.
The 8-y-o has just thirteen starts to his name (just seven over fences) but has won on his seasonal reappearance three seasons out of four, his sole disappointment coming when a beaten favourite in last year’s Hennessy on ground quicker than ideal. He remains unexposed and is open to further improvement and is an excellent each-way bet at 14/1 with BetVictor, who are paying FIVE PLACES on the race.
Distime (1.00) and Baileys Concerto finished 1-2 in a competitive C&D handicap at Aintree’s October meeting however John Quinn’s 8-y-o can reverse the form on 3lb better terms. The selection built on that outing by bolting up last month at Sedgefield and despite a 10lb hike at the weights, can go in again under James Reveley.
Carole’s Destrier (3.10) beat subsequent Newbury scorer Carraig Mor by 6l on just his second start over fences at Exeter and looks potentially chucked in from a mark of 140 in the Welsh Grand National trial at Chepstow. The selection goes for the in-form Neil Mulholland yard and can give weight and a beating to his nine rivals under regular pilot Michael Byrne.
For all your racing odds this weekend check out BetVictor.com – new customers can claim £50 in free bets
Be lucky
Charlie
Compare all horse racing odds and keep up to date with our results service.